When you think someone is wrong... Think again...

The secret of one's success, lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from that person's angle as well as from your own.

Henry Ford once said, 'The best angle from which to approach a problem is the Try-angle'.

How does that matter now? Well, read on...

Once an LKG Class Teacher was teaching counting to the little children in her class. She thought happily that all the children had now mastered the concept of counting. But then.. there was little Riya who kept answering differently than the whole class.

The dismayed teacher was expecting an effortless correct answer (three). Maybe the child did not listen properly, she thought. She repeated, 'Riya, please listen carefully." If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have? Riya had seen the disappointment on her teacher's face. She now calculated again on her little fingers. But within her she was also searching for the answer that will make the teacher happy. Her search for the answer was not for the correct one, but the one that would make her teacher happy. This time hesitatingly she replied, "Four". The disappointment stayed on the teacher's face. She remembered that Riya liked Mangoes. She thought maybe she didn't like apples and that was making her loose focus. This time with an exaggerated excitement and twinkling in her eyes she asked, "If I give you one mango and one mango and one mango, then how many you will have?"

Seeing the teacher happy, young Riya calculated on her fingers again. There was no pressure on her, but a little on the teacher. She wanted her new approach to succeed. With a hesitating smile young Riya enquired, "Three?" The teacher now had a victorious smile. Her approach had succeeded. She wanted to congratulate herself. But one last thing remained. Once again she asked her, "Now if I give you one apple and one apple and one more apple how many will you have?" Promptly Riya answered, "Four!" The teacher was aghast. "How Riya? How?", she demanded in a little stern and irritated voice. In a voice that was low and hesitating young Riya replied, "Because I already have one apple in my bag."

Cool enough?

When someone gives you an answer that is different from what you expect, dont think they are wrong. There maybe an angle that you have not understood at all. You will have to listen and understand, but never listen with a predetermined notion. When you are in doubt, just ask!

Is a Mother the Live God on Land?

I was once posed a discussion. And the topic? The Greatness of Motherhood... It was on the ranks of: Motherness never touches the religion, beauty, money and fame. Only women can be praised as the next god who takes her second life after giving birth to the new infant life.

Now how much do I agree to it and feel about it...

All said might be true.. to an extent that the care and concern of a mother knows no bounds. Does that qualify ourselves to be paralleled to God? and only us too?

Frankly I think, its an emotional bonding that comes from within. We may be taking a second life with our little one's birth. But come to think of it. This talk had its roots when the medical advancement was not much and every woman during delivery was at a risk of loosing life. Are we facing the same situation today? Exceptions and criticality may be there here and there. but we definitely are in a state where we only look forward to being with the child without even a little thought of the life at risk. Women had that tension before but not prevalent now. We are safe. We are secure.

Motherhood and motherly love springs from the very day we realize that we are pregnant. Something is beginning within us. A life is starting to evolve. Naturally we who love our own things externally, tend to be extra emotional when it is sprouting from within. And a mother is born the day a baby is born. There is no surprise or something great when the mother feels attached to the being she has given birth to.

But come to think of it. Except for being the reason for the child, what else does the man do for it... Care for his wife?. Trust me, all men are cautious and concerned about their children and care for their wives. Share as much as they can. Most men do. And beyond everything, even a father is as old as the child and as old as a woman turned into a mother. When a father who doesnt carry the little one within him, can shower so much of love, care and affection on the child, why not the mother? and why equal only the woman to the God.. Just because we give birth?

I am proud being a mother. I love my child, be it in our good times or bad. I care not for anything material when it comes to him. But I dont consider myself Godly nor do I think, only a mother is entitled to be Godly or feel proud. Though the child may take sides from time to time, being close to one parent than the other, the love is no different. Its just a time based favoritism.

I feel both the mother and father are as old as a child. Coz they both are born as a father and mother only when the child is born. Its a new life to everyone. For a child, the mother and father are both equally important. Now that was a chance for me to think, if I am the only person to be proud of our son or both me and my husband share the pride!

Excuse me folks for the rant. Am I being too modest now ;)

Scrapping 10th Board Exams...

Scrapping 10th Board Exams...Is it for the good? I would say NO. why are the suicides happening? who is responsible for the Stress? Competition? Pressure? Children not ready to accept failure?

Who puts all these on the child? Studies is not everything. Its basic to everything. Parents should overcome the rankgame and give the children breathing space to face it with clear minds. They should love to learn. If not in 10th , they are still gonna face exams in 12th. Those that are not being prepared to face 10th itself by parents, how are they gonna be ready for 12th? And parents are going to be even more anxious for they dont know how they are going to perform in their first board exams and they will only add extra pressure on the students.

And as many point out, not everyone who aspires is able to make it big. Given their financial strata or social responsibility many children do leave studies after 10th. Now for minimum qualification, they need to study for another 2 yrs and how many can afford that, if they are in such a case. We can afford, so we say let them do.

And this same government that says that every child necessarily needs to study till 5th class atleast. Are they going to support?

As per UN's India Education update on
http://www.un.org.in/JANSHALA/jan1999/compedu.htm

Free Education
All State Governments have abolished tuition fees in Government schools up to upper primary level Education in schools run by local bodies and private aided institutions is also mostly free. However, unaided institutions (3.7%) do charge fees. Other costs of education such as textbooks, stationery, school uniforms, transport, etc. are borne by States mainly for primary school children belonging to SC/ST categories and girls.

Now are they going to extend funding till 12th??

Constitutional Directive
Article 45 of the Constitution directs that the State shall endeavour to provide, within a period of 10 years from the commencement of the Constitution, free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of 14 years.

National Policy on Education, 1986
Reiterating the Constitutional Directive, the National Policy on Education, 1986, provides that free and compulsory education of satisfactory quality shall be provided to all children up to the age of 14 years before we enter the 21st century. The Programme of Action, 1992 outlines various strategies for achieving this goal.

The children who get the education soaps till 14, can prove themselves at 10th and get a qualification in their names. But if the soaps as these are not extended, how are they gonna study the extra two years? and what is the basic qualification they can achieve beyond their scope of expenditure?

If our education system is so worse, that a child's calibre cannot be found out by one exam like 10th, we are forgetting, 10th actually gives us an idea to decide which area is our better faring area so that we can take up for 12th's specialization and thereby a career. Now we are falling to one single exam at 12th that's going to decide everything blindly.

I some how think, there should be an opportunity for kids to take up the 10th exams. Atleast make it kind of a grade system. Also, this enables them to perform when put to task and also make them individuals who can face any situation instead of buckling down at some glitches of life. Its in each and every parent's hands and the school's outlook to lessen the pressure on children than backing away from hurdles like scrapping exams off

This is a good move for the harassed kids whose parents attach so much importance to marks. But definitely a bang on the other strata who prefer learning and challenges than just writing exams.