Reducing Syllabus: A Great Relief for Students

GREESHMA THOMAS

A woman had a pet dog and one day it fell sick. To save the dog, every day she attempted to give a tablespoon of medicine down its throat, yet the dog would always resist and pull away. One day when she took the bottle, it slipped out her hands and the medicine spilled all over the floor. To her surprise, the dog went over to the puddle and began lapping it up! In fact, here, the dog had not been resisting to take the medicine. It was resisting the strategy that its master had used– pushing it down its throat.

It is a similar situation when we consider the pedagogy used in our schools. If heavy subjects, other educational burdens along with parental compulsion and peer pressures are push into children’s throat in the name of educational therapy, many of the students will not be able to absorb them and they will resist and vomit it, especially now, as  they are  in the pandemic situation.

During this Covid-time,  when students, teachers and parents are all  in a crisis situation, the decision of the CBSE to reduce the syllabus for classes 9 to 12  by 30-percent this year, seems as a right strategy due to the trouble caused by the COVID-19. It will certainly elevate students’ to a happy frame of mind to study with earnestness.

The CBSE in their process of trimming down about 190 subjects for classes 9-12, cut various key chapters like secularism, democratic rights, religion, gender and caste and food security, which create now a major controversy by some people. However, there was a mixed response from various stakeholders as many school representatives welcomed the move to decrease the course load on children, while a section of academicians said it appeared to be ideologically driven.

Amidst arguments, however, let us realize that education came to bring life and light to people who have no vision or right vision of life. But so often, as we have seen in the above story, we use the wrong method to force our expectations down students’ throats instead of presenting it in such a way that they will willingly receive it.  Parents also often make wrong decisions in their eagerness to give the best opportunities for their children by giving unwanted compulsion in study down their throat. What children should realize is that they are the ones responsible for their own learning, homework as well.

With the CBSE’s decision by reducing the heavy burdens for students at this juncture of Corona crisis, it is necessary to teach the students the values of secularism, democratic rights, religion, culture as well as the evils of gender and caste discrimination. While reducing the syllabus, these lessons must find some place in the syllabus, maybe in a shorter version.  Our first priority today is to save our world from the coronavirus crisis and to look for ways to revitalize the economy, and our lives, after this major crisis. Let the students now go for enjoying the education with discerningly reduced syllabus and freedom! 

The Feast of the Apostle Saint Thomas

PC  THOMAS

On July 3, the Church honors the solemn feast of St. Thomas the Apostle.  The auspicious occasion marks the remembrance of the patron Saint Thomas who was among the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ who appears in the gospel.   He is the closet follower of the Christ, having doubts about Jesus. His disbelief helps us understand how important the gift of faith is.

The Gospel of John records three statements of St. Thomas that gives glimpses of his character.  First when Jesus desires to go to Bethany, bordering Jerusalem, the other disciples try to prevent him from going, since he was almost stoned there for claiming kinship with God.  Thomas, however, sticks by Jesus, and says, ‘Let us go that we may die with Him’ (John 11:16), which shows Thomas’ courage and his commitment to Jesus.

Second, when Jesus announces his imminent death and assures his disciples that he will prepare a place for them, he adds, ‘You know the way to the place where I’m going’.  Thomas answers candidly, ‘Lord we do not know where you are going, then how can we know the way?’(John 14:15). This prompts Jesus to reply, ‘I am the way’.

The third statement sees in John 20:23, which caused Thomas to be remembered as the ‘Doubting Thomas’ It reads:- On the evening of Jesus’ resurrection, Thomas was not with the other disciples in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, so he was not present when Jesus appeared to them and showed them the wounds on his hands and his side.  Later, the other Apostle told Thomas. ‘We have seen the Lord’ (John 20:25) when Thomas uttered, ‘unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the holes and lay my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).

A week later, Jesus again came to the Apostle.  After wishing them peace, Jesus called Thomas and told him to look at his hands, put his finger into the holes and to touch his side. Thomas was grieved that he had doubted Jesus’ resurrection.  He cries out: ‘My Lord, My God’.  Then Jesus said, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”.

