This is downright silly

 Do you ever get silly thoughts? 

Not just silly, but downright idiotic? And then do you smile and say to yourself- how stupid can I get?. And at my age!

And ever so often  we ponder over life and the years gone by ? And we  frown in utter disbelief and think again - where in Dickens' name did that absurdity pop into my brain from!.

Now you know the facts -

I am quite old and quite it being moderately modest. 

I am an educational professional -  a post graduate trained teacher, with over 40 years experience 

I have taught hundreds of boys

Almost all are well placed all over the world 

Many are married with kids

Many read my posts - I love writing 

So many have asked me when my book would be published.

Some get their teens to read what I write. The articles are often inspirational 

Some are just stories of days gone by - at times nostalgia creeps in.

I write about Allahabad, my home town, Pune my adopted home town, and now the UAE.

Plenty of articles about BISHOPS too.

Often people say my writing is motivational .....

I also give talks.... I tell myself that people listen even when they are fiddling with their mobile.

So in a nutshell - when I write- people read.

Hence the pressure is ALWAYS there to ensure that the piece of writing  makes sense .

When I speak- people listen - or at least that's what I believe.

However, last evening , from out of nowhere, I got the most unintelligent,obscure, brainless thought, which zoomed into my cranium and refused to budge.

It's embarrassing to share - so don't judge me.

YOU CAN STOP READING HERE if you have anything better to do, as this is senseless trivia and will benefit you zilch.

So.

I was thinking of exotic pets and how people keep them. 

You know, the rare species of birds, animals, reptiles etc. 

The prohibited list - whereby, if you are caught, you could be fined or jailed.

Then there are people at the other end of the spectrum who keep rats ,  and cockroaches and are proud of doing so.

Now this is the embarrassing part , so take a deep breath and read on.

I was wondering- what if I had a centipede as a pet.

Not exotic but horribly strange !

Now you may not know, but all  centipedes don't have 100 legs. They could have anything over 10. Often they have an odd number - don't ask me why, but that's what Google said. Not sure why I researched this.

And they bite - by puncturing the skin. 

Well what if I had a pet centipede and I saw it limping ?

Would it be cruel to let it suffer ? Or should I console myself by saying ' what's one broken leg when it has so many ?

Food for thought ? 

Is there any deeper meaning to this ?

Why do these senseless thoughts plague me, when there are so many intelligent things I could be doing with my time right now?

After all, I am in a profession to educate the world ! This is far from anything remotely educational. 

Dear old boys - please don't let your kids read this.

 And if they do - and ask you who I am- just say it's Santa.

My type of morning

 My type of morning, my type of music and the first day of my vacation. 

Nothing special happening as such.

A slight back ache

A naughty cat that nipped me and ran upstairs.

A Gardener that completed watering and cleaning our little green patch in under five minutes. As salary day is approaching he gets a little more affable when he sees me.

Then there are two stray cats mewing for their morning snack outside the front door.

A newspaper man who threw one of my newspapers partially into a bowl of water.

A crow , a dove , a few mynahs and sparrows buzzing around also waiting for some tidbits, and me having a cup of self- made, steaming hot tea.

Very soon, I presume, there will be one of my granddaughters knocking on the door and arriving to spend the day .

That's another story.

 She takes over the house, the cat, the TV, the sofa,  and everything else at hand  and makes me feel out of place in my own home.

But grandkids are fun.

And when both are here, along with their mother , maid, and accompanying paraphernalia , it's chaos personified. 

Babies and kids need so many items these days, it's mind boggling. 

Then there is the wife factor to figure in. Thankfully I have just one. 

Am sure she is awake, and preparing a mental list of things for me to do. She will also have, stored away in the back of her memory, things she had asked me to do throughout the year, and which I haven't done as yet. She has a great memory for such stuff.

And with Christmas round the corner ......OMG  I am shuddering at the thought . 

That's why I am enjoying my ' me time' till it lasts.

COP 28

 

 

I do not profess to be an expert on climate change or an authority on sustainability.

 

What I do know, however, is that the ongoing Cop 28, has already inspired the world to wake up and take note, before it’s too late. We are running out of time, and that is a scary proposition.

