The painting of our Apartment, its exteriors, has been postponed to April, on account of two kids in the block having exams! It seems unbelievable to me, that exams should be given so much importance! A whole apartment complex reframing its schedule on account of an exam timetable? Really!
Wonder when parents and kids started giving so much importance to exams.I know of cases where guests have been told to postpone their visits, maid servants have to adjust their schedules, even grandmas need to sacrifice their tv time on account of exams. A bit too much, don't you think? All this focus on exams makes the kids more nervous,I feel,and this in turn makes them do badly.
When I was a child, I have heard my mother say, dad used to take her off on an outing during our exams. Apparently, I was a very obstinate child, and would refuse to open my mouth, and she would get angry, so to avoid friction on both sides, he would take her out!And I did get through, faltering but not failing, on my own!
I know many working women who take leave during the Annual exams of their children. In fact, when I was in the bank, March/April was a period when there used to be so many absentees, mostly women. Once, when I happened to be the only female staff in our branch, the frustrated manager snapped at me," Why don't you too take leave and go? Then this will be an all-male branch!"
" Sir," I explained to him quite seriously," I have two daughters. The first one will study even if I am not there. The second one will not study even if I am there. So why waste my leave?" Fortunately both have done well in life without my ever having to take leave for their exams! Ah, I did take leave during Maithreyi's 1oth board exams, but because we had a new car in which she and her friends were driven to and from the exam centre, and every day would see a new driver whom we could not trust with the children.... or the car!
Wonder when parents and kids started giving so much importance to exams.I know of cases where guests have been told to postpone their visits, maid servants have to adjust their schedules, even grandmas need to sacrifice their tv time on account of exams. A bit too much, don't you think? All this focus on exams makes the kids more nervous,I feel,and this in turn makes them do badly.
When I was a child, I have heard my mother say, dad used to take her off on an outing during our exams. Apparently, I was a very obstinate child, and would refuse to open my mouth, and she would get angry, so to avoid friction on both sides, he would take her out!And I did get through, faltering but not failing, on my own!
I know many working women who take leave during the Annual exams of their children. In fact, when I was in the bank, March/April was a period when there used to be so many absentees, mostly women. Once, when I happened to be the only female staff in our branch, the frustrated manager snapped at me," Why don't you too take leave and go? Then this will be an all-male branch!"
" Sir," I explained to him quite seriously," I have two daughters. The first one will study even if I am not there. The second one will not study even if I am there. So why waste my leave?" Fortunately both have done well in life without my ever having to take leave for their exams! Ah, I did take leave during Maithreyi's 1oth board exams, but because we had a new car in which she and her friends were driven to and from the exam centre, and every day would see a new driver whom we could not trust with the children.... or the car!
No comments:
Post a Comment