A parent's dilemma on the education system

  

A WhatsApp message in my daughter's school group suggested that the children discuss five distinctive characteristics of mammals for a class activity. Upon her return from school, I inquired about her knowledge of mammals. She mentioned traits like giving birth, producing milk, and having hair. Satisfied with her existing knowledge, I decided to focus on the other morphological aspects of mammals for our further discussion.

I explained to her about the presence of external ears in most mammals, citing examples of animals with and without ears, and categorising those without ears into their respective groups. We delved into exceptions. Upon her curiosity, we even discussed the internal, middle, and external ear of humans using a diagram that I learned only during my graduation. The following day, I asked her if she had discussed the external ear, but she shared that her teacher contradicted her information, stating that all mammals have a backbone.

This discrepancy left my daughter perplexed, as we had spent considerable time discussing and resolving her queries. Additionally, she was familiar with the vertebral column in fish, which she encounters daily.

As a child, she wanted to trust her teacher more than her mother, leaving me unsure of how to address the situation. While I understand that primary school teachers may not be zoologists, I find it disconcerting that the curriculum lacks expert verification. The discrepancy in the EVS (Environmental Studies) book, stating a backbone as a unique feature of mammals, added to my surprise.

Such incidents take me back to my school days, recalling an instance where a teacher's incorrect instruction left me feeling miserable. I now realise the profound impact teachers can have on children's lives. Reflecting on my own experience in the 5th or 6th grade, when we had this new thing called computer in our school. The computer lab was the only place that had AC and we had to keep our shoes outside the room. It was a fancy thing back then. In one of the computer classes, our teacher said lets check who all are intelligent students in this batch. We all had to complete a 20 multiple choice questionnaire to see which side of the brain is more active. The teacher said that students with left side active brain are intelligent and can opt for science and students with right side active brain can opt for humanities. So the entire class discussed the percentage towards left and comparing results. My result of the test was exactly in the centre and the whole class made fun of me as “good for nothing”. I felt terrible that day. Today I know the test was not about determining science or humanities as future subjects but rather about logical and creative thinking and today I also know that the test result was absolutely correct. I indeed had a very balanced brain that helped me to pursue science with creativity. I could create diagrams (visuals) by reading the text, my collage teachers used to ask me about the reference of my drawings and used to keep my answer sheets as no textbook had those drawings. Today, when I am learning music that needs the creative side of the brain, I apply my understanding of science i.e. logical thinking.

Me and my daughter discuss a lot about evolution without using terminologies but she understands how life originated and is evolving. The classification plays an important role in understanding evolution. For me, until 12th grade, it was just a 2 marks chapter in textbook that you just memorise without understanding. I had a wonderful teacher in college whose stories (theories presented in super engaging form) of evolution have motivated me to learn more. I wanted my child to experience the same from the beginning. 

Doesn’t our education system need reform that recognises the need to nurture individual strengths rather than subjecting students to misleading assessments that can undermine their self-worth?