 

If I am not an authority, then what right have I got to write on the subject? Let me answer myself – I have as many rights as anybody else in the world.

Today, i entreat you to join me and believe in the power of 1, and the realization, that every little drop, contributes to making an ocean.

 

 We must stand up and speak out, and the more people who do this – the better.

We are amid Cop 28 in the UAE, where many delegates, activists, observers, and leaders of countries have come together to save the planet and get us back on track.

 

 There is a clear message – unity is the need of the hour.

 

I guess the question on the mind of any discerning individual today is- what significance will Cop 28 achieve? We have had a similar conference  27 times to date with little progress to sure for them.

 

 We all know the problem, our planet is moving towards a breaking point, and leaders, multinationals, countries, you, and I must all get to work - fixing it.

 

Policies, conferences, memorandums, & and time frames are all fine. However, everybody wants to see a tangible difference.

 

 Till now, while the wheels have been in motion, progress has been slow.

 

The fact of the matter is that we are crawling when we should be sprinting, knowing fully well, that the consequences of lethargy will be disastrous.

 

Developing countries that did the least to cause the problems are suffering the most, with the climate crisis hitting their economies, and causing widespread suffering.

 

The earth is warming, greenhouse gases are increasing, polar ice is melting, rainfall patterns are changing, and sea levels are rising. There has been an increase in heatwaves, floods, droughts, famines, and fires. Are these not ominous signs?

 

However, it has been most heartening to see, over the last few days, how countries have opened their purse strings and promised large sums of money for various causes – we do hope they follow through on their promises, for the betterment of our planet.

The cost of climate action is in trillions – however, the cost of climate inaction will be in the hundreds of trillions – the choice is ours.

 

The UAE has committed to launching several initiatives, to support the goals of Cop 28, and foremost among them is the ‘green education initiative’ - to prepare a platform for future generations, to lead a climate action path.

It aims to educate children and youth and help them adapt, and address, the repercussions of climate change.

 

It believes that our children should not have to pay the price for political bickering and inaction.

 

The gems road to the Cop 28 conference empowers our students with the knowledge and skills required to actively engage in the global decisions made on environmental issues. It provides a platform for our students, to explore the intersection of entrepreneurship and the environment, fostering leadership and creating valuable learning experiences.’

 

In Gems, we have started to rethink the approaches to curriculum, linking teaching and learning with awareness about the environment. Everybody knows that there are no simple solutions. But as a starting point, we are ensuring that students and school communities are made aware of the problems and possible solutions because education is the tool for creating sustainable solutions for the future of our planet.

 

For this, we are partnering with schools in different parts of the world.

 

It should be known that the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has explicitly affirmed children’s right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

 

This is the first cop where education is at the forefront, and that should fill us with optimism.

 

We must strive to get climate education right.

Countries are being asked to continue to promote child rights and climate actions. Very often, as individuals, we look at the lethargy of large world organizations, and say to ourselves “if they are so slow, what chance have we got - but I truly believe that we must not give up – we must help cop 28 succeed.

 

We hope and pray that as Cop 28 draws to a close there will be more deals and agreements at that will make a real difference.

 

That governments will stop taking baby steps when large, bold strides are needed.

 

That the rich countries will continue to put real money on the table and realize that scraps won't do any longer.

 

Finance is a great enabler, and money needs to flow in torrents, not trickles to developing countries, to boost climate resilience.

Education transformation is the catalyst for climate action. You get the education right, and things will begin to fall into place - it’s a mindset change.

 

Who knows- teaching may become the biggest green job of our time. 

 

 

 

Throw away the key

 There is something I don't understand . Putting it simply - it drives me crazy.

Every other day you put on the TV or read about someone shooting a person,  shooting a group of people, knife attacks and the like.

Then if they are lucky, the cops get hold of them alive and take them into custody.

Following me ?

Ok- now begins the tomfoolery. 

They are kept in jail and deliberations begin IF they are guilty or not.

Where does this IF  come in.

Then if they can't afford a lawyer, the state provides then one. 

Now that's a sweet and generous gesture if ever there was one!

