The Odd one Out
“ Daddy, can I colour the tree black and the sky red?” my three-something tiny tot asked me with a glimmer in his eyes. It was a Sunday afternoon, and my son was having a gala time with his paintbrush and poster colours. I felt like telling him he can colour the sky and the tree whichever colour he chooses, but I restrained myself. My child was about to face the first of many competitive exams in life : The junior KG interview.
Most people outside Mumbai will not realize this, but school interviews have evolved into a mini entrance exam, not unlike the many IITs and IIMs and PMTs that our country proudly wears on its sleeves. In fact, India can justifiably claim the title of “The exam Nation”: a nation which can have an exam for everything you can think of. In fact, in India, mostly there is nothing beyond an exam! Why is an IIT, or an IIM so halloed? It’s so tough to get in! Shouldn’t it be all about teaching and training, and not just about getting in? But more of that some other time…
Back to Lower KG interviews: As a responsible father, I try and involve myself in my son, Avighna’s “studies”. I hate to use that word in connection with a three year old kid, but if you are desirous of your ward joining a reputed school in Mumbai, you would probably have to get used to that idea. I hope many people don’t understand what I am saying, and I hope not many kids have to endure this competitiveness at such a tender age. But I am sure there is a sizeable number of you who identify with my predicament: and hopefully agree with me.
There are various “heads” under which the wards are systematically assessed. “Fine Motor skills”: transfer water from one test tube to another without spilling-“Comprehension and vocabulary”-Describe the picture-“Observation and discrimination”-odd one out and finding differences between two similar pictures. “Logical Thinking and reasoning”-What is wrong with this picture? ( e.g. A red tree or a flying horse). “Spellings and Numbers”-Self-explanatory I guess.. “Behaviour and Manners”-observation whilst playing in a peer group-The list goes on…
All well-intentioned, you may argue- when there is competition, shouldn’t the most deserving get in? I have no problems with that…The only problem I have is with the definition of “deserving”.
A tree has green leaves- that is conventional thinking-But what about the beautiful purple tree which you saw on national geographic the other day? Was it not way more beautiful? A sky is blue-conventional knowledge-Painting the sky blue will help in clearing the “KG Entrance”-but doesn’t the more romantic red sky and black tree-my sons’ idea-somewhere resemble the vision of an award winning photographers’ portrayal of a tree’s silhouette against the setting sun? A horse can never fly- in the real world- my son insists that he can –“In stories-I have seen a picture Daddy!” Who is to argue with that logic?
Childhood is magical. It is not supposed to be rational. By forcing logic down the throat of tiny tots, are we not stealing their “Magic”? Are we not turning them into “Confirmists”-which I believe as a breed has contributed very little to mankind’s progress. We are not producing free thinkers and inventors, but as a rock artist aptly described “just another brick in the wall”. isnt it a privilege, in today's world, to be the "odd one out?"
My tiny tot is going through his “Diwali homework” from the playschool (Yes, even playschools give Diwali homework). Over a particularly difficult problem, he looks confused. “Daddy, what is wrong with this picture?”a lot my son...a lot!
