Are we lowering our sights?

So, finally we have the various board results from different parts of the world in hand. Everyone is elated and it is time to celebrate and congratulate. And why not? The results this year have surpassed all expectations and are so much better than before. Although a few papers could not be completed, and in some cases, the entire examination had to be cancelled, the various boards did their best to ensure, that pupils did not suffer in any way. What an amazing way to end your schooling and move on to college. So, to all educationists, pupils, and parents – HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS. Some degree of happiness amidst the gloom is always more than welcome. However, I feel rather confident in saying, that with me, there are probably innumerable discerning individuals out there who have a question on their mind. Mind you, this is not to take anything away from pupils who have worked extremely hard and teachers who have given it their best shot and then more. Are we lowering our sights a little too low? This is not a criticism but a fact of life. Are the marks and percentages too high for comfort? Aren’t we seeing this happening year after year? Are you having the same thoughts that I am? A few years ago, when the trend began, it was surprising, then incredulous, then genuine disbelief! Now it’s like “where can we go from here”? Are schools reaching the pinnacle of their success? We have pupils scoring full marks in all subjects! I can understand full marks in Math or for that matter a Science subject. But full marks in English, Social Studies, Economics? When most pupils of a grade score over 90 %, the scenario certainly appears skewed & not healthy. One is then forced to question the credibility of the examination system and mind you , before you decide to shoot me down with your poison tipped arrow , I am not referring to any school or board or country in particular – I question the system of Education and as an Educationist I must. Something is not right. Complacency is the bane of modern education and a rethink is the need of the hour- the quicker – the better. Innovation in the classroom is brilliant – what about innovation in the system? Does everything seem honky dory to you? It certainly does not to me! Mark you, this is not only in the board classes. This is a widespread problem in primary and secondary schools all over the world as well. If you dig below the surface, you may be surprised or depending on who you are, you may not be! High marks and grades seem to be becoming the norm. Kindergarten parents expect their wards to score all A’s and when they do not, they question the school as to why! They also say they are worried in case there is something wrong with their child. Is this even real? Further up in the grades, low marks on a report card are like a bear in a room – everyone at home is screaming, crying and in panic mode. The remarks one hears are not only strange but quite absurd. Supposedly “such low marks were not expected” they will certainly “lead to depression and a lowering of self-esteem”. “what will friends and relatives say”. What if the child “does something drastic”? “The school is to blame”! For goodness sake – what’s with us? Please can we all just realize that there is nothing wrong with a child who did not score high marks and you don’t have to run for counselling immediately – trust the school to give the right advice. To quote the renowned education academic, Professor John Hattie ““Part of our problem is that we’ve conceived success at the school level to be high achievement, and the unfortunate implication of this is, if you have high achievement to start with, you don’t have to do as much,” he said. “However, if you turn that on its side and say our job is to make sure that every student deserves at least a year’s growth for a year’s input, then every student – no matter where they start – will have to show progress.” Briefly, such high marks all round could boil down to ineffective paper setting, the quality of the assessment, faulty moderation patterns or just plain inflation of marks. There are other reasons too, but I will not go there. High examination scores may have their merit if you can call it so. They boost student morale, they please worried parents and they are some reward for years of consistent work by pupils, teachers, and schools. It looks like a win win situation all round and no one is cribbing and why would they? I agree that students are more focused, school education is better structured, teachers are better trained, they use modern methods & parents do all they can and more, to give their wards the best education possible. There are also smart private tuition classes attended by the toppers to get them to do even better. However, when almost everyone scores in the region of 95 % and above, the entire euphoria of saying “I have done well” boils down to zero and means very little. Reality hits home when the very same pupil who was elated when scoring a centum in almost every subject, is given a B or a C in the first college examination he or she appears in. Suddenly, from riding on a cloud of unbridled success and beaming from ear to ear after all the adulation, the very same pupil becomes a nervous wreck and feelings of incompetence, total disillusionment and depression set in. Mind you, this can last well into graduation and beyond and that is not healthy. Educationists around the world should continue to look at the deeper meanings of teaching and learning rather than relying disproportionately on often overly inflated numbers. Someone, somewhere, has to stand up and say “The buck stops here” This whole concept has become quite a vicious circle, because when pupils don’t get those high scores that everyone has come to expect , schools and teacher standards are under the scanner for all the wrong reasons . That is not fair. I truly believe, that in this so called modern, 21st century world, schools are so over saturated with testing and so dependent on scores that we are missing the overall end of education and this is indeed , extremely sad. We are sending pupils into the world with a false belief in their abilities, and they are, at times, too naive to know the difference . Somehow, we seem to be over controlling and undervaluing our students by making them believe they are overachieving and this needs to stop. We must realize that if we continue to focus entirely on metrics and data, true education will be a myth and that is a disaster the world can least afford.

