LEVEL OF STUDENTS IN STUDIES - K Bhanumoorthy

 

INTRODUCTION:

In recent days, I have read and come to know about the latest news items about the status of students at schooling, irrespective of whatever the classes do they study. No doubt pandemic over the period of 2 years has affected the learning, caused lots of problems to students, parents and teachers at all levels. Students get stress, pressure, unable to do well either in internal examinations or in external/entrance examinations. Survey is being conducted at two stages of students: VI - VIII, the other IX – XII, inclusive of both genders on mental health, wellbeing of students. The sample study has been from all the states (28 and 8 UTs). In the given survey about 15 aspects are reflected by % of students in each aspect. I would like to take up, say 9 points as very important aspects. Self-Trust worthiness, Happiness at school, Lack of concentration, coping with stress, satisfaction with body image, Peer pressure, hesitation to ask questions, feeling difficulty in conversation, to handle emotions. I am being a teacher, feel very sad about how to come out of this situation. It is not the question of blaming someone but we have to find apt solutions, though there are many factors. An educational institution is attached with immediate community, then with society. They are set-up with vision and mission to obtain the main objectives and aims of real education.

Let me analyse the problems and here are a few suggestions that I would like to share what I learnt over a period of 30 years as a teacher and school head, and also from my colleagues, certainly teachers with whom I worked, from students in particular, of course from parents.

Self -Trustworthiness: This we can say as self-confidence. It is a must for every student. Self -trust is consistently staying true to oneself. It is nothing but firm reliance. Generally, students are being caught in the past or worrying about the future. This aspect undermines self -trust. One should not be enslaved by fear, self-trust automatically grows. Of course, various steps are there. First and fore-most one should take initiative to work hard, never give up. One should feel that he can. At this stage teachers, parents’ roles are there. We shall discuss in latter paragraphs after completing students’ problems/ issues.  

A quote by Saint Dauji (SRCM)

” Expect the best from yourself, not from others.”

Satisfaction with school life (Happiness at School): This is one of the most essential traits. The student life is the most important and best part / period in anyone’s life. Joyful learning, interactive classes, healthy friendship, lots of fun in games and sports and other school activities, celebration of national festivals so on bring back ever green memories.  Every student should feel happy to attend the school.  The environment has to be more congenial with the required facilities (Ventilated class rooms with sufficient furniture for students, activity rooms, various departments, Laboratories (Junior, Senior), playground, Library, music room, drawing room, a good garden, play area for kids, so on). Most important teachers for all subjects are available including teachers for other non -scholastic activities. Let the teaching learning process be interactive, be a joyful leaning.  If I am permitted to say if student feels that there are some teachers if not all, who have concern for their development, their progress in studies make every student happy. With that teacher and students’ relationship have to be based on mutual respects. I am sure all shall agree happiness is required for academic excellence.  

Lack of concentration: One has to prepare a fixed routine for study and follow it. When you sit for study in general your mind might wander here and there. It is essential to make up their mind to concentrate. Before goes for study one has to see all the required materials are very much available. This would certainly help anyone using the study time without any disturbance. A kind of determination is required to concentrate and study well. Purity of mind is essential. One has to listen to good things, the pictures what one sees in TV, read good books, to Pay attention on foods what one takes. In simple way to say where is a will, there is way. Kindly make a note there is no use weeping over the past mistakes, to forget the past and build future.

Coping with stress: The meaning of stress is strain/ tension/ worry/anxiety/mental or emotional strain This aspect most of the students say to Parents, Friends and relatives, why even to teachers. This happens during examination schedules. Students have to study regularly not only at   the time examination. Fixed routine, read with pen and paper , make notes whatever are read. Study with full concentration. No question of any deviation/diversions such as TV, movies, games etc. No other short cut except hard work to attain set in goals.  

Satisfaction with body Image: Physical appearance is the way individuals feel about their body. This relates to the amount of satisfaction or dissatisfaction individuals feel about their shape, weight (fat/thin), individual body parts. It rather refers to a person’s sense of their own physical appearance and to their perception of how others see them. This way of thinking has the greatest effects on an individual with regard to self-esteem. Body Image impacts all parts of our minds and bodies. Students should avoid negative thoughts. However, one has to have healthy body. Learning aspect has nothing to do with body image. Everyone is born with in born skills. How do you like fair, not in fair in colour has no way connected the aspect of learning. Students have to pay attention to one’s studies, work hard, listen to teachers, parents, all elders. One should not have inferiority complex on the perception of body image.