It now becomes the perogative of that lawyer to DEFEND the rascal and try and either get him out of prison or get his sentence reduced to the minimum. 

The same guy who has caused untold misery- has taken a life or lives of innocents and often of kids too, now hopes to be set free! He has ruined people's lives and livelihood.  He has scarred others for life.  Does he deserve any mercy ? 

If all goes as per plan , he is often out, either freed or on parole before one can say Jack Robinson or whatever!.

Reports tell you he was on a 'Watch list' of some agency or the other. Or else he had just come out of prison or mental asylum.  At times he was supposed to be undergoing therapy.

Am I missing something ?

Who was watching him ?

Why was he not being watched properly ?

Why was he out of prison?

If he had mental issues and people knew he did - pray what the hell was he doing with a deadly weapon? 

Out on parole? Who gave him parole in the first place. 

We surely live in a strange world. 

Please don't tell me he deserves to be defended .

That's a load of bunk and balderdash. 

These imbeciles need to be put away for good.  No parole whatsoever.  

100 life sentences. 

Better still , deposit them all on some vague uninhabited island and let them do whatever they please with themselves and each other.

He or she doesn't make a difference .

What's with our world ?

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK AT LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

 Listening to Christmas carols

Somehow makes me sentimental.

But they are a staple in December. 

Jim Reeves, Daniel O'donnell

And the rest.

Today was very relaxing 

In the middle of an extended break

No suit and tie for once.

Sitting out in the morning sun 

Pottering around the little garden

While planning what to bake

How and when .

Ingredients to be sourced

And preparations to be made.

Nothing too fancy this year.

So..

Will I bake or will she?

Doing it together is what often happens 

Followed by arguments 

As to the method to use

The weight of ingredients 

And what to mix first!

Was thinking back a few decades

When people sent and received

Innumerable Christmas cards 

And of the wizzened up postman 

who did a big 'Salam' on Christmas morning

When he delivered the last few cards

And got a 'baksheeh' 

And a plate of goodies.

He was followed by the 'dhobi' 

And a few faithful helpers.

We would string up the Christmas cards

Across the mantlepiece. 

And count them too

They added to the Christmasy feeling. 

When I was a young brat,

Helping mince the peels

And decorate the tree

Was my job- partly .

Fun times.

Some of you may not know what 

a mincer is or a mantlepiece either !

It doesn't matter .

Those are memories I always cherish.

Xmas and New years 

Makes  me nostalgic 

And I think of you !

And please don't let me start

On the 'Auld lang syne'

Not a big fan of it either.

I've seen people almost 'tear up' 

The holiday season

Is round the corner

Good cheer and good wishes.

What has the school got to offer

                                         What has the school got to offer 

I have spent over four decades in Education, and they have been the best years of my life – figuratively and metaphorically speaking.  Probably, and by a rough estimate, I have met thousands of parents and interacted with a few thousand pupils since I became a teacher.

I have also visited quite a few schools, in different parts of the world. Many provide excellent education, some are good, while some are just about okay.

Here’s a thought that came to me.

Whenever parents visit a school, prior to admission, one sees them walking around and looking excitedly at the building.

They ask some generic questions, but by and large, they seem most concerned and visibly impressed with what the school has to offer by way of facilities. So, it usually starts with: -

What Board is the school affiliated with?

What is the fee structure?

What is the testing and promotion procedure?

And then quickly moves to: -

Is there a swimming pool and/or a gymnasium?

What about an auditorium? How many does it seat?

Can I see the kindergarten playroom?

What are the sizes of the classrooms?

How many laboratories and Libraries are there in the school?

Is there school transport?

Are there canteen facilities?

Is there a playing field?

These are all very pertinent questions that must be asked. However, the conversation is always about facilities first and then the core subjects – English, Mathematics, and Science. Surprisingly, the arts which include Dramatics, Dance, and Music are rarely talked about. I wonder why! Does it not strike you as odd?

If you think about it, aren’t those the periods that kids enjoy the most? Are we not killing creativity and taking the fun out of schooling?

