It is only after one month of the new academic year elapsed that I could find the space to reflect about some challenges faced by our school. This space also provided me an opportunity to reflect upon issues related to school education at large! Flowing with the stream of events, without anchorage, has perhaps been responsible to bring about in me an intense urge to express my concerns at this stage! Due to my peculiar state of mind there is likely to be a natural switchover between issues related to our school and the larger questions concerning the society. Of course, there is an inextricable link between all this. Strange is the nature of causes and effects when spontaneity prevails!

One month into the new academic year where is our five year old School? What are the educational and organisational aspects about which we need to gain such understanding? There are different approaches, parameters and tools suggested by specialists of school management to evaluate and assess a school. What is the approach of assessment most suited to our school? What is the macro environment in our country today in which such schools function? What are the priorities and aspirations of our society? How do influence school education? How is the present day macroeconomics and overall business environment affecting school education and governance? Are we willing to study and equip ourselves to understand these questions? Do we have the will and wherewithal to understand, develop policies and approaches to remain educational centres of the highest order to carry forward the legacy of our ancient civilisation? Do our national leaders intend to address such important and crucial matters?

It is important for teachers to ask objective and critical questions of different kinds at all the above levels in all domains of our existence. This would help us to develop a culture of questioning and learning culture. The challenge for our society is whether the promoters, governors and managers of schools can lay adequate emphasis on questioning and learning. The systems, approach, procedures and routines of schools need to evolve and be implemented based on commitment towards safeguarding the learning quality of institutions. The commercial and other considerations creeping into schools and educational institutions are of concern.

Another cause of concern is the widening gap between the expectations of the parents and the intent of schools. Due to the strong impact of advertisements and salesmanship by the media and the appealing malls, children are losing their ability to make responsible choices. Parents often feel helpless. The challenges teachers face is very intense. Teachers with strong commitment towards “man making education” find it difficult. Some teachers explicitly and vociferously doubt if it is worth the while to remain guided by such deeper and subtler intentions and objectives of education. I am happy to be associated all along with teachers who remain steadfast in values and will remain committed to the basics of education.

Let me withdraw to our beautiful school, in the lap of nature.

Is not one aspect and implication of the learning attitude to learn from our “mistakes” on an ongoing basis and improve on an ongoing basis? It appears, therefore, necessary for a school management to provide the space and scope to for faculty members and students to explore and make mistakes. We need to design our educational processes for participation by students rather than for “performance”. I feel encouraged that our school is able to “free” our educational space to an extent that faculty members and students make “mistakes” and learn from them. Our school is a platform for errors! Our educational endeavour is dotted with several features, which encourages learning, naturalness and harmony.

As our school prepares to solemnise the next political independence day of our country the above issues and concerns seize me! The questions are bound to shape our school. I would like to urge parents, teachers, school managers and school promoters and governors to give a thought to the above challenges and generate a wider awareness and debate on them. Out of this awareness might emerge right action!

Times require that we change at the micro level – in oneself and at the level of one school. This might lead others to change! Large change comes out of small change! What does J. Krishnamurti mean when he says, “you are the world?”