My student Subramanian has given me the idea for this article: he wrote a fairly good essay on the Average Joe, whom nobody seems to own up. An extraordinary performer is what every teacher and every parent seems to want. The focus is on success, on brilliance, and outstanding academic performance. While it is true that success is the ultimate holy grail, ignoring the talents of the average kid seems unfair. Someone not so good with mathematical formulas may have other talents worth nurturing, Subramanian argued in his essay. Perhaps he is inspired by Tare Zameen Par…
When I showed the essay to my Head of the Department (namely, of English), he refused to put it up on the notice board. He said that it goes against the principles of the institute to encourage underachievers. He said that the institute expects 100% dedication towards success at the entrance exam for IITs, and that the essay might send the wrong signals to people that we are not committed to our goal of elevating children a level higher than where they started (when the entered the institute). I did not want to argue with him: he is the person responsible for material that goes on display and he has to cover his bases. But I am free to write what I like here. So here is what Subramanian had to say…
Firstly, take social gatherings; the first thing anyone would ask you is: what is your boy doing? The right answer to it is – He is in IIT or He is preparing for IIT. Preparing for BITS (or He is at BITS) is the second best. The response in such cases is, “oh, wow! Lucky you”. The wrong answers include: My son/daughter wants to pursue studies in the liberal arts; he/she wants study philosophy (or literature). In response, you get: “oh, poor thing. Why what is wrong with the child?” Even if the child happens to be extraordinarily talented in his own chosen field. As it happens, Subramanian is not your average Joe; he writes well. He is full of ideas. Except that those ideas don’t fit in to the scheme of things.
Everyone is in a rat race. If you chose to be outside the race (and thereby not remain a rat) the winners won’t let you off so easily. Having won the race with much diligence and application, they would call you a loser. They would call you a misfit (although, it is by choice that some don’t want to fit in). I am sure Subramanian will do well at the entrance exam, that he would go to a good institute, that he would fit in. The pressure from parents, peers, and teachers would ensure that he succeeds. Indeed, if he sets his mind to it, he can be an overachiever. But right now, he seems to dislike the whole racket or under- or over-achievers. He simply believes that not everyone needs to be a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon. There should be space for a normal child with inclination for other activities.
What other activities? These parents and socialites will be happy to meet an MF Hussain. They gloat over the achievement of Saina. However, they don’t want their child to miss the bus. Kavya Viswanathan makes a profound point in her controversial book (How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life): success does not require any explanation. But pursuing an out-of-the-way career does require you to convince people of your goals. The first question from your parents is: How can I be sure that you will get the Booker prize like Arundhati Roy did? They may even suggest to you to do your writing in the summer, like Kavya Viswanathan did, and focus on your studies right now. Unfortunately, the book was called off the shelves in America, but it is available in India on pavements in big cities. (Or, it was available, until two years ago.)
Let us get back to Subramanian. With his analytical powers and creativity, he would excel in any area of studies. Should I recommend that he go ahead to an IIT, and become a five–point someone (which is likely because his heart is not in it)? Well Chetan Bhagat is a good role model (so is Kavya, in spite of allegations of plagiarism: I know for sure the main point of the book, that success does not need any explanation – is not plagiarized). If he gives up writing, we will be losing a good writer.
Bottomline: One could do worse than be a swinger of birches - Robert Frost
Teaching is an exceptionally difficult profession. The problem starts with its roots in the industrial revolution and subsequent economic transformations, which needed workers with a certain minimum level of education. The school system therefore became the equivalent of an industrial assembly line, with the goal of turning out perfectly interchangeable parts that would drive the machine that is the modern economy.
ReplyDeleteA second problem is that most people would rather not be in school. It's hard work, and less fun than playing video games all day or watching the latest reality show on TV. So most students don't strive particularly hard or show any sign that they care about what they're learning. (In part, this is a teen psychology thing.) The few who really do love to learn quickly become the teacher's favorites because they stand out from the rest of the crowd.
Third, as you note, there's enormous cultural pressure to succeed, which is defined almost exclusively in terms of the capitalist definition. There is little social support for success being defined in terms of happiness and satisfaction with one's life.
Combine these factors and it's easy to see why we get the problems you describe. Students like Subramanian, who might be happiest as philosophers like their teacher, receive none of the attention they require to survive and thrive.
What can be done is to teach them to seek balance in their life. Each of us must find a way to earn enough money to survive -- though that amount is less than the "get rich quick" crowd likes to believe -- but we must also find a way to pursue the survival of our spirit. Possibly Subramanian should seek a compromise by working hard enough to achieve basic competence in some career that will sustain him through his life, and spend his hours outside work blogging or doing other forms of writing that will nurture his spirit. If he's truly blessed (as I have been), he'll find a way to combine his passion with a career that will sustain him economically.