It’s tragedy, not delinquency

Sandeep Sinha

The tragic death of a school boy in Panchkula, who was stabbed by fellow students, after an alleged brawl over as trivial a matter as mobile theft, has come as an eye-opener. That it was a government school where the incident took place is even more worrisome.

As someone, who went to a government school for some years, one can’t help but make a few observations.

First, the quality of teachers was good — they were devoted to their profession and had years of experience. They were respected by the students and also feared because they believed in spare-the-rod-and-spoil-the-child policy. I remember the headmaster moving around in the corridor with a small whip-like object to check who was entering the class late, after the bell had rung. A couple of lashes on the legs would ensure punctuality. Even in Class IX, my vice-principal gave me a taste of his rule on the palms for having failed to memorise a biology table. The students were put in different sections as per their merit, with the best ones being put in Section A and the worst in Section C. It was somewhat like the A-lister grading of Steve Jobs, who believed in clubbing the best, and the teachers knew what to expect when they went to take a class.

Then, it was the social composition of the students. They came from all backgrounds and the school was a social leveller. There was no school uniform and the students came dressed in what they could afford to wear. It was unlike the city schools where there is a strict dress code and you are punished for not trimming nails or having unkempt hair.

Fights and fisticuffs did take place but the teachers were of stature and the mere sight of them was enough to deter the trouble-makers. However, it was not that mischievous elements were not there, but the school authorities kept them under check.

There used to be holidays galore as being a government school, the place would turn into an exam centre frequently. With teachers and other staff being put on duty, it would be a frequent holiday for the students.

Near our school was a college for boys and whenever there would be a protest demonstration, they would enter our school and force it shut, much to our delight for we would then go wandering on the river bank or play cricket. The school fee was a token amount and for students who would go missing after the tiffin break, the fine was 25 paise, an amount which they could pay from their pocket money itself, and which encouraged them at times to bunk classes.

Disciplinary issues arose still, there was a lot of focus on studies and the names of top ten students in the pre-board exams would be read out before an assembly to motivate them. Deprivation is your strength, the students were told, and it encouraged them to work hard to come up in life. The stature of the teachers was enough to ensure discipline on the campus for their names evoked respect. The school would take pride in the number of its students who passed in first division.

The incident in Panchkula is perhaps a pointer as to how there has been an erosion of basics over time. Unless teachers and students realise that they are there in school for the primary purpose of studies, unless the urge to do well comes from within, all other measures taken to ensure security and improve the environment will fail to achieve its aim.

Realisation has to be from within

The incident in Panchkula is perhaps a pointer as to how there has been an erosion of basics over time. Unless teachers and students realise that they are there in school for the primary purpose of studies, unless the urge to do well comes from within, all other measures taken to ensure security and improve the environment will fail to achieve its aim.