The surrender of Thomas ‘My Lord and my God’ is the clearest affirmation of the divinity of Christ that any of the apostles ever gave.  This, then, is the substance of the Thomas’ faith:- he believed and proclaimed the divinity of Christ, and became a devout defender of the faith something which none of the other apostles had yet done.  This is the great example today for many of us because we doubt. We honour St. Thomas as Saint, he is considered to be the Patron Saint of India. His life teaches us to trust in everything the Lord has promised us so that we, the faithful can rise to new life, as Jesus did. This  article published in Metro Vaartha on July 3, 2020

Grass is always greener on other side

PC  THOMAS

In a landscape, once I happened to observe two donkeys grazing in two different fields, separated by fencing. Tender, green grass grew abundantly in both the fields.   Yet both the donkeys stretched their necks as far as possible towards the opposite direction through the fence just to be able to get a bite of that forbidden grass on the other side.  It revealed to me that the old saying, ‘The Grass is always greener on the other side’, or the forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest.

We humans have the same tendency. We get more attracted to things, talents, abilities or opportunities which others have than our own.    We people are never satisfied even with the abundance we have.  We always find the others are far better, their conditions seem more greenish or attractive to our eyes –   the neighbor’s wife, the friend’s sports car, boss’s beauty bungalow, higher life sep-up of others and so on. See more- PC Thomas Article

On the other side, these things which we think will make us happy, but when we get it we may feel empty and unsatisfied. Our freedom, lifestyle and relations, friendships and bonds, health and situation etc we enjoy daily, which we take for granted simply because they have been in our lives every day. We take a lot of emotional stability to be content with what we have.

This is not mean to say that we should not diligently seek to improve our circumstances, diligently using our God-given talents and opportunities.  But we should not be discontent with the gifted talents that God has given to us and don’t try to covet anything belong to others.  The key to a happy life is being content with who we are and where we are right now. Real contentment does not come when we get everything that we desire, but when we learn to be satisfied with what we have.  

When we have the conviction that we are living according to the best of our abilities and hard work, and believe that our best efforts will be fulfilled by the God in time; our desire to graze on what is beyond the fence will automatically cease and then the grass out of boundaries would not seem more greenish to our eyes.

This article published in Metro Vaartha on  July, 1, 2020

E-learning challenges pushed or pulled?

GREESHMA THOMAS

Coronavirus attack has split a large portion of India's education and turned upside down the life of students, teachers and parents. As per reports, more than 150 crores students overall the world can't go to school or college, as the fight against this deadly virus brought the world to a halt.  However, this pandemic has made all the educational institutions over the planet to take up educating on the digital divide.

While the students are left with no option other than virtual learning now, many children of primary standard say that they lack a conducive environment or necessary gadgets in their homes to create an online platform. Many children have complained about having no access to the internet, laptop and mobiles, and have raised their issues with their schools too. If there is one mobile or laptop at home, they say, it might be used exclusively by the parents who are working from home as well.

At the same time, the parents have been much worried about not being able to deal with their children’s academics and their work together.  In addition, many people are stressed as they have lost their jobs and run their lives out of limited savings or by borrowing money.

The wealthier parents also face trouble in setting up an e-learning platform at home, and dealing with the timely stress and difficulties of their children. It is also difficult for them to manage their children’s activities between their own official works and household works. However, most of the wealthier parents feel comfortable with technology and hope that this is a temporary difficulty that will fade with the lifting of the lockdown and the reopening of schools, while teachers are at pains to make their classes interesting and creative for children after the opening of schools.

As millions of students around the world struggle to study at home, it remains to be seen how teachers and the educational institutions will deal with the new reality of learning at home.  Governments all over the world are making efforts to alleviate the impact of school closures and to make possible the continuity of education for all through remote learning.  

What is in store for us tomorrow? What we think about it is entirely in our own hands.  Change is inevitable even in the digital era. In the midst of the new situation created by the pandemic, it is the duty of parents to keep children engaged in activities at home wherever possible, in their usual routines in line with their learning. This will support their wellbeing, connection with others and their learning to match with the digital push. Regardless of whether we utilize the opportunities vis-à-vis the current pandemic time, it will pass by. Better that we navigate correctly in our journey for our bright future and for a better world tomorrow.

This article published in Metro Vaarth on 29.6.2020

Preparing Children to face Pandemics

This Covid-time is an unprecedented situation for all and has ripple effects into almost every phase of our lives. In the midst, children are the most vulnerable because of their increased exposure to the background to disease. In their tender heart, they experience a state of worry, anxiety and fear of their relative’s death and miseries or a fear of what it means to receive medical treatment for all.