Are we lowering our sights?

So, finally we have the various board results from different parts of the world in hand. Everyone is elated and it is time to celebrate and congratulate. And why not? The results this year have surpassed all expectations and are so much better than before. Although a few papers could not be completed, and in some cases, the entire examination had to be cancelled, the various boards did their best to ensure, that pupils did not suffer in any way. What an amazing way to end your schooling and move on to college. So, to all educationists, pupils, and parents – HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS. Some degree of happiness amidst the gloom is always more than welcome. However, I feel rather confident in saying, that with me, there are probably innumerable discerning individuals out there who have a question on their mind. Mind you, this is not to take anything away from pupils who have worked extremely hard and teachers who have given it their best shot and then more. Are we lowering our sights a little too low? This is not a criticism but a fact of life. Are the marks and percentages too high for comfort? Aren’t we seeing this happening year after year? Are you having the same thoughts that I am? A few years ago, when the trend began, it was surprising, then incredulous, then genuine disbelief! Now it’s like “where can we go from here”? Are schools reaching the pinnacle of their success? We have pupils scoring full marks in all subjects! I can understand full marks in Math or for that matter a Science subject. But full marks in English, Social Studies, Economics? When most pupils of a grade score over 90 %, the scenario certainly appears skewed & not healthy. One is then forced to question the credibility of the examination system and mind you , before you decide to shoot me down with your poison tipped arrow , I am not referring to any school or board or country in particular – I question the system of Education and as an Educationist I must. Something is not right. Complacency is the bane of modern education and a rethink is the need of the hour- the quicker – the better. Innovation in the classroom is brilliant – what about innovation in the system? Does everything seem honky dory to you? It certainly does not to me! Mark you, this is not only in the board classes. This is a widespread problem in primary and secondary schools all over the world as well. If you dig below the surface, you may be surprised or depending on who you are, you may not be! High marks and grades seem to be becoming the norm. Kindergarten parents expect their wards to score all A’s and when they do not, they question the school as to why! They also say they are worried in case there is something wrong with their child. Is this even real? Further up in the grades, low marks on a report card are like a bear in a room – everyone at home is screaming, crying and in panic mode. The remarks one hears are not only strange but quite absurd. Supposedly “such low marks were not expected” they will certainly “lead to depression and a lowering of self-esteem”. “what will friends and relatives say”. What if the child “does something drastic”? “The school is to blame”! For goodness sake – what’s with us? Please can we all just realize that there is nothing wrong with a child who did not score high marks and you don’t have to run for counselling immediately – trust the school to give the right advice. To quote the renowned education academic, Professor John Hattie ““Part of our problem is that we’ve conceived success at the school level to be high achievement, and the unfortunate implication of this is, if you have high achievement to start with, you don’t have to do as much,” he said. “However, if you turn that on its side and say our job is to make sure that every student deserves at least a year’s growth for a year’s input, then every student – no matter where they start – will have to show progress.” Briefly, such high marks all round could boil down to ineffective paper setting, the quality of the assessment, faulty moderation patterns or just plain inflation of marks. There are other reasons too, but I will not go there. High examination scores may have their merit if you can call it so. They boost student morale, they please worried parents and they are some reward for years of consistent work by pupils, teachers, and schools. It looks like a win win situation all round and no one is cribbing and why would they? I agree that students are more focused, school education is better structured, teachers are better trained, they use modern methods & parents do all they can and more, to give their wards the best education possible. There are also smart private tuition classes attended by the toppers to get them to do even better. However, when almost everyone scores in the region of 95 % and above, the entire euphoria of saying “I have done well” boils down to zero and means very little. Reality hits home when the very same pupil who was elated when scoring a centum in almost every subject, is given a B or a C in the first college examination he or she appears in. Suddenly, from riding on a cloud of unbridled success and beaming from ear to ear after all the adulation, the very same pupil becomes a nervous wreck and feelings of incompetence, total disillusionment and depression set in. Mind you, this can last well into graduation and beyond and that is not healthy. Educationists around the world should continue to look at the deeper meanings of teaching and learning rather than relying disproportionately on often overly inflated numbers. Someone, somewhere, has to stand up and say “The buck stops here” This whole concept has become quite a vicious circle, because when pupils don’t get those high scores that everyone has come to expect , schools and teacher standards are under the scanner for all the wrong reasons . That is not fair. I truly believe, that in this so called modern, 21st century world, schools are so over saturated with testing and so dependent on scores that we are missing the overall end of education and this is indeed , extremely sad. We are sending pupils into the world with a false belief in their abilities, and they are, at times, too naive to know the difference . Somehow, we seem to be over controlling and undervaluing our students by making them believe they are overachieving and this needs to stop. We must realize that if we continue to focus entirely on metrics and data, true education will be a myth and that is a disaster the world can least afford.