Complying to peer pressure most of the time:  The meaning of peer is look at difficulty or concentration. Could be equal or coequal. The word pressure means steady force, could be influence or persuasion of an oppressive kind or compulsion or burden. With these meanings I can proceed further. Peer pressure is a feeling that one must do the same things as other people of one’s age and social group in order to be liked or respected by them. In school, students of a class peer pressure can be avoided by thinking of their actions. One has to understand not all peer influence is negative. When a student changes his ways /her ways of life style, habits and similar things in accordance to that of the people that he chooses to stay around, he is said to be under peer pressure. If convinced to adopt something which turns out to be benefit or help t them to grow healthily peer pressure is positive. If it leads to harm them pp is negative. Some might score more (do very well) and if the competition is taken positively it could result in doing hard work. If PP is there talk to elders parents and teachers. One need not follow the everything your friends are doing and it is better to avoid such events if they lead to harm anyone. . Students have to be strong believer in dos and don’ts. PP plays an important role in social and emotional development.

It can never be permanent, if any wish to change, it is one’s choice.

Hesitation in asking questions: In general classes are heterogeneous where students are of different calibre, slow in understanding, might have difficulty to comprehend. Other than these, mother tongue issues are there. Students might feel if he/she asks question questions what other students think about them or whether the teacher will under estimate his abilities. A sort of complexity or shy in certain students .I would say. Even at the end of a class if the teachers ask any doubt, any questions, out of fear of being judged by peers also, one will not ask or prevents one from asking, others might think he /she is less knowledgeable. If doubts are there ask the teacher politely where you have not understood. There are chances the same doubt many students may have but afraid to ask. At any cost not to accumulate doubts, they would be a sort of hindrance for further learning process. If doubts are cleared then and there, surely there is active learning, one might feel subject is interesting, helpful in retention. Certainly, promotes personal growth and academic excellence. 

     

Difficulty in initiating conversation: Learning to take initiative is a behaviour that help an individual to live with courage and optimism.The meaning of initiative is the capacity to invent and initiative ideas or we can say dynamism or an ambition. Speaking is one of the skills in any language. The pronunciation plays an Important place, there is a pause, neither too fast or too slow. The reasons could be fear of speaking up, fear of criticism, shyness, lack of faith in one’s ability, self-doubt. Some times a student might think that someone else do it. Even some students might think he is not good in conversation. If students had a bad experience in the past after having conversation leaves an imprints on one’s mind. Some may struggle to express their ideas coherently. No doubt everyone can not have this skill. Students have to develop this skill. The student has to be pro-active, not necessarily one has to be reminded to do the work to have a career plan, persistence, , and to work independently.   one has to take up personal initiative, ask questions in the class to clarify if he has any doubt. Be Self-confident, possess high esteem that he can. He must be able to acquire self- management skills by working independently. The student must be able to articulate and competent about the ideas what he speaks. One has to read books other than text books to have general knowledge, read newspaper, read approved magazines, so to say acquire the knowledge and be equipped to face and able to express your ideas. In brief it is a matter of one’s communication abilities.

Managing Emotions:  Let me write a quote by Bruce lee-

“You will continue to suffer if you have emotional reaction to everything that is said to you. True power is sitting back and observing everything with logic-. If words control you that means everyone else can control you. Breathe and allow things to pass. Students who manage emotions do better in schooling. It is not enough to be smart and do the hard work. One has to understand and manage their emotions at schooling. The higher the EQ one gets higher grade, but lower the EQ gets the low grade. The negative emotion such as anxiety, boredom, disappointment affect the academic performance. One has to remain calm and composed in difficult situations, must be able to meet the challenges, difficulties to overcome, do face them with courage and confident. When students learn to handle adversity, stressful situations automatically acquire emotional stability gets inner strength to face challenges. We have been talking about Intelligence Quotient (IQ) since long. But there is Emotional Quotient (EQ) which is very much required for everyone, students  in particular. It is defined an ability to identify, regulate and manage emotions in the self and others. Students are emotionally driven beings.

Dear students, the teachers, parents, friends, your relatives at the most can guide, help you, encourage you, support you. Enough has been spoken. Let me give a quote by Covett Robert.

“Life is a grindstone and whether it grind you down or polishes you up is for you and you alone to decide.”

Let me write about Teachers Role:

I would say teachers are professionals. They do have concern on students progress. It is not always easy to change a student’s life, but a great teacher can do so. Students who are inspired by their teachers can accomplish amazing results and that motivation stay with them lifelong.