Anxiety and panic about the virus and what could happen can be irresistible and cause strong emotions in children. Public health protocols such as social distancing can make them feel isolated, secluded and can increase them more stress and anxiety. However, children should realize that these precautionary actions are essential to decrease the spread of COVID-19 and managing the stress in a positive way will make people healthy and his community stronger.

It is quite difficult to determine the horrible impact of the virus spread on children be it emotional, health, education, and many other ways. Due to the uncertainty of COVID situation, children tend to develop short-temper and anger. Considering the risk to the children, the healthcare workers across the world have been warned to be more cautious for the patients under the age group of less than 18. Though every year of a child's life is valuable, their primary stage or the first ten years are very crucial because the basics of emotional, social, physical and psychological development are laid down at this stage.  

Staying out of school for more than three months has made children restless and reduced their physical activities. The social distancing has made them lonely and irritable in this crisis because they are not getting to visit their granddads, extended family members, and go for family tours as they used to enjoy during their last summer vacation.

Many experts have concluded that expression of Covid-19 is diverse as children are in constant emotional tumult. However, the parents are the caretaker of love,  care and positive thoughts to their children but in the present crucial time, parents are too busy in their own official backlog and finding less time to be with their children.  However, the adherence of being indoors has made pressure on children to be more disciplined and occupied themselves with screen-TV, computer, laptop, and mobile - either for online education or entertainment and play.

It is said that the future of tomorrow is laid on the hands of children, but they can shape the future only if their own future is secured. Therefore, it is important to pay special consideration to the children in the present times of COVID so as to keep them safe and sound.  It is also important that they must be occupied in physical, music, Yoga and other recreational activities to become active and dynamic. Their anxieties and concerns related to the pandemic must also be addressed through proper communication. There is a need that all the important counselors like teachers, parents, social workers act jointly to cope with the challenge posed by COVID-19.

Words beyond Words: Uses of effective words in Writing

PC THOMAS

How many words are there in the English language, how many words generally do we need to get along or how did we get into the ways of using the apt use of words with its structure?  These are questions which are often raised in the context of writing. Almost everyone in the writing career has faced such questions.

English is a language, which is being enriched by new words, phrases and usages every day.  People are always discovering new ideas, places, and things as a result new words come into life. With the newest word additions and definitions the Oxford Dictionary-2018 contains over 8,29,000 words, senses, and compounds.  Every year, it generates more than 1000 new words.  This spiraling growth is due to various ‘attacks’ of other world languages on English.

How many words in English do we need generally? It has been found that with about 5000 words we can just get along. But we require over 25,000 words to express our complex ideas in this cyber age. However, words are power, which we apply in reading, writing, speaking etc. Without this tool we cannot comprehend what is being communicated to us and we cannot respond adequately and appropriately to any communication. By developing our word power we can strengthen the thrust of reading as well as the flair of writing.

While reading, we come across loads of news words.  When we encounter new words, which are unfamiliar to us, usually we may ignore them. If we ignore those words or a word we may not  get the denotation of the sentence, since the meaning of the whole sentence may perhaps be hung on that particular word.  Unknown words appearing in sentences kill the spirit of reading, and cause problems for our understanding of the text.  Therefore, enriching vocabulary everyday is indispensable in the process of learning. One might say we can dispense with difficult words and phrases because simplicity is the rule of the day. Answer to this that we have to understand the views of those who write and talk using words which may be simple to many but difficult for us because we have a poor vocabulary.

We can do much to develop our mastery of writing by paying attention to the apt use of words with its structure. All the way through, our writing becomes concise and attractive.  There is a saying about a man who wrote a long letter because he did not have the time to write a short one. It means, a great faculty is required for clear expression in short and making its meaning wider and it is attained by enriched vocabulary and its proper utility.

Writing in a short and snappy way is a great skill, for which we require a fitting vocabulary and the correct knowledge of structuring sentences.  The necessity of good vocabulary and its usages cannot be overemphasized.  Therefore a constant effort to learn more and more words should be the aim of anyone who uses English for any type of communication.  Increasing word power means to enhance the quality of reading making us feel the real experience of the meaning of words in their context of usage. It can be obtained only thorough devoting a little time regularly for reading.
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Published in Metro Vaartha dated 24.6.20

International Yoga Day along with Father's Day and Music Day

 PC  THOMAS

International Day of Yoga, World Father’s Day and World Music Day come together on June 21.  I think this unison fits absolutely in this time, as we all need to sense about ways to improve our health, family relationship and a life of melody on this very special occasion.