Are good manners out of date ?

Growing up in a family with two strict ladies – my mother and my aunt, ensured that I was brought up well mannered. Not that gents are ill mannered or anything of that sort (!) but fathers, uncles and grandfathers are more often than not, more of the happy go lucky individuals , the friends of the kids, the fun guys , while the mothers, aunts and even grandmothers for that matter, are sticklers for discipline , manners , traditions and the like . My aunt Addie was the tougher of the two. She had no kids of her own, so I guess that compounded the problem for me (but made me a better person at the same time). So where do I begin? Well I guess my earliest recollection would be of going to church. We always reached church about fifteen minutes early, and the time before the service was spent with the adult’s chit- chatting among themselves. I would often hang around at the back of the group, counting the birds flying overhead or searching for faces and animals in the clouds – I was rather shy. However, before I could pluck up courage to slink away to meet friends of my own, I had to wish anybody and everybody who I happened to see. Back then everyone was greeted with either uncle or aunty, so it was a never ending “good morning aunty and good morning uncle”. I had also been told never to mutter under my breath but to be loud and clear, so also to smile and look the person in the eye while wishing them rather than at my shoes! We often went visiting and there too, the rules were clearly spelled out – Wish, smile, speak when spoken to, do always not grab at the snacks or cool drinks when offered, and be polite . Mealtimes were also, not a free for all, muck in barbecue! We ate at the table and usually had fixed places to sit while the Bush radio (with large valves) often played softly in the background. Chewing with the mouth closed and not emitting any sound while doing so are two of the basics I remember. Then of course there were the staples- elbows off the table, no talking with food in the mouth, not using the spoon like a shovel , no day dreaming or playing with food on the plate, no wasting food , no gulping water and being careful not to drop any food or spill any water on the pristine white damask table cloth . Please let me take the liberty of explaining as lucidly as possible what playing with the food on the plate means. I hated vegetables like tomatoes, cabbage, brinjals, lady fingers and a few more. So rather than waste food and get scolded at the end while trying to slip away, I would attempt (more often than not in vain) to mash the vegetables up and spread them around the plate or hide them under mutton or chicken bones! When there was a party or guests were visiting formally, I always had to ensure I was bathed, dressed, and waiting. Any other way was frowned upon and those were some mighty large frowns. I was often the one who ran to open the door and welcome the guests in with a smile and a wish! I was then expected to make small talk if the adults were not yet in the room. That often revolved around my studies and my marks and I detested those times. If there are two words I remember being taught and reminded about ever so often, they were “Please and Thank you”. Asking for anything without preceding it with a “Please” was almost sacrilege so also with receiving something and not saying “Thank you”! Very few people had cars those days, but I distinctly remember the few occasions when a friend came over and took us for a drive. My excitement knew no bounds and I would contemplate the same for hours in advance. No sooner would we walk to the gate than I would open the door and jump in only to be told to come out and let the adults get in first! I had two female cousins who often spent times with all of us and that was fun, as being the only son, I was often quite lonely at home. So, whenever they came for a holiday we would play and enjoy ourselves thoroughly. Being around nine or ten, I was probably boisterous at times and some of the games we played would end in an argument and tears. In my defence I must add that my cousins were not saints and were often equally or more to blame. A few of those arguments unfortunately ended in hand to hand(read hair pulling ) combat as well. Irrespective of who was to blame or what the provocation was , I was always found to be the guilty party and the lesson that was imparted load and clear was “boys and men do not raise their hands to girls and women” I would then be sent to some room ,to sit quietly and study or read or whatever, while the cousins would be tip toeing around the house making fun and continuing to annoy me . Using bad language was unheard of in our home. No adult used it. I did attempt on a few occasions to use some very minor “so called bad words” that I had picked up in school, and what happened next is a fact – my mother lit a match and showed it to me saying “if you ever use those words again I will burn your tongue”. I was so scared that I vowed never to use a bad word again! Answering back, shouting in anger, and arguing with adults were also things which got me in quite a spot of trouble. While I was not the proverbial pest or anything, I probably argued a bit more than necessary and while I did not mean to be rude, I probably sounded awfully out of hand which truthfully, I was not ! While I never stole money, I remember being warned about the consequences if I did. There was also a story I recollect being told by my mother about an old wizened mother, who kept supporting her son in all his wrong doings as he grew up – she covered up for all his lies, petty crimes and inconsistencies, till one day he did something very dreadful and was jailed . On the day he was to be hanged, his mother went to see him. He supposedly wept bitterly & yelled at her in anger saying that if only she had corrected him as a small boy and later as a young man and not covered up for him, all this would never have happened. The story hit home & really made me think. Even today I firmly believe that “good manners and behaviour ” are not something old fashioned or which have gone out of date – they should be an essential part of very child’s life. In fact, they are crucial to good upbringing. As an educationist, I have worked closely with innumerable pupils and parents for close to four decades. I have interacted with some amazing parents who were very loving and kind, yet firm with their wards. They brooked no nonsense and did what was right for the kid. That I believe is good parenting. Then there are those for whom anything goes in the name of love, with kids getting away with blue murder and going scot free, irrespective of what they do or do not do for that matter! Unfortunately, that is setting the child up for failure in the years ahead . Yes, I know that times have changed, and relationships have evolved over the years with parents being almost friends to their children, but here is the bottom line – parents should hopefully know where to draw the line and when to say ‘no’ . Unfortunately, that is a word a child of today does not want to or like to hear and thereby lies the folly of our times. I have seen children ruling the roost at home , throwing temper tantrums and calling the shots. Saying ‘no’ often stirs up negative emotions, but a firm , polite ‘no’, with a brief explanation as to why it is not a ‘yes’ is always advisable, as it helps set up boundaries and limits – so very important for a growing child. We cannot deny that a large percentage of parents believe that the “yes culture” is the way forward & the best way to display love and appreciation, but then – like it or not – you are going to have a child who will be ill equipped to face the barriers and challenges of the real world. And barriers and challenges there will be. Of course, there is the other school of thought which says that you don’t have to use the word ‘no’ and can agree to disagree, but I would rather not beat about the bush. Just my opinion as a father and a teacher.

Are good manners out of date ?

Growing up in a family with two strict ladies – my mother and my aunt, ensured that I was brought up well mannered. Not that gents are ill mannered or anything of that sort (!) but fathers, uncles and grandfathers are more often than not, more of the happy go lucky individuals , the friends of the kids, the fun guys , while the mothers, aunts and even grandmothers for that matter, are sticklers for discipline , manners , traditions and the like . My aunt Addie was the tougher of the two. She had no kids of her own, so I guess that compounded the problem for me (but made me a better person at the same time). So where do I begin? Well I guess my earliest recollection would be of going to church. We always reached church about fifteen minutes early, and the time before the service was spent with the adult’s chit- chatting among themselves. I would often hang around at the back of the group, counting the birds flying overhead or searching for faces and animals in the clouds – I was rather shy. However, before I could pluck up courage to slink away to meet friends of my own, I had to wish anybody and everybody who I happened to see. Back then everyone was greeted with either uncle or aunty, so it was a never ending “good morning aunty and good morning uncle”. I had also been told never to mutter under my breath but to be loud and clear, so also to smile and look the person in the eye while wishing them rather than at my shoes! We often went visiting and there too, the rules were clearly spelled out – Wish, smile, speak when spoken to, do always not grab at the snacks or cool drinks when offered, and be polite . Mealtimes were also, not a free for all, muck in barbecue! We ate at the table and usually had fixed places to sit while the Bush radio (with large valves) often played softly in the background. Chewing with the mouth closed and not emitting any sound while doing so are two of the basics I remember. Then of course there were the staples- elbows off the table, no talking with food in the mouth, not using the spoon like a shovel , no day dreaming or playing with food on the plate, no wasting food , no gulping water and being careful not to drop any food or spill any water on the pristine white damask table cloth . Please let me take the liberty of explaining as lucidly as possible what playing with the food on the plate means. I hated vegetables like tomatoes, cabbage, brinjals, lady fingers and a few more. So rather than waste food and get scolded at the end while trying to slip away, I would attempt (more often than not in vain) to mash the vegetables up and spread them around the plate or hide them under mutton