Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Negligence and Ignorance - Death of school children!

In the last three days, two school children died in Delhi! Classic example of the antipathy of the school authorities towards negligence on the concerned staff members, be it teachers or the administrative staff for the death of these two children - one student is from the government high school -Reason: punishment for not having done her homework; another death due to negligence of the staff on the Asthma attacked student!
Now who is to blame for this? The authorities? the staff? the teachers? the parents? or the society at large? When we come across such news on the TV we tend to become emotional and also become very angry as I am now, but after a couple of days, we tend to unwind into our daily chores and forget about it altogether. It is in this regard I am writing my thoughts and theories which might instigate a spark into someone concerned and block this kind of atrocity towards students.

What I strongly feel is to blame the system! Yes, how many schools have been equipped with the following
  1. Teachers discipline towards pupils
  2. Awareness of severity of the case when a teacher punishes the pupil
  3. Awareness of the staff in terms of critical measures to be taken when a student falls ill
  4. Measures to be taken by the School Authorities to correct their own system of negligence
  5. Human Rights Organizations bringing in awareness
  6. Stress busting measures for the Teachers/Authorities to tackle work related Fatigue
Yes, the last point is very important here, how many of us are aware that a normal teacher has to bear the noice of her/his class throughout the day; which by any standards is very detrimental to her/his health? Handling 60-70 students, their problems, irritants, pranksters, noice makers throughout the day is no small compared to the mental tensions of a corporate bigwig!
In such a scenario the implication is that the teacher keeps bearing this pressure under her/him till the explosion takes place to disarming level. As in the case where the municipal teacher made the 2nd standard girl stand in the hot sun in a crouch position with 7 bricks on her back which resulted in the girl suffocating due to lack of oxygen/dehydration and later succumbed in hospital.
In other case the authorities were not at all aware that a Asthma struck patient need to be given immediate professional medication and not a first aid in the schools resting room! Had they been aware of this, the 17 year girl would be alive today!
Two cases of negligence, and not being aware; but the buck should stop here, instead of beating the trumpet at the school authorities, the Government bodies, Department of Higher Education, District Educational Officers; should conduct periodic checks; educate the educated Teachers on the severity of the case; Punishment under various sections of the law; compassion towards their work; Stress relieving exercises and above all a human touch to what they say - A teacher is responsible in laying foundation of a students career!
If these measures are strictly followed independently without any hindrance from any form of bureaucracy, we can see more smiling faces coming out of school buildings rather than grieving faces of parents with cadaver of their children!
With all humility I pray for the two souls to rest in peace!

2 comments:

  1. Andy was here to see what the Voice of Lokesh is saying...Keep posting,Keep rocking :)

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  2. Hey Andy, nice to see u post on my blog, atleast I can find a virtual Andy though, Saturday Never comes, Sunday's are always busy!! thts my Andy!!

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