It is not an exaggeration to say that teachers can influence a student’s life. I would earnestly request the learned teachers to teach important life skills that will help them succeed beyond school curriculum, term papers and standardized tests. Every class is attached to a teacher who is called as class teacher. Other than taking attendance daily and issuing progress cards, other responsibilities are very much there. Students discipline, participation in all school activities are to be noted, sufficient encouragement has to be given. In the attendance register, all the details about the parents (where working with phone numbers), residential address, when admitted to which class. Some students may be staying with grandparents, some might have single parents, so on) I mean to say students’ details are available in hand. Within 3 months the class teacher shall be able to know the level of their students in the subjects. Class teachers have to discuss with other subject teachers (Colleagues) to know the case study of every student of his /her class. Class teachers have to discuss with students first if they have any difficulty in any subject. Constructive and helpful feedback is to be given to students for further progress. When teachers take care of slow learners, they have to provide challenging activities for gifted students. Teachers have to contact the parents of the students who got low marks and guidance, counselling be provided. Students are likely to catch the emotions of teachers what they are feeling. Teachers play very important role make the students emotionally stable. EQ is an important skill to have for professional and personal success, more important in leadership roles. Understanding what makes a particular student “tick” emotionally is important in helping an individual student. I would say teachers need a strong EQ. In brief to be proactive instead of reactive., one has to know and handle the situation. Now a days students are more sensitive. When teachers show them empathy and warmth they do substantially better in academic performance. Students should respect you but do not to have fear, to approach you for any clarification, to clear doubts.

I would like to share some effective traits of an effective teacher.

1.Take pleasure in Teaching 2. Make a difference 3. Propagate Positivity 4. Know- Your Students 5. Give 100% your best 6. Be An Organised Planner 7. Be Un-biased/ Un- Prejudice 8. Set Goals 9. Self-Development for refinement in teaching 10. Be ready to adopt to Changes.

“Your competitors can copy your work, your style or your procedure. But no one can copy your Passion. If You hold it firmly, the world is yours.” Be Passionate.

So dear teachers, be role model. Teachers are Nation Builders. Kindly resolve with determination the students under your care are made physically fit, mentally alert, morally virtuous, academically intellectual, spiritually upright  emotionally stable, and attain values.

 A quote from Karl Meninger.

“What the teacher, is more important than what he /she teaches.

Let me share, role of Parents on this topic:

Every parent is expected to know that there are positives and negatives in our life. I would like to emphasis the thought process of young children. Automatic thoughts are usually transmitted through parents and Teachers created by significant life experiences/Cells function better if there are happy thoughts; every cell listens to our thinking. When I have mentioned about parents, it is very necessary the importance of Home. Other than school timings the child (your wards) stays at home. So, I would like to emphasis the child should be Happy, Healthy environment, habitable, there is an orderly way of living, must be motivating, memorable, morale enhancement. Mother is the first teacher though the teaching is informal. Children learn from parents before they go to school. In fact, parents to be role models, so that they do imbibe values, cultivate good habits from the childhood at home. If there are any issues let them not quarrel Infront of their children. You dear parents send your wards with lots of expectations that the child must do well in studies , come out with flying colours. I would emphasis here once admission is over your work is not over dear parents, then only parents work starts I believe. The teachers, parents and the students form the sides of a triangle which is functionally complete only if frequent interaction with teachers and mutual respects are there. Dear parent make some time available every day to discuss with your children what they have learnt, were there any interesting incidences. They will come to know that you are interested in their welfare and have concern for their development. Kindly do not to wait for the call from teachers to meet. Please see that you meet teachers to know the child’s status in learning, at least once a term. Send a note that you are interested to meet, get their concurrence when. Developing a healthy relationship between parent-teacher is a great way to improve child’s performance in school. A child is to be accepted what he/she is, at the same time to be corrected when needed. Their requirements are to be addressed to and treated psychologically according to their respective ages. Watch who are all their friends. Trust the child but watch the child. Enough has been spoken. Let me give a quote from Chariji (SRCM)

“Growing children are like plants----they need love and sunshine, and also the freedom needed to grow.”

Conclusion: The suggestions whatever given are not fully exhaustive, one can add many more points.  It is said that “student life is golden life,” because it is the most important of human life. It is the period of pure joy, happiness, free from worries. It is the formative period of human life. Students should also be careful about their health and spend some time daily in sports and games, should try to develop their body and mind. At the same time be prepared to meet the challenges in life, attain set in goals and serve the nation. Dream ---Desire – Determination – Dedication, these are the steps to success, be systematic in daily life. Dear students please do remember blessings from parents are the most glorious blessings in life. Not the least, taking blessings from the teachers are essential.

“There is no substitute for Hard work.”        ---Thomas Edison.