Just let a pupil tell their parents that they want to become an actor, dancer, musician, singer, or writer and watch the colour drain from the parents’ faces- professions such as these are anathema to them – it’s almost as if they believe that their wards will be accursed or consigned to damnation or destruction if they even think of any of the above.

Another point of concern - Very rarely have I heard parents enquiring pointedly about the philosophy, vision, and experiences their child will have in school. Doesn't that count for something?

Shouldn’t all parents investigate a school’s approach to measuring student progress? Since it’s crucial to know how your child is doing, this is something you’ll want to keep your eye on- won't you? What about personalized learning, the disciplinary policy, community service, approach to Special education, and scope for gifted and talented pupils?  

Then there are other elements like life skills, respect, diversity, academic integrity, honesty, innovation, and career counseling that are taken for granted and rarely form part of the actual admission conversation. Now some may debate that these should form part of any good school, and so we do not need to ask about them.

However, one must only look around to see how many schools, the world over, put all their energies into advertising their infrastructure first, to get top billing!

Surprisingly that’s what attracts the bulk of parents. There are exceptions to the rule and by that, I mean not all schools use facilities as their trump card, and not all parents are gullible but that’s a minuscule number – I am talking about the majority here.

As I write this piece, I am reminded of my twenty years spent, at one of the premier educational institutions in India- The Bishop’s School, Pune.

When I think of the campus it makes me smile. It was not flashy by any standards. It was not posh either. However, it had an old-world charm about it – basic yet functional. The education provided was well above the expected standards, and the board results were proof of the same. The games and co-curricular programme were the icing on the cake. Over the years the school has produced men (and now even women) of integrity, who are driven, determined, and confident of holding their own in society. They are Gentlemen/ ladies in every sense of the word.

There are so many schools, all over the world, like Bishops, that deliver world-class education from very ordinary campuses.  

It's a mindset that needs to change.

The gardener and me

 So his name is..... well let's just say it starts with the letter A.

I first met him when my daughter moved into her new premises and A was the gardener.

Short, of slight build and a million watt smile is how I would describe him. I would also add - rather talkative and a tad boastful of his accomplishments on the gardening front.  Also very simple .

My son in law and daughter seemed wonderstruck after he explained as to what he had  planned for their garden.

I didn't need any further persuasion and without so much as a little digging into his ' previous work experience' I appointed him too.

To be fair, my daughter and son in law's garden is pretty good.

You can read those last two words together or separately. 

Our little garden is another story. 

It's green; it's clean; and quite tidy.

However here is where my story takes a tiny bend.

Bear with me folks. If you've read till here then you must read on.

A digs when in the mood.

A plants when in the mood

A tends to the garden six days a week

But I don't believe A is a Gardner.

I am laying it bare for you to be the better judge.

If he is a Gardner- then I am an astronout.

He has a large blower with which he keeps the place clean. He spends about 7 minutes from the time he enters till he leaves. 

He hates my brother in law and probably gets irritated when told that he is not doing a good job.

My wife interacts with him more than me. She gives him fruit, biscuits and sweets etc as he looks malnourished. 

My interactions are only to pay him his salary and tell him occasionally that the garden does not look up to the mark. 

Mind you , he doesn't switch off the blower when I talk to him so I doubt he hears what I am saying because while I am speaking he is smiling and nodding.

When I go to pay him , he first pretends not to see me . Then when he does , he makes a sign to say ' put it on the garden table'.

I have threatened all and sundry that I will get rid of him , but that day has not come. A leads a charmed life I guess.

This morning he nearly lost his job.

I saw him entering, so went out to ask him why he hadn't brought the new plants I had asked him to.

I did this before he put on that noisy blower. 

He pointed to some miniscule plants and I almost exploded.

I then reminded him about what I wanted- the same plants he had bought for my daughter. He promised to do so.

Then came the icing on the cake.

He moved towards the tap.  

I couldn't fathom what he was doing .

(It has raised heavily for most of the night)

A connected the pipe and began watering the plants. 

I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

I walked out to confront him.

However I didn't have the heart to tell him he was being foolish and just stood transfixed as he watered every plant .

He gave them an extra dousing to prove to me he was doing his job .

Poor plants.

Poor me

God bless A!