Unfit for School or Is School Unfit for Them?

Unfit for School or Is School Unfit for Them?

This is the last week of March. Examination results have been declared in most schools, except for the board classes. Most children have been promoted, but not all were so fortunate. Some failed for the second time and now have no choice but to leave the school. As a community, we continue to believe that it is the children who must learn, and those who don’t must be failed.

What was the conversation around this issue almost a hundred years ago? Let’s read what Gijubhai had to say about the ‘unfit’ child.

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“The examinations began. The Education Officer got the other classes examined first and then it was the turn of my class to be examined! It had been agreed from the start that the Education Officer was to personally examine my class. 1: smiled and said, "I don't want to examine your class. I promote all the boys of your class to the higher standard." "No, that won't do," I said. "It would be unfair to some students." "How can that be unfair to pupils?

"Those who do not deserve promotion cannot be promoted I said. "But I am sure you have taught the whole class very well accept the worth of your teaching." "Maybe I have. But has everyone learnt equally well Frankly, some have not learnt anything. They are as blank as ever.” "Then what do you think we should do about them?" "Some will have to be asked to leave the school. The son of Raghu, the barber, finds no interest in history, geography or arithmetic. He stagnates here in this school. But he is quite clever and is capable of heading a team of assistants and running a big barbershop quite well. He should be sent to Bombay to learn hair cutting and the management of haircutting saloons.” "All right; who else are unfit for the school?" "It is not that they are unfit for the school. Rather, this school is unfit for them. The school is unable to teach them what they have the aptitude for." "Well, perhaps; but who are they?" "Name of Jeevan Sheth is fit for the Police Department. We should get him enrolled in a gymnasium. His father should be advised to arrange for him to travel too. He should be apprenticed with some good police officer and he should learn a little bit of law. Within five years he will make a good havaldar. Even today he behaves like one in the school." "Agreed; now who else is weak?" "Three of them are weak in studies. During the ensuing vacation I shall prepare them for promotion to the higher class. But, Sir, is there no remedy for the rigours of the syllabus and the standards in our school?" "Leave it," said the Education Officer. "My hands are tied in that respect. I have told you so, a number of times. Now the examination of your class is over.  And you seem to have arranged something as was done last term. I know your ways now.” (Excerpts from the book, Divaswapna)

It’s been almost 100 years. How many more years do we need to finally say, “It is not that they are unfit for the school. Rather, this school is unfit for them.”