AN EXPERIENCE TO REMEMBER?!

School is an essential part of one’s life that plays a significant role in shaping their behaviour, attitude, mental wellness and social skills. While everyone retains memories from their school lives forever, it is not always pleasant for all. Because not everyone belongs to the world of Karan Johar’s aesthetic school for the elite, do we? 

For me, it was a mix of both. My family and neighbours often ridiculed me for being in a school that demanded so much from a mere teenager. People often say I had completed my “vanvas” as I finally finished school in 2010 after joining as a Kg-ite 14 years ago. Now, there are two ways to look at it. One, I never had the pain of adjusting to a new classroom or school environment and losing friends. But the other was that I never knew a world outside my school. I also had another issue: all the school teachers knew me, and I was quite a name. It was also the case with a few other students who had a similar journey. If you wonder if it was an advantage, no, it wasn't. Since the teachers were attached to the same school over the years, they were also very well accustomed to my parents, including my principal. So, if any mischief happened, my parents were reported faster than one could imagine. 

One reason why every parent loved the school was the regime it followed. The rules went on and on that, it didn't seem like school but a jail sentence. We had to have a certain hairstyle and dress etiquette. Mixing between boys and girls wasn't allowed; you can't even ask a guy to make way for you. You will find yourself in the principal’s office the next day. There used to be a bag inspection day every week, which meant our bags would be scrutinised for food items or electronics we were not allowed to bring. Punishments were severe, from attending extra classes till 9 pm to enduring physical tasks. So, parents believed that children would turn up disciplined in this way. Even then, there were times when they had the exact opposite reaction. The schedule used to be very strict, and students won't be permitted even after two minutes of delay. For attending funerals, we had to submit proof of death. And for attending marriage festivals, we were told it was irrelevant and were denied leave. Even when one falls sick, they need to show up for the exam in an isolated room and attend a medical examination by the in-house medical officer.

 

It was tough surviving our school. But we students were no less. We put up our strong foot forward. We had figured out our own escape routes from every imposed restriction. After all what are rules that are not broken? Kids hid chocolates inside tiffins, gifts inside carved-out notebooks, and cellphones in hidden pockets. Secret messages used to get passed between crushes, and meeting outside school was the norm. Boys would turn up with clean-shaven heads in groups when they were insisted on getting summer cuts. Girls cropped their long hair short and evaded having to braid it compulsorily. 

One particular punishment we loved to trick was writing imposition. Our girl friends' group was a gang of seven, and we all had similar handwriting. Whenever any of us were obligated to write an essay a certain number of times, it became a group task, and we all would write individually and compile them together. The teachers would never know. Even if they suspected it, they could never prove that.

Looking back, though I am happy we all turned fine; I still wonder if it is necessary to impose such strict rules in place to discipline students who will not conform but find ways to break free. Why not address their issues by talking and providing proper sex education at school instead of turning them furious over silly rules that they will never agree to follow? When will such schools learn? Are Indian schools riding a little too much over discipline and honour? What do you think? 

This is a part of #BlogchatterBloghop

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