or chicken bones! When there was a party or guests were visiting formally, I always had to ensure I was bathed, dressed, and waiting. Any other way was frowned upon and those were some mighty large frowns. I was often the one who ran to open the door and welcome the guests in with a smile and a wish! I was then expected to make small talk if the adults were not yet in the room. That often revolved around my studies and my marks and I detested those times. If there are two words I remember being taught and reminded about ever so often, they were “Please and Thank you”. Asking for anything without preceding it with a “Please” was almost sacrilege so also with receiving something and not saying “Thank you”! Very few people had cars those days, but I distinctly remember the few occasions when a friend came over and took us for a drive. My excitement knew no bounds and I would contemplate the same for hours in advance. No sooner would we walk to the gate than I would open the door and jump in only to be told to come out and let the adults get in first! I had two female cousins who often spent times with all of us and that was fun, as being the only son, I was often quite lonely at home. So, whenever they came for a holiday we would play and enjoy ourselves thoroughly. Being around nine or ten, I was probably boisterous at times and some of the games we played would end in an argument and tears. In my defence I must add that my cousins were not saints and were often equally or more to blame. A few of those arguments unfortunately ended in hand to hand(read hair pulling ) combat as well. Irrespective of who was to blame or what the provocation was , I was always found to be the guilty party and the lesson that was imparted load and clear was “boys and men do not raise their hands to girls and women” I would then be sent to some room ,to sit quietly and study or read or whatever, while the cousins would be tip toeing around the house making fun and continuing to annoy me . Using bad language was unheard of in our home. No adult used it. I did attempt on a few occasions to use some very minor “so called bad words” that I had picked up in school, and what happened next is a fact – my mother lit a match and showed it to me saying “if you ever use those words again I will burn your tongue”. I was so scared that I vowed never to use a bad word again! Answering back, shouting in anger, and arguing with adults were also things which got me in quite a spot of trouble. While I was not the proverbial pest or anything, I probably argued a bit more than necessary and while I did not mean to be rude, I probably sounded awfully out of hand which truthfully, I was not ! While I never stole money, I remember being warned about the consequences if I did. There was also a story I recollect being told by my mother about an old wizened mother, who kept supporting her son in all his wrong doings as he grew up – she covered up for all his lies, petty crimes and inconsistencies, till one day he did something very dreadful and was jailed . On the day he was to be hanged, his mother went to see him. He supposedly wept bitterly & yelled at her in anger saying that if only she had corrected him as a small boy and later as a young man and not covered up for him, all this would never have happened. The story hit home & really made me think. Even today I firmly believe that “good manners and behaviour ” are not something old fashioned or which have gone out of date – they should be an essential part of very child’s life. In fact, they are crucial to good upbringing. As an educationist, I have worked closely with innumerable pupils and parents for close to four decades. I have interacted with some amazing parents who were very loving and kind, yet firm with their wards. They brooked no nonsense and did what was right for the kid. That I believe is good parenting. Then there are those for whom anything goes in the name of love, with kids getting away with blue murder and going scot free, irrespective of what they do or do not do for that matter! Unfortunately, that is setting the child up for failure in the years ahead . Yes, I know that times have changed, and relationships have evolved over the years with parents being almost friends to their children, but here is the bottom line – parents should hopefully know where to draw the line and when to say ‘no’ . Unfortunately, that is a word a child of today does not want to or like to hear and thereby lies the folly of our times. I have seen children ruling the roost at home , throwing temper tantrums and calling the shots. Saying ‘no’ often stirs up negative emotions, but a firm , polite ‘no’, with a brief explanation as to why it is not a ‘yes’ is always advisable, as it helps set up boundaries and limits – so very important for a growing child. We cannot deny that a large percentage of parents believe that the “yes culture” is the way forward & the best way to display love and appreciation, but then – like it or not – you are going to have a child who will be ill equipped to face the barriers and challenges of the real world. And barriers and challenges there will be. Of course, there is the other school of thought which says that you don’t have to use the word ‘no’ and can agree to disagree, but I would rather not beat about the bush. Just my opinion as a father and a teacher.

