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Disciplining the child
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Disciplining the child
However, this incident brought home two distinct views on punishment. Is corporal punishment justified? Was it right to slap a student? How is the justness of punishment to be established? The incident took place years ago, but the debate still rages on and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has taken it further by issuing a directive that has expanded the definition of corporal punishment to included acts such as slapping, rapping on the knuckles, making students kneel down or stand up for long hours, sitting like a chair and beating with a scale, pinching and slapping, locking up student alone in classrooms and making a child run in the school. Not limiting itself to physical acts alone, the commission has also come down heavily on the use of foul and abusive language. A teacher can be jailed for calling a child "idiot" or "stupid" or "mindless". Even something as common as impositions like asking the students to write that they will not repeat their mistakes in class are now considered corporal punishment. Is there anyone who has not been punished in school? Actually for most of us, indiscipline, and thereafter punishment was very much a part of school life. Many a time it was, especially for boys, corporal punishment involving physical pain, something that was taken as a part of the growing process. Corporal punishment is rightly condemned worldwide today , and there is no doubt that all too distressingly often students are abused by teachers who lose control and as a result of this, sometimes, children are injured, even killed. Those who perpetuate these acts deserve to be punished to the full extent of the law. However, there is another side to the problem too. The NCPCR directive says that a First Information Report (FIR) must be filed against teachers accused of punishing children. School administrators and teachers are understandably edgy about being harassed, and these provisions being misused. They insist that teachers must have certain means to discipline children. While this provision must be invoked in case of serious abuse of children, including are child sexual abuse, torture, electric shocks, inflicting injuries on children, it can also be misused by students and their parents. As a teacher put it: "If the child needs to be punished for something, what is wrong with making him run around the grounds provided he is hale and hearty? These days the parents themselves are not raising disciplined children. If the school also does not help in disciplining this generation where are we headed?" The NCPCR guidelines, no doubt, reflect the flux that the society is in. No doubt, sometimes even corrective actions need correction. However, the commission has done well to bring to the fore what was often brushed under the carpet-the abuse of disciplinary powers given to teachers.
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Now, degree is just a click away
THE Internet has shrunk the world beyond belief; still, we need a mode of education which can transcend the barriers of distance, time and space. Online education is one such application of the Internet, which enables us to impart education at a distance, with minimum space and the liberty to learn at will. It virtually gives one the freedom to pursue the desired education sitting at home, or anywhere—on the laptop. It brings the advantage of getting a globalised degree from a world-class institution while sitting in one’s home country.
Online education has brought a flood of opportunities for students of higher learning. Nowadays, almost every faculty of education is taught online in a very attractive manner. The degrees offered by educational institutes running online courses have a worldwide recognition. The online educational environment provides us the opportunity to contact overseas community, which helps us to share our views, increase our knowledge, overcome our difficulties and get advice to grow in this global era. A look at the most reputed foreign universities reveals that their professors (even more than 55 years old) tend to use the Internet more as a source of online education and get promotions after earning degrees. Recently, Jerry Carley joined the University of Southern Nevada, located in Henderson, Nevada, as Assistant Professor. Nikki Burley, MPA, was recently promoted to Procurement Analyst at the Department of Defense HQ located in Arlington. Dr Marty Trammell earned a PhD in education and is having his first book published. James Gardner, who did PhD from Walden University, was recently promoted as Vice-President of Instruction. There are several benefits of online education: It is accessible 24 hours a day and seven days a week. One is not bounded by the timetable, as it allows the flexibility to learn in one’s own way. Using the Internet as a classroom, you can access the online journals, e-books, magazines and research papers at any time. Online education is quick in reach as compared to the formal ways of education, so it has a vast scope in a big country like India. However, it is important to choose the right format for your online education to achieve goals. Once a decision is made, a search on the Internet will help you identify the subject area and review all programmes and universities available. Review not only the programme of study you are interested in, but also be sure to review the accreditation statement for the university, because accreditation is a very important consideration in online education. Though online education has its vast scope and it really helps to grow your knowledge and career, regular school/college still has its own importance and will continue to be so. It is advisable to attend regular college for a bachelor/master degree to enrich your experience, and then afterwards take an online degree. This gives the flexibility and freedom to the candidate. Enrolling in an online university is a good choice for anyone who wants to stay at home to earn a degree and can use the Internet to his or her advantage.
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Campus Notes
Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), which has been authorised to conduct the state-level B.Ed (regular) entrance test this year, will hold the test on August 18 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The university has issued admit cards to the candidates. The Controller of Examinations of MDU, Sukhbir Singh, said in case any candidate does not receive his/her admit card up to August 13, he/she can get duplicate admit card issued from the Colleges Branch of MDU from August 14 to 17. Such candidates will have to bring along a photocopy of their OMR Application Form, two photographs and a fee of Rs 50. Sukhbir Singh said no duplicate admit card would be issued on August 18, i.e., the day of the entrance test. Meanwhile, the university authorities are making all necessary arrangements for smooth and fair conduct of the entrance test. Principals authorised to admit students
The MDU authorities have authorised the principals of the affiliated colleges to make admission to undergraduate as well as postgraduate courses, in case of seats remaining vacant, up to August 17 strictly on merit basis with a late fee of Rs 1,000. Thus, the prior approval of the Vice-Chancellor would not be required for admission to UG/PG courses in affiliated colleges. The Academic Branch of the university has issued a circular to all affiliated colleges in this regard. Last date extended
The MDU administration has extended the last date for submitting the application forms for M.Ed (regular) course up to August 31 with a late fee of Rs 500. The entrance test for M.Ed course will be held on October 21. Candidates applying for admission to the course will have to submit all requisite eligibility documents up to October 15. Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar Guru Nanak Dev University will host the 28th International Conference of All-India Persian Teachers Association from December 27 to 29. Nearly 250 delegates from India and abroad are expected to participate in the conference. Dr Shashi Bala, coordinator of the conference, said the main aim of this conference was to promote and patronise the Persian language, as it had deep impact on the Punjabi language, literature and culture. Persian was indispensable for the understanding of the Sikh scripture and the Sikh history.
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Deadline Column 104 (August 11, ‘07) Art & Design
Scholarships
University
Pervin Malhotra, Director, Career Guidance India (CARING) (www.careerguidanceindia.com)
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