Date:12/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/12/stories/2006101211450400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Writers criticise KSP chief's stand

Staff Reporter

Chandrashekar Patil has opposed teaching of English from first standard

WELCOMING MOVE: Writer K.R. Nagaraj (second from right) addressing a press conference on the Government's decision on English language implementation in schools, in Bangalore on Wednesday. With him are (front left) retired English professor G.K. Gov inda Rao, Kodihalli Chandrashekar of Raitha Sangha and L. Hanumanthaiah, MLC. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: Eminent writers, educationists and intellectuals have opposed the stand of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP) president Chandrashekar Patil's stand that English should not be taught from first standard in government schools.

Well -known personalities such as G.K. Govinda Rao, Suresh Heblikar, Mohan Kondajji, H.S. Shivaprakash and T.N. Seetharam, under the banner of Chakra Foundation, have pointed out that there wass ample evidence that not knowing English placed the poor and the rural children at a tremendous disadvantage when it came to competition for jobs and higher education.

They told presspersons here on Wednesday that contrary to Mr. Patil's claim that the KSP would fight the Government's move to introduce English as a subject from first standard, most district units of the KSP were keen that English should be taught from that stage itself.

If the Government postponed its decision to implement this decision, the Dalits, farmers and educationists would launch a Statewide agitation to demand the closure of all government schools, they said.

Saying that the best way to rid the children from poor families of their low self-esteem, and boost their chances of competing with urban children on a level-playing field, was to teach them English. Knowledge of English had become inevitable.

Besides, it had been scientifically established that children up to six years were most receptive to learning several languages, and most people picked up the ability to speak many languages during that period, and memory retention also remained good. As such, learning English would not be a burden on young minds, they pointed out.

In most States, English teaching from the lower classes had been going on successfully, and had also brought good results. Hence, there was every reason for Karnataka to bring in an efficient system of English teaching, they said.

They said it was unfortunate that some "orthodox" language experts were rejecting the progressive decision to teach English, and urged them to move with the times.

Journalist Ravi Belagere, filmmaker Nagathihalli Chandrashekar, Dalit activist Indudhara Honnapura and several others have joined the group of citizens who welcomed the decision to introduce English from first standard.