International Yoga Day is celebrated to raise consciousness about the inclusion of Yoga in our daily lives.  On the other hand, World Father’s Day, a day on which children thank their fathers, is celebrated on the third Sunday of June every year for their relentless support and selfless love for them. And the World Music day marks the beginning of summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. It is a great international event that has been ongoing for more than 25 years, in many countries of the world. Read more article PC Thomas

Keeping the Covid-19 outbreak into consideration, now it’s time to focus more on Yoga.  The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi encouraged people to stay active and fit through Yoga during the time of the virus attack. The government has decided to celebrate the International Yoga Day on digital media platforms this year. Joining Yoga Day celebrations virtually at home with family signifies the importance of social distancing and minimizing the spread of COVID-19.

Yoga is a physical and mental exercise which gives us tranquility, confidence and strength through which those who practise the asana become more productive and resistant in life. In the wake of the corona-virus pandemic, yoga is increasingly being exercised by the people to get immunity. The practice of Yoga strengthens our physical body, as well as the microscopic systems that are not able to be seen to the eye. A strong and disease-free body can be easily maintained by adopting a healthy lifestyle and no doubt, with a regular yoga practice, combined with a few minute meditations in this Covid times, can tackle all mental issues of people and reap the immune-boosting results, though it is not a substitute for medical treatment. 

While we also celebrate the Father’s Day along with the Music day, let our family altogether fine-tune Yoga and music for the sake of peace and harmony in life. With social distancing now essential in this Covid times, one can hardly step out for health clubs and gyms or yoga classes,  putting into practice a basic yoga exercise regularly at home could be an excellent way to stay fit. 
Stay updated with the best Blog PC Thomas
Published in Metro Vaartha dated 21.6.20

Faithful wary of reopening of Holy Places

P C  THOMAS

The permission of reopening of Holy Places in the unlock 1.0 has snowballed into a controversy as various faithful have alleged that the government’s decision needs revision.  With reference to my article appeared in Metro Vaartha, June-10, many have expressed their opinion that in the wake of the virus looming on the horizon, it is not at all safety to worship in the shrines, therefore raising green-flag for the opening needs a rethink.

From the Hindu community, the famous blogger Sudesh Kumar DJV, shares – “according to me, religion is a _Lakhmanarekha_ to one and all to prevent oneself from wrong doings. Opening of places of worship at this juncture are prone to invite for troubles.  Fortunately, God can see and even hear our silence. Then why this haste in opening the places of worship now, which help paves another way for community spread leaving the entire country into trouble?” 

From the Muslim community Abdul Farhan Shakoor, Indore, shares, “As all other places are opening with proper guidelines and precautions, places of worship should be open for private prayers at least. At the same time, it is also risky, who knows who the virus carrier is!”

The other excerpts from the Christian faith are:-  Anish Joseph, school teacher, Indore shares -  “This Covid situation can be held indicative of what we are, in fact the whole world is facing. Jerusalem is the place of worship of Jews. Yet, Jesus states a time is coming when you no longer will worship the lord in the temples. I believe we need to hold on to this saying. It’s not the place of worship that matters rather the state of the worship. What good do we intend to do now by thronging to the religious places and becoming the agents of the deadly pestilence?”

Mrs Thomas, School teacher, Indore shares-“During this time of test, it is better to worship God at home.  Every faithful should be aware that the number of patients is terrifyingly high in India, hence it is the obligation of the believers to take necessary precautions in order to contribute to the survival and security of society in which they live”.

Fr. Byju Antony, Kerala priest reflects, “It is obvious that the Covid epidemic has invited every believer to come out of our own established structures and customs, - which we ourselves have bound on us - to Worship and Love God in Spirit and Truth.   It is also a time to show our solidarity with the world in co-operating to re-establish a healthy community and society again”.

To conclude, as restrictions on gatherings lifted around the world, the prime concern for common people is whether this is the right time to reopen temples, churches and mosques – all of which are connected with large crowds – when the country is witnessing a quick rise in Covid-19 case!