A simple lesson in Leadership

A simple lesson in Leadership. It was a very special day for me, and I was rather elated, as I had taken over as Headmaster of The Bishop’s school Pune. So, I now had my own office, a peon, a phone on the table, a higher salary and certainly more responsibilities. I had worked hard and was proud and thankful for the reward. Things were looking up for me. Incidentally, it was just my seventh year in the institution. Founder’s week was fast approaching and something I had to do without further delay, was to prepare the various duty lists – for the Church service , the PE display , the fete , the past vs present cricket match and the exhibition . I went about the job with gusto, determined to get the lists out well in time. It was the first task I was taking on since my appointment and my enthusiasm knew no bounds. For me it was a breeze – I had assisted others in similar jobs over the years and I thought nothing of it. However, I was soon to realize the folly of haste. No sooner was the list for the PE display put on the notice board in the staff room, than I got the message, that a certain senior master (we will call him Mr X ) was extremely upset. Further discreet enquiries revealed, that for years he had been assigned a certain job for this event and he had carried it out effortlessly - now I had given him something totally different to do - he felt it was a sort of demotion , considering the number of years he had served in the institution and it was a no brainer that others egged him on too . Everyone wants to put a new leader to the test! Mr X had apparently also mentioned that he would not do the duty and would be on leave that day. He added that he felt demoralized and dejected. So here was the situation – me in the hot seat for just a day and already I had a crisis on my hands. Not a very enviable position to be in for a young leader. The aggrieved gentleman had an elder brother working in Bishops too and I was quite friendly with him. A little later, I saw him pass by my office and requested him to come in. Rather than beat around the bush I asked him right away what needed to be done to remedy the situation as I did not intend to let it drag on .The event was about two weeks away and there was plenty of planning to be done – the last thing I needed on my plate was a disgruntled and upset senior member of staff, who was loved and respected by the boys and members of the faculty. He smiled a wry smile and agreed that there was a problem as his brother was upset. His then agreed with me that, rather than let the matter drag on, I should call Mr X and talk the matter over- he assured me that although he was quite hot headed by nature and was quite angry with me , he would probably understand . That evening I rehearsed what I would say and how I would broach the subject the next morning and yes, I was nervous and apprehensive, wondering as to what the outcome would be. Masters who did not live on campus came in at 7.00 am for morning tuition with the boarders and hence I was out in the quadrangle well before that- pacing impatiently and waiting for 7.00am. As soon as I saw him near the senior classroom, I requested him to come to my office. He raised his eyebrows rather incredulously but came towards me. We both walked the fifty meters to my office in ominous silence. We entered the room and I sat down beckoning him to do likewise. He replied that he preferred to stand and oh yes, he was scowling. This was rather awkward but I persisted. I tried offering him a cup of tea, but he refused that as well and instead asked me what I wanted of him. I am not exactly sure as to what came over me at that moment , but, contrary to what I had initially planned , I walked round the table, put my arm around his shoulder and just said I was sorry for hurting him. What happened next took me totally off guard. He hugged me and burst into tears. Seeing that reaction, my eyes welled up with tears too, but we then both sat down and neither spoke for a few minutes. Things calmed down and I guess we both felt a trifle relieved. I broke the ice by saying that I had prepared the list and made changes as I felt he would be better suited to the new task. I also added that it was the first task I was undertaking, and, in all probability, the over enthusiasm had done me in! I told him that if it helped, I would change the duty given to him. Throughout this time, Mr X kept looking down and never said a word. His tightly clasped hands told me in no uncertain terms that he was angry. He then suddenly stood up, came around to the side of the table and told me that there was no need to change the duty and that he would do it. It was now his time to apologise and he did so by saying that he had probably overreacted, which was wrong. We shook hands – it was a rather long shake. We then sat down and probably chatted for about an hour on various topics of school life. He accepted my offer of a cup of tea. I listened to the story of his life and I told him mine and I do believe, that day we both saw each other in a totally new light. He vowed to support me in everything I planned, and I felt happy that I had found a friend and a confidant I could consult and learn from. I informed him of how I planned to function and what needed to change, and he understood and appreciated the facts I presented. Thereafter, whenever there was an important event or function coming up, I ensured that I involved Mr X in the planning and execution. To his credit he took on all the most onerous tasks and carried them out willingly and to perfection. He also followed up to ensure that all staff and pupils carried out their duties as well. What more could I have asked for? He was reliable, loyal and was a valuable member of my core team henceforth. Although nothing was intentional, someone was hurt because of my actions and I did learn a few valuable leadership lessons from this incident. 1. Haste makes waste – spend more time but be thorough 2. Look at all angles 3. Consult, consult, consult 4. Teamwork is critical to success 5. Admit when at fault – saying sorry may not be easy, but it is the correct thing to do, when wrong 6. Remember that human beings have feelings and that some people are far more sensitive than others. 7. Being gentle and understanding does not make you a pushover 8. Tell the truth. 9. Rather than antagonize, attempt to win people over- having good people skills is crucial. 10. One must not come across as threatening or aggressive 11. Being approachable is important – it builds trust 12. Face a problem head on rather than letting it fester. 13. Never shy away from finding a solution. 14. Be a good listener – sometimes people just want to be heard. 15. Sometimes it is better to lose the battle to win the war. Mr X and I remained colleagues and good friends for years thereafter – there was so much mutual respect and admiration. Do not get me wrong –he was argumentative by nature and questioned several of my decisions, but was somebody, who, when convinced, was a gem of a man. He also recognized the fact that I took my job seriously, knew what I was doing and the direction I was steering the school in. He was a first-rate teacher, a firm disciplinarian, he looked after some important co-curricular activities and was well respected by all as he was one of the longest serving masters in the school. Sadly,when he passed on after serving the institution for over thirty years , I was one of the first people that was informed and along with other masters in the school , we made all the necessary arrangements for his burial. I will always remember Mr X as a good human being – one of the stalwarts and pillars of The Bishop’s school, Pune. Rest in peace my friend and thank you.

