LEVEL OF STUDENTS IN STUDIES- K . Bhanumoorthy

 

LEVEL OF STUDENTS IN STUDIES---- Present Days.

  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 or external 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. Being a teacher, I feel very sad how to come out of this situation. It is not the question of blaming someone but we have to find apt solutions. 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. 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, parents and students.

1.Self -Trustworthiness: This we can say as self-confidence or staying true to oneself. It is a must for every student. Generally, students are always thinking about the past or worry about the future. This aspect undermines self -trust. If they are not enslaved by fear, self-trust automatically grows. Of course, various steps are there. First and fore-most one should take initiative to work hard, and not to give up. One should feel that he can do it. Teachers and parents roles are very important at this stage.

                     "Expect the best from yourself, not from others” is an apt quote by   Saint Dauji (SRCM)

2.Satisfaction with school life: This is one of the most essential traits. The student life is the most important and best part 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 optimum facilities both for scholastic and non-scholastic areas.  Teachers for all subjects should be available, even for other non -scholastic activities. Let the teaching - learning process be interactive, be a joyful leaning.  If students feel that there are some teachers, if not all, who have concern for their development, their progress in studies, will make them happy. With that teacher and students’ relationship have to be based on mutual respects. So, happiness is mainly required for academic excellence.  

3.Lack of concentration: One has to prepare a fixed routine for study and follow it. When you sit for study, 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 also essential. One has to listen to good things, see good programs in TV, read good books, pay attention to what one eats. (food) In simple way to say where is a will, there is way.

There is no use weeping over the past mistakes. Better to forget the past and build a bright future. Doing     yoga and meditation shall hep to enhance concentration.

4.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 diversions such as TV, movies, games etc. No other shortcut except hard work to attain set in goals.  

5.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.

6.Complying to peer pressure most of the time:  The meaning of peer is look at difficulty or concentration. The word pressure means steady force, or persuasion of an oppressive kind. Peer pressure is a feeling that one must do the same things as other people of one’s age 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 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 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.

7.Hesitation in asking questions: In general classes are heterogeneous where students are of different calibre, slow in understanding, difficulty to comprehend. Mother tongue issues could be there. Students might feel if they ask questions what other students think about them or whether the teacher will under estimate their abilities. A sort of complexity or shy in certain students I would say. 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. Doubts are cleared then and there, for active learning, one might feel subject is interesting, helpful in retention, promotes personal growth and academic excellence. 

8.Difficulty in initiating conversation: Learning to take initiative is a behaviour that helps an individual to live with courage and optimism. It is the capacity to have ideas. It is kind of 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. A student might think, that someone else will do it or thinks, he is not good in conversation. If students had a bad   experience in the past after having conversation leaves an imprint on one’s mind. Some may struggle to express their ideas coherently. 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.  Personal initiative to be taken to ask questions in the class to clarify doubts. 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.

9.Managing Emotions:  

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. It is defined an ability to identify, regulate and manage emotions in the self and others. 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 grinds you down or polishes you up is for you and you alone to decide.”

Teachers Role:

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 is to be noted, sufficient encouragement has to be given. In the attendance register, all the details about the students are available. Some students may be staying with grandparents, some might have single parents, ---so on. Within 3 months the class teacher shall be able to know the level of their students in all 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. 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. 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 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.”

Role of Parents:

Every parent is expected to know that there are positives and negatives in our life. 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. It is very necessary the importance of Home. Other than school timings the child stays at home. The child should be Happy, feel Healthy environment, habitable, there exists an orderly way of living, must be motivating, memorable, morale enhancement. 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. Parents not to quarrel Infront of their children. Dear parents, you send your wards with lots of expectations that the child must do well in studies, come out with flying colours. Once admission is over your work is not over, then only your 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. 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 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. 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.

Conclusion: The suggestions whatever given are not fully exhaustive, one can add many more points.  It is said that “student life is the most important, formative period of human life”. It is the period of pure joy, happiness, free from worries. Students should also be careful about their health and should try to develop their body and mind. 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.

                                                          Jai Hind.

Mr K Bhanaumoorthy is a retired Principal from Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan having more than 33 years of teaching experience. At 70 + he is still active in promoting mathematics. He is an inquisitive learner and working day and night to promote mathematics. He has received Ramanujan Award, Life Time Achievement Award and many more in his life.