How impractical to worship as a Community adhering to Social Distancing!

P C THOMAS

The response of churches to the challenges presented by the global COVID-19 pandemic invites a closer examination during a time of social distancing where every religious institution is permitted now to reopen for worship.

As the country is still under the slavery of Covid-19, human life is now rapidly returning to normalcy with a few important restrictions after almost a three-month long hiatus due to Covid-19 lockdown. The central government has set a number of community guidelines which include that all religious places such as temples, mosques, churches must follow stringent rules, like  no touching of statues, idols, holy books and other things inside the premises of the places of worship, no offerings like prasad or sprinkling of holy water etc.. It is also demanded that the doors of these holy places are to be opened only for a limited period of time and numbers of the faithful to attend the worship will have been vigilantly restricted. For Churches, thermal scanners are to be used at the entrance, allot sitting places with numbers on the pews.  After each Holy Mass, sanitize the church, pews, chairs etc and the Priests carry sanitizers and if need be, use it during the worship.

In my point of view, with the restrictions it is not all conducive and comfortable to worship as a community of the faithful because the Christian worship has both personal and communitarian dimensions. Since the community of the faithful cannot worship together without restrictions it is better to be satisfied with personal worship of God with our minds concentrating on God and in communion with all humans of goodwill in the privacy of our homes for a little while longer until the conditions become favorable for public communitarian worship. There is also no pressing need for the faithful to seek public places of worship for his or her spiritual exercises amid the fast spreading virus.  None would be a ‘lost sleep’ in the lockdown period because he or she is unable to go to church, temple or mosque. In this circumstance, we should ask ourselves whether we would get the mental peace and serenity we seek in a worshiping place when there are many restrictions on getting a darshan or a blessing. How impractical for us to get divine blessings at this point adhering to these stringent social distancing and protocol?

In a way it is good that several states including Madhya Pradesh have now determined to extend the re-opening of religions places, knowing that the virus spreads fast, there is no medicine yet to combat it for certain.  Every believer should be aware that the number of patients is already alarmingly high in the country and it may take some time to fully cope with the situation. Therefore, it is the obligation of the believers to take necessary precautions in order to contribute to the survival and security of society in which they live. Love and worship of God need to be expressed in the love of others. Perhaps, not visiting the places of worship at this time of social distancing due to coronavirus is a better act of worship of God than visiting them and probably causing danger to the lives of others. Only those who are able to experience God in the temple, church and mosque of their hearts will be able to experience God in those temples, churches and mosques made of stone and wood!.

The Author can be reached at askpcthomas@gmail.com

This article was published in Metro Vaartha on 10.6.2020

Elderly deserve serious attention in the Covid times

If the India government tries to follow this method nationally, it will obviously be a blessing for the national old aged ones in their life.

P C  THOMAS

COVID-19 has impacted quite a lot of lives and is steadily increasing its reach in India even in the midst of locking and unlocking. In this juncture, it is the elderly section of people who has become the most vulnerable of the attack. Beyond the threat to life, the endemic is putting the elderly who are above 65  at higher risk level as compared to other group, due to their decreased immunity coupled with  their multiple ailments.

Health experts and governments state that if the Covid-19 attacked the old-age people, the treatment will be complicated for them.  Therefore, they are recommended to stay indoors. They will have to stay home until the covid-19 departed from the world. However, the government of India in its newly economic package, has not mentioned any plan to safeguard the elderly people who are locked at home.

Due to the lockdown situation, in fact, most of the financially distressed elders feel loneliness as they have lost their independence, self-esteem and even dignity to some extent, as they have to depend upon others for their needs. Many have said they were suffering from depression, lack of sleep and appetite, and other associated ailments. As the COVID-19 cases continue to soar in India, and looking the plight of the old-age people, the physical and psycho-social health of them needs urgent attention by the Government.

Since the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government came to power in Kerala, there have been many developments taken place  for the sake of the old age people where one thing  catches more attraction  i.e - every senior citizen having  less than Rs 1 lakh  yearly income gets a pension of Rs.1300. The Finance minister Thomas Isaac has announced that the same amount will be increased to Rs.1500 by next year.

Currently, those who are above 75 years are getting Rs.1600 per month. If the India government tries to follow this method nationally, it will obviously be a blessing for the national old aged ones in their life.