A simple lesson in Leadership

A simple lesson in Leadership. It was a very special day for me, and I was rather elated, as I had taken over as Headmaster of The Bishop’s school Pune. So, I now had my own office, a peon, a phone on the table, a higher salary and certainly more responsibilities. I had worked hard and was proud and thankful for the reward. Things were looking up for me. Incidentally, it was just my seventh year in the institution. Founder’s week was fast approaching and something I had to do without further delay, was to prepare the various duty lists – for the Church service , the PE display , the fete , the past vs present cricket match and the exhibition . I went about the job with gusto, determined to get the lists out well in time. It was the first task I was taking on since my appointment and my enthusiasm knew no bounds. For me it was a breeze – I had assisted others in similar jobs over the years and I thought nothing of it. However, I was soon to realize the folly of haste. No sooner was the list for the PE display put on the notice board in the staff room, than I got the message, that a certain senior master (we will call him Mr X ) was extremely upset. Further discreet enquiries revealed, that for years he had been assigned a certain job for this event and he had carried it out effortlessly - now I had given him something totally different to do - he felt it was a sort of demotion , considering the number of years he had served in the institution and it was a no brainer that others egged him on too . Everyone wants to put a new leader to the test! Mr X had apparently also mentioned that he would not do the duty and would be on leave that day. He added that he felt demoralized and dejected. So here was the situation – me in the hot seat for just a day and already I had a crisis on my hands. Not a very enviable position to be in for a young leader. The aggrieved gentleman had an elder brother working in Bishops too and I was quite friendly with him. A little later, I saw him pass by my office and requested him to come in. Rather than beat around the bush I asked him right away what needed to be done to remedy the situation as I did not intend to let it drag on .The event was about two weeks away and there was plenty of planning to be done – the last thing I needed on my plate was a disgruntled and upset senior member of staff, who was loved and respected by the boys and members of the faculty. He smiled a wry smile and agreed that there was a problem as his brother was upset. His then agreed with me that, rather than let the matter drag on, I should call Mr X and talk the matter over- he assured me that although he was quite hot headed by nature and was quite angry with me , he would probably understand . That evening I rehearsed what I would say and how I would broach the subject the next morning and yes, I was nervous and apprehensive, wondering as to what the outcome would be. Masters who did not live on campus came in at 7.00 am for morning tuition with the boarders and hence I was out in the quadrangle well before that- pacing impatiently and waiting for 7.00am. As soon as I saw him near the senior classroom, I requested him to come to my office. He raised his eyebrows rather incredulously but came towards me. We both walked the fifty meters to my office in ominous silence. We entered the room and I sat down beckoning him to do likewise. He replied that he preferred to stand and oh yes, he was scowling. This was rather awkward but I persisted. I tried offering him a cup of tea, but he refused that as well and instead asked me what I wanted of him. I am not exactly sure as to what came over me at that moment , but, contrary to what I had initially planned , I walked round the table, put my arm around his shoulder and just said I was sorry for hurting him. What happened next took me totally off guard. He hugged me and burst into tears. Seeing that reaction, my eyes welled up with tears too, but we then both sat down and neither spoke for a few minutes. Things calmed down and I guess we both felt a trifle relieved. I broke the ice by saying that I had prepared the list and made changes as I felt he would be better suited to the new task. I also added that it was the first task I was undertaking, and, in all probability, the over enthusiasm had done me in! I told him that if it helped, I would change the duty given to him. Throughout this time, Mr X kept looking down and never said a word. His tightly clasped hands told me in no uncertain terms that he was angry. He then suddenly stood up, came around to the side of the table and told me that there was no need to change the duty and that he would do it. It was now his time to apologise and he did so by saying that he had probably overreacted, which was wrong. We shook hands – it was a rather long shake. We then sat down and probably chatted for about an hour on various topics of school life. He accepted my offer of a cup of tea. I listened to the story of his life and I told him mine and I do believe, that day we both saw each other in a totally new light. He vowed to support me in everything I planned, and I felt happy that I had found a friend and a confidant I could consult and learn from. I informed him of how I planned to function and what needed to change, and he understood and appreciated the facts I presented. Thereafter, whenever there was an important event or function coming up, I ensured that I involved Mr X in the planning and execution. To his credit he took on all the most onerous tasks and carried them out willingly and to perfection. He also followed up to ensure that all staff and pupils carried out their duties as well. What more could I have asked for? He was reliable, loyal and was a valuable member of my core team henceforth. Although nothing was intentional, someone was hurt because of my actions and I did learn a few valuable leadership lessons from this incident. 