Recognising the holistic nature of child development

IN FACILITATIVE school management, special emphasis ought to be laid on the development of the young child. The foundation for the development is laid at home and is further built in school. So, unless the foundation laid at home is strong, the development of the child is likely to be affected. The school ought to recognise the holistic nature of the child's development with reference to nutrition, health, social, mental, physical, moral and emotional development.

The health programme at school should enable an overall care of the child's health; both physical and mental. Some schools have counsellors who guide the children on the right track. The most important element in any school is the student. All the activities of the school should be child centred, because it is the child whom we are trying to educate. Sigourney said, ``We speak of educating our children. Do we know that our children also educate us?'' Children ought to be handled with utmost care. There are many ways to reprimand an erring student. Corporal punishment should be excluded from all schools because it may at times leave a deep scar on the psyche of the student.

School timings should be planned to suit students' conveniences. Children should report to school and leave before the peak hour rush and traffic.

It is not a difficult task to identify children with special talents or aptitudes. They should be provided with opportunities to enhance their skills and to exhibit them. Many are ill- equipped to meet the demands of specialisation at the higher education level. Courses and programmes should be redesigned to meet the demands of specialisation. Linguistic competence is an area which needs a lot of emphasis. The local language plays a predominant role in communication. Students should be encouraged to communicate within the school in the medium of instruction. Scope for cooperation, collaboration and a networking relationship between institutions at various levels should also be encouraged. This will help in ironing out the difficulties that various institutions face, and will also create a forum for the mutual benefit of educational institutions.

Schools should be equipped with the up-to-date learning resources - a library with a good collection of books and facilities for computer aided instruction. Physical activities such as sports, creative work and cultural activities should be expanded. Sports play an important role in school curriculum.

The duty of any teacher does not end with transfer of knowledge. Teachers have multiple roles to perform. They have to undertake research in their subject, and also develop learning resource material.

The school management, being the facilitator should recognise and reward excellence in staff and students. Many are of the opinion that the mass media, especially TV and films alter children's attitude. Therefore, it should be further exploited to bring in more of educational programmes. Children should not be allowed to watch TV or films without adult supervision.

Schools should educate the students' on environmental awareness. With the depleting ozone layer and global warming, it is very important that children are aware about their environment and how its preservation. The managements should also see to it that the subjects are taught innovatively. For example, mathematics should be visualised by the teacher as the vehicle to train a child to think, reason, analyse and articulate logically. Apart from being a specific subject, it should be treated as one that can be connected to any subject involving analysis and reasoning. As Beattie said, ``The aim of education should be to teach us how to think rather than what to think; to improve our minds, so as to enable us think for ourselves rather than to load the memory with thoughts of other men.''

Science education should also be strengthened, so as to improve the problem-solving and decision-making skills. All subjects can be taught with examples from other subjects. This would be possible only if the teacher is well versed in his/her subject and has knowledge of other subjects also.

Managements should help the students develop interest in NCC, NSS, Interact club, Nature club and participate in various competitions wherein leadership qualities are imparted.

It is the management's duty to formulate flexible norms to recruit staff of high calibre and academic quality. Experienced teachers capable of handling students and situations should be recruited. Talented teachers should be encouraged. At the same time the other teachers should not be neglected. ``The wisest man may always learn something from the humblest peasant,'' said Senn. In the light of this statement, even the less talented teachers should not be ignored.

Staff orientation programmes should be held regularly for teachers. Such orientation programmes help teachers in learning about new teaching methodologies, crisis management and above all, it would help create a forum that answers many a question of a teacher.

All various departments in schools should be able to function with full autonomy. This will be possible only through decentralisation of authority which would help each department evolve with newer ideas and methodologies, through which the students would ultimately benefit.

The principle of accountability (for both teachers and students) should be established at all educational institutions especially on the administrative side.

Education needs to be managed in an atmosphere of utmost intellectual rigour, seriousness of purpose and at the same time preserve the freedom essential for innovation and creativity.

Teachers with greater accountability should be given a better deal. A system ought to be created for performance appraisal of each institution according to the standards and norms set at the national or state level.

The heads of institutions should receive a continuous feedback about his/her management of the school from the staff, and from others who come into the school. Each teacher should keep his/her part of the school under constant review. Review and self- appraisal should be there throughout the institution.

If each institution has a system to review their performance continuously, such an institution can grow progressively to the benefit of the student community in general and to the staff in particular. Leibnitz said, ``I have hope that society may be reformed when I see how much education may be reformed.''

R. KISHORE KUMAR

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