Your Child Needs a School Where…

By Engr. Naveed Qamar

Education is an essential part of a child’s upbringing, to be given in an appropriate way. Restricting access to it can damage a child’s personality and can cause serious psychological issues. 

There can be no teacher better than the parents. Unfortunately, in today’s busy world, parents think they don’t have enough time to spend with their children. So, they have handed over their children to schools expecting these institutions to teach them everything important for them. The topic, parent-child relationships, has been covered to some extent in previous parts of this series, and can be read online at: issuu.com/InvTheMag

In this part, we are going to focus on the needs of your child at school.

YOUR CHILD NEEDS A SCHOOL WHERE:

• Children are not humiliated by any means including hands, gestures, moods, tongues, facial expressions,

• The teachers give him/her love

• The teachers call children by their beautiful names

• The teachers enjoy their jokes and playfulness

• The teacher feels the pain if your child is in trouble

• The teachers know child psychology

• The teachers take care of children’s feelings

• Children are not forced to do anything

• Apart from giving instructions, the teachers talk to children on other things too

• The teachers are role models for the children

• The teachers aren’t replaced frequently

• The teachers are not considered servants by the principal

• Teachers are not humiliated by the principal

• Salaries of the teachers are not deducted for committing any mistake

• The principal’s office is not used as a punishment area

• The staffroom and principal’s office are always open for children

• The teachers and the principal meet everyone with a smiling face 

• Children are not sent forcefully by their parents

• Children like to go everyday

• They are allowed to skip school if they want

• They learn practical things that they can practice and apply anywhere

• There is no emphasis over marks or grades

• They are not given ranks either

• There is no classification of ‘intelligent’ or ‘dumb

• Everyone enjoys mutual and equal respect and honor

• Qualities of every child are recognized and appreciated

• There is no concept of failing a child. Even the word ‘fail’ should not be spoken by anyone.

• The kids are not trained to be greedy for receiving prizes

• There is teamwork by the staff

• There is no concept of winning and losing. E.g. A student defeating other students, a teacher defeating other teachers, or a school defeating other schools in the city. 

• Competition is only against the previous performance of the child him or herself. Ad this must not involve the insult. It should be performance over achievement, and must not necessarily be broadcast as official reports or results. 

• The syllabus is not limited to a few books only

• The syllabus is directly linked with real life practical implementation of what he is teaching

• The teacher is free to decide what to teach and in how much depth

• The teachers know the children personally

• There is a library where they are allowed to go whenever they want

• The library is a place where teachers also sit and read books

• There are enough facilities for children to play

• Subjects are not more important than children

• Complaints about children are not forwarded to parents 

• Children can meet students of other classes and even teachers of other classes

• Everyone learns from others

• Homework does not mean schoolwork; homework means to get help from parents at home

• Importance is given to the learning of the child, not the uniform, etc.

• Parents are not considered customers

• Parents are not considered a problem; rather, they are considered partners

• The school building is not considered a prison by children

• Education is not expensive

• The focus is not just on preparing children for exams

• Admission is given easily to everyone

• Appreciation is on the basis of efforts, not results

• Only purposeful activities are conducted, which are linked with practical life

• Character building is focused on personality development as opposed to changing current behavior

• Islamic Studies is not only taught but is also practiced 

• No one is impressed with western values

• English is considered just a language and not a measure of intelligence or a tool to show-off

• Choices and likes of children are given importance as opposed to the will of teachers and parents 

• Writing is not a punishment

• Children are not told ‘you will do a job when you grow up’ 

These points are for those parents who have decided to send their children to schools. There are other ways of educating a child too. For those parents who want to educate their children in other alternative ways, please stay tuned.