TN Government education website

I really hope I don't slip to my negative writing again with this post. I just want to analyse stuff not comment about it and laugh scornfully at it. I know that it will take me no where. But it is very difficult for me. I still will try my best to remain positive.

I found this at the Tamilnadu government education website. http://www.tn.gov.in/schooleducation/

Our dream

• To provide elementary schools in hamlets where there are no schools


• To provide free and compulsory education for all children of age group 6-14.


• To provide eight years of schooling for all children before 2010.


• To eradicate dropouts before 2010 fully.


• To improve the quality of education from the pre-school to higher secondary school level.


• To eradicate illiteracy


• To open village libraries where there is a population of 5000 and above.


• To encourage health education in schools.

Let me be clear. I have nothing against the list. Its the title that is getting on my nerves and making me grit my teeth.
Building schools and educating people, building libraries and maintaining them well - these are not "dreams" for God's sake. This is the very reason the education department has been established in the first place. They are not doing this for charity. It is their job.
Now you see why I am so terribly pessismistic. With people who act as if what they are doing is not duty, but something that makes them look like saviours and martyrs, how can people not be filled with hatred and disgust.
I read on the web, a few days back, that the education rate in SriLanka is 80% because compulsory education has been enforced there. Even though it is a country ravaged by war and turmoil, people are actually making sure that kids are getting to study. There is real commitment.

Children

Children are like clay. Whatever shape you make out of them, they maintain that shape till the end. All children are born alike. So there must be something that happens somewhere down the years that makes high-achievers out of some, violent, confused and disoriented terrorists out of others. It is a very logical thing to attribute the reason for this to the way children are brought up, what they are exposed to, who acts as the child's example, who she chooses to emulate. It is the child that is the most precious resource that we have here on Earth. It is the child that has to be taught right, encouraged and helped to grow intellectually so that it can carry our future well. It is so obvious. But we still continue to ill-treat and ignore children mainly because they are dependent, vulnerable and easily pushed around.
Children should be nourished and cared for. There are three places where a child learns and grows - school, home and at play. While it is difficult to control what the child may learn at play among other children, it is surely possible to educate parents about how they should treat their children. It is an absolute necessity to regulate the way a child is treated and taught in schools.

I will

I am comfortable here in my house, with people around me who love me, all my needs fulfilled. I can enjoy life and feel secure and happy. There are so many things that I have the strength and ability to appreciate. Like beautiful sunsets, laughter, books, stars, birds, having ideas and see them taking shape, learning, seeing, hearing, sharing, speaking. Such a full life. This fills me with the desire to spread this happiness. It makes me want to believe that someday everybody who lives on this planet can experience this life, take it in and enjoy it the way I do.
There are ways that I believe will make this planet better to live in for those millions who are not as fortunate as I am. I am not overly ambitious. I don't want to change the world and be declared Earth's saviour. I just want to believe, when I am old and weak, that there were a handful of people whose lives were made better by my efforts and that they could share my enthusiasm and love for Earth and nature.