A time to play

Everytime i read about schools or watch a mushy movie on school days and how kids enjoy their school life, i feel myself shivering for a second. Its no secret on how i view my schooldays. So i cant take mine as a case in study. As i look at how it had shaped my fellow mates, i couldnt help but wonder...is it really worth the struggle??!!

Everyone says marks don't make or break a kid, each parent being an example themselves. Almost all of my friends vow never to allow their kids go through the same struggle that they went through as kids and promise themselves to allow the kids to choose their own path. But the March month madness makes the slave driver in them to triumph over the parent self. It will be ages before a viable alternative is found and accepted. I guess, inherently it has been branded into all of us that, unless you sweat it out the results wouldnt be worth it. It is definitely true but can't working hard and concentrating go hand in hand with peace and happiness?

More than schools, i think playgrounds teach kids a lot. I have hardly seen any kid smile before their exams. But how much ever tired they may be, they never stop smiling on a playground. Even if they fall down and get hurt, they dust themselves off and get ready for the next round - the single most valuable lesson for life that no book can teach. They find innovative ways to keep themselves busy and invent new games. They form teams and without any one teaching realise the joy of sharing and power that is team work. Results are left behind on the play area itself and in the end no one worries about the statistics. Its almost always the fun that mattered.

Sadly schools nowadays hardly have any space for playgrounds. That includes the one i studied too. We had to walk all the way to the ymca ground from gaudia mutt road. Considering that the road was stuck with traffic even before the invention of locomotives, you can imagine how many PT periods we would've had. The rare ones were like so surprising and swift, even before you could realise it would be over. Considering my bulky size, never been a big fan of playgrounds for i always used to falldown and get hurt. And playgrounds being the favorite haunt for picking on students like me, it was kind of terror spot too. But what is school life if not for those fights and incidents that scar you for life :) Its kind of fun in its own way too.

There should be a school just for playing. A sports school, where the subjects are all sports and physical activities..something like the shaolin temple they show in movies. The kids who pass out of those schools should be considered for olympics and state meets and stuff like that. Not academies. But schools. Recognised, fully approved and run like a school with proper teachers. As vocational groups they can also include some science and maths and subjects that the kids can choose on their breaks between the games and stuff. Atleast the setup should change into something like half day in playground and half day in classes kind of model. It would be really nice if one can derive such a system, that balances out studies and play. Afterall, the kids need some strength to lift those bulky school bags all the way from home to school and back. What better way than making them sweat a little on the ground :)

P.S: Valentines day ku Children's day post nu paakreengala :D Athaan oor poora pink paint adichi celebrate panraangalla..varietyla vidhyasama irunthutu pogatumay :D

Comments

The more I see school playgrounds, the more I think, "I should have participated in sports day more than the usual compulsory march-past." That will forever remain a regret. We had lot of games and other activities but I seldom ventured there. School plays, compering, speeches and literary activities were my forte. Now, I yearn to be athletic, sadly.

Joy always,
Susan
Asha said…
Madras la BAT( brittania amritraj tennis academy school) irundaday? illaya ippo? Infact paes is from that academy, i think.It focussed more on tennis than on studies.

AGree about the physical activity part.

But, i believe sports, arts and studies should all be learnt. ellame therinjukkanam mavatturdu mudirkondu appodaanengeyavadu endha velai vena pannalam.

Most parents don't focus on marks anymore. The children are also very clear what they want in life and even if they are not focused they have clarity and conviction in whatever they do at present. Much matured than my kaalam. If they want sports, sports it will be.

That said, most of our national sporting heroes emerge from humble backgrounds with no proper grounds to play. what they require is focus, determination, hardwork and passion to win in olympics not sports schools. but sports and arts definitely should be a part of the curriculum like in my children's school).ennoda thazhmaiyana karutthu unga post lengtha match panradhu:)

P.S: BTW are you aware of techno schools (ulta of sports school). Like you said for parents and students who are focused only on marks.
Ramesh said…
Wow - what is happening to Gilsu ever since he migrated to colder climes. He is waxing philosophically :)

Yes, there is too much work and not enough play. But your idea of sports school won't work. I a sports school play is work. Get up at 5.00 AM, run 5 rounds of the ground, exercises, training ... sports school students can't bear to go to the playground.

By the way, since when was Gils "bulky" ?????
KC! said…
achacho ivalo varutha padadheenga :p idhukudhan yarayavadhu propose panni vittuta ippadi pheelings varadhu :p but I agree on the exam madness, seriously a lot of moms train their kids to be academics, more than they would train them on anything else. Things should change - adhan namma oorla not a lot of Olympic medals, adhan ellarum mark vangitrukangale :))
Vincy said…
just two points Gils
1. I am hoping you didnt use me as a case when you used the term "Parent"
2. I will not talk about your post to my son or let him peep into this post atleast till April this year :-) :-)
gils said…
@susan:

same blood... but walking without falling itself was a big achievement for me :D as for speeches!!! avvvvvvvv...ipovaraikum i cant talk in front of a crowd...my voice is forever blocked :)
gils said…
@asha:

specifica tennis cricket intha mathiri sportsku coaching centers iruku..i was thinking about a school where the curriculum itself would be sports. the polarisation is getting wider and wider..oru sect driving their kids up the wall with their ridiculous expectations (watch any random show on neeya naana on parents/kids) and other side total laisse faire methodology...intha naatu pasangala nee thaan muruga kaapathanum :)
gils said…
@thala:

:) 5 am running around the ground on one hand..5 am rushing to the history period on other hand...easy picking :)

Gils is always bulky :))
gils said…
@kc:

elaarum mark vaangarangala!! neenga padips..easya soliteenga :d inga pass panrathukay nora thalluthu..ambulimaamala exam vachiruntha naangalam state first enna country firstay vaangirupom :D
gils said…
@vincy:

hahahaha :D:D:D nenachen :D:D somehow i expected the second point :)) and for the first point..antha "parent" neengala ilaya nu neenga thaan solanum :D:D Lol

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