What could go wrong when you have sent your child to school?
My wife has been a teacher at a couple of schools. So the three stories that are narrated here are actual incidents that terrified both parents and the school staff. No schools are named here and the names of the children involved have been changed.
#1:
After school Nishchita is brought back home by the aaya at school at 3:00pm. She has been doing this for quite long. However, on that fateful day her parents were not at home. She waited for sometime and then knocked on a neighbor’s home. The neighbor knew the child and the child knew the neighbor. The aaya found the neighbor ready to take custody of the child and so she left the child there. She returned to school but did not share with anyone of the incident.
Nishchita’s parents who did not return home until 5:00pm had not bothered to call and inquire of their daughter until then. When they remembered of their daughter they called up the school authorities to enquire. Panic started when the school authorities responded that Nishchita was sent back at 3:00pm. School authorities did not know how to reach the aaya who was incharge of dropping the child at home.
The neighbors who had taken custody of the child were probably having a good time with the child and never bothered to check if her parents had returned. The panicked parents after all searches finally decided to check with the neighbors and found their child safe. As per their instructions to the school the child should have been kept at school if they were not available. The aaya can be blamed for her action and she lost her job for the same. However, even the parents are at fault for not informing the school of their absence.
#2:
Klashven, returned home on Friday evening without his tiffin box. His parents noticed this and wrote in his school diary that his tiffin box is missing. Klashven had actually left the tiffin box on his school bus. On Monday morning, his bus driver after inquiring with all children on board handed over his tiffin box back to him.
When at school his teacher noticed the remark in the diary and wrote back that they have not found any tiffin in the school premises but would check with the staff. As per guidelines the tiffin boxes of the children should be opened with adult supervision. However, practicing this may be difficult when there are a large number of kids to be taken care of. Klashven, did not notice his tiffin which was packed fresh in the morning. He ate from the leftovers of his tiffin which was sent on Friday. Though the child was hospitalized, thanks to the medication he got treated.
#3:
This incident reminds me of a 55 year old story of my dad’s cousin. The intelligent guy had got most of his scores underlined in red in his report card. His parents were not as literate as him. So when he came home he told his parents that the scores underlined in red mark those for which he got a first class. He was rewarded Rs. 10 – a big amount at that period. He also got beaten black and blue when his teachers visited his parents to tell them of the actual status of their son. Today’s parents are literate, but they may be turned blind by the stories they hear from their children.
Bunty, reached home with a wound on the inside of his palm. He told his parents that Anjani who travels with him on the bus cut his palm with a blade. Bunty’s parents knew Anjani’s parents and they went to their home to complain. Anjani’s parents were troubled but were perplexed. Where could she have got the blade from? A look at Anjani face told them that she never knew of what happened to Bunty.
Bunty’s parents complained even at the school. School authorities were aware of Bunty’s skill to churn up stories one after the other. However, it may be hard to explain the parents about it especially when their child is hurt. Anjani was always known to be a pleasant girl. Though, it may be difficult to find what led to Bunty’s injury. One assumption which may explain it is that Bunty was seated behind Anjani that day. Anjani had a lot of hair pins on her head and Bunty was seen messing it up from behind. Whatever it was both parents were hurt. Maybe talking more to the children could help us understand them better.
#1:
After school Nishchita is brought back home by the aaya at school at 3:00pm. She has been doing this for quite long. However, on that fateful day her parents were not at home. She waited for sometime and then knocked on a neighbor’s home. The neighbor knew the child and the child knew the neighbor. The aaya found the neighbor ready to take custody of the child and so she left the child there. She returned to school but did not share with anyone of the incident.
Nishchita’s parents who did not return home until 5:00pm had not bothered to call and inquire of their daughter until then. When they remembered of their daughter they called up the school authorities to enquire. Panic started when the school authorities responded that Nishchita was sent back at 3:00pm. School authorities did not know how to reach the aaya who was incharge of dropping the child at home.
The neighbors who had taken custody of the child were probably having a good time with the child and never bothered to check if her parents had returned. The panicked parents after all searches finally decided to check with the neighbors and found their child safe. As per their instructions to the school the child should have been kept at school if they were not available. The aaya can be blamed for her action and she lost her job for the same. However, even the parents are at fault for not informing the school of their absence.
#2:
Klashven, returned home on Friday evening without his tiffin box. His parents noticed this and wrote in his school diary that his tiffin box is missing. Klashven had actually left the tiffin box on his school bus. On Monday morning, his bus driver after inquiring with all children on board handed over his tiffin box back to him.
When at school his teacher noticed the remark in the diary and wrote back that they have not found any tiffin in the school premises but would check with the staff. As per guidelines the tiffin boxes of the children should be opened with adult supervision. However, practicing this may be difficult when there are a large number of kids to be taken care of. Klashven, did not notice his tiffin which was packed fresh in the morning. He ate from the leftovers of his tiffin which was sent on Friday. Though the child was hospitalized, thanks to the medication he got treated.
#3:
This incident reminds me of a 55 year old story of my dad’s cousin. The intelligent guy had got most of his scores underlined in red in his report card. His parents were not as literate as him. So when he came home he told his parents that the scores underlined in red mark those for which he got a first class. He was rewarded Rs. 10 – a big amount at that period. He also got beaten black and blue when his teachers visited his parents to tell them of the actual status of their son. Today’s parents are literate, but they may be turned blind by the stories they hear from their children.
Bunty, reached home with a wound on the inside of his palm. He told his parents that Anjani who travels with him on the bus cut his palm with a blade. Bunty’s parents knew Anjani’s parents and they went to their home to complain. Anjani’s parents were troubled but were perplexed. Where could she have got the blade from? A look at Anjani face told them that she never knew of what happened to Bunty.
Bunty’s parents complained even at the school. School authorities were aware of Bunty’s skill to churn up stories one after the other. However, it may be hard to explain the parents about it especially when their child is hurt. Anjani was always known to be a pleasant girl. Though, it may be difficult to find what led to Bunty’s injury. One assumption which may explain it is that Bunty was seated behind Anjani that day. Anjani had a lot of hair pins on her head and Bunty was seen messing it up from behind. Whatever it was both parents were hurt. Maybe talking more to the children could help us understand them better.
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