1. Haste makes waste – spend more time but be thorough 2. Look at all angles 3. Consult, consult, consult 4. Teamwork is critical to success 5. Admit when at fault – saying sorry may not be easy, but it is the correct thing to do, when wrong 6. Remember that human beings have feelings and that some people are far more sensitive than others. 7. Being gentle and understanding does not make you a pushover 8. Tell the truth. 9. Rather than antagonize, attempt to win people over- having good people skills is crucial. 10. One must not come across as threatening or aggressive 11. Being approachable is important – it builds trust 12. Face a problem head on rather than letting it fester. 13. Never shy away from finding a solution. 14. Be a good listener – sometimes people just want to be heard. 15. Sometimes it is better to lose the battle to win the war. Mr X and I remained colleagues and good friends for years thereafter – there was so much mutual respect and admiration. Do not get me wrong –he was argumentative by nature and questioned several of my decisions, but was somebody, who, when convinced, was a gem of a man. He also recognized the fact that I took my job seriously, knew what I was doing and the direction I was steering the school in. He was a first-rate teacher, a firm disciplinarian, he looked after some important co-curricular activities and was well respected by all as he was one of the longest serving masters in the school. Sadly,when he passed on after serving the institution for over thirty years , I was one of the first people that was informed and along with other masters in the school , we made all the necessary arrangements for his burial. I will always remember Mr X as a good human being – one of the stalwarts and pillars of The Bishop’s school, Pune. Rest in peace my friend and thank you.

Getting influenza this year- the Covid effect

I am not a big fan of Nostradamus neither am I a prophet of doom. However, Come September – October and the flu season will be upon us. Now this is something to think about. Every family, going by statistics, has a few people who get influenza every year. Colds, fever etc are all taken in their stride. Symptoms usually appear from one to four days after exposure to the virus, and they last five to seven days. You are then left a little weak but up and about. If things get worse as they sometimes do – the person consults a doctor, gets a few medicines coupled with the soothing doctor’s advice which works wonders for me and soon everything is under control. This year the whole scenario will be very different for obvious reasons. School infirmaries will be buzzing with activity with kids and staff by the dozen, coming down with fever and beginning to sneeze and get body aches while in school. Usually, they are given some simple over the counter medication and sent back to class as soon as they feel a little better. At times, if the temperature is on the high side or the kid feels poorly, the parents are informed, and the kid is taken home - what about this year? Fear psychosis, a sense of helplessness, the worry about impending isolation, sanitization, ambulance, anxious parents, WhatsApp messages circulating & causing unnecessary confusion, ? Hopefully not. I am just sitting and thinking about the impending panic, which, whether you like it or care to believe or not- will follow in schools, in homes, in offices and factories all over the world this year. I am not a hypochondriac, but, like many others, getting the normal flu this year will surely worry me. IT WILL BE DIFFERENT AND STRESSFUL . Should I have a Covid test? – should I play a wait and watch game? Should I – Should I – Should I? I really do not know. Pray that better sense prevails, and everyone is cautious and following the instructions of the authorities in whichever country they are. To overcome this, we all must be responsible. This is not something to scoff at or attempt to brush under the carpet hoping it will go away. This is not the time to be rash, brash, or foolhardy either. This is serious business and must be taken as such. Comparing the statistics to Asian flu, Spanish flu, Ebola , Zika Virus , H1N1 Swine flu ,Sars , Bird flu and Aids will not help . It is so very painful and frighteningly disgusting to see people in large groups chatting – all without masks on, or masks pulled down under the chin without a care in the world. People without gloves in supermarkets touching and feeling vegetables, milk bottles and other items. Unadulterated ignorance and pure stupidity, to put it bluntly, is what I term it. Cannot help but quote that rather sinister saying which I read somewhere a few weeks ago “better to be six feet apart than six feet under”