Tuesday, September 28, 2010

School Season Again

It is school season again in this part of the world. And parents like me who have kids going to playschools or Montessoris are in the market for the next school their child should go to. Which means any parent I talk to, this is the topic of prime concern and one that we dwell on. Sometimes it feels like I just need something to obsess about in life - it is one thing to the other. Currently it is schools and what method of education is best for my child. Our hubbys' may call us 'paranoid moms' but trust me - all this 'market research' (translate: talking to every parent about it until they are ready to walk off the place) has helped me come to one decision atleast. That we will NOT be targeting schools which have a pure academic bend and focus only on marks rather than an all round development of the child respecting his interests in life. Which means we are taking the bold step of leaving out NPS (the most sought after school in most parent's list on our side of the town) from our list of schools we will apply to. Which is a HUGE step for a person like me who basically finds it so hard to make decisions (you can blame my Gemini genes I guess). My strategy in life otherwise is to shoot in all directions (translate: apply to all schools where the child will be eligible for age-wise) and once you do have a few admissions, think hard (translate: chew my hubby's and others' brains harder) and research a lot more (translate: read and re-read all the same websites and online forums and reviews again) and then make a call. Sigh!

So like I was saying - we have made a decision to leave out NPS from our list. But knowing me, I know the moment I hear that they are issuing forms, you will find me standing (and sweating like a pig) in the loooooooooong queues outside not 1, not 2 but all 3 branches of NPS near our area really hoping that I get the form! That's me. I know myself very well that way. Hubby calls it madness but so be it - I don't want to be left out of the collective madness (afterall the tonnes of other folks standing in line cannot be all mad). And what if my child does not get through allllllllllllllll the other schools we will be trying for and what if this is the only one left? Hubby says in that case we let her continue at the lovely Montessori she is going to now and try again for LKG next year. No big deal. And I actually agree. She and us parents loooooooooooove this Montessori she is going to at present and breaks my heart to have to pull her out of it in 1 year since she is not only enjoying it but learning so much there without any input from our end! She is just 3 and is already recognizing so many alphabets and numbers and is even writing some of them at times. Amazing really. But the sad thing is I don't have the courage to let her continue there and only worry about admissions when she is ready to go into 1st std. I wish I really had that courage and determination coz she has everything she needs here including daycare facilities (if needed). But I know I will feel like I didn't give it a shot for her long term schooling if I do not apply to some of them this year.

Ok so back to the research on big schools. Here is other thing I get put off in schools these days. It is what they call new-age methodologies of teaching which include multimedia enabled classrooms, computer labs with educational games/CDs and such! I mean really? For 4 year olds? I could have popped a DVD at home and have her watch it if that is what teaching is about these days! I mean I would rather have her spend her time outdoors interacting and learning with other kids (even if it is free play) than watch DVDs in a classroom.

So like I said, school fever begins again. And starting next month, you can find me standing in one of those queues at most of them schools in and around our area (even further beyond our area I'm sure)! So here's wishing myself (and my child) some luck and sending luck to all you parents out there who are in the same boat as me this year! Do keep me posted on which schools are you targeting and which you are NOT (in and around Koramangala, Bangalore).

9 comments:

Hetal said...

I totally understand what you are going through, Divya! Actually we went through the same thing with Ishaan. Being in the Bay area, we were highly tempted to enroll him at Challenger School (highly preferred by Asians)... in fact he even made it in the lottery, but we changed our minds after that! We found other schools that had more well rounded curriculum. We sent both our kids to Montessori and we love it. We have recommended it to everyone we know. They now go to public school, but once we move back to Bay area.. .the big question will be public school or private school?
Good luck on the school search!

Divs said...

Gosh hvp! Does this ever end? Dilemmas...decisions...But yeah I agree with your review on the Montessori system too. We too are loving it and that's why are not so keen on moving her out of it in a year already :( Khair, are you guys moving back to the Bay Area? When? Why?

Diary Of A Stardusted Dreamer said...

All the best with the school hunt! I'm going to be in your shoes this time next year, and we seem to have a lot in common too so I'll be one of those sweating it out in millions of queues too I guess!

SimplyBans said...

hi divs, i have been following your blogs & post now and then and found most of them very informative and that i can make use of as I also reside around same part of Bangalore as you. Can i ask you which Montessori in Koramangala does Nikku go to. coz I had lil Shruti going to planet kids before for the last six months now but now i have got plans to move her to a Montessori which also provides a day care. Its Vivaa International have you got any feedback of this place before pls. Thanks & Appreciate,
Bans

Rohini said...

The husband went to FAPS and swears by it!

Divs said...

Banumathi - Thanks for your feedback on my blog. I prefer discussing details over email so leave me your email id and I will get in touch with you.

Rohini - Thanks for visiting. Yeah heard good things about FRAPS too. But it may be too far distance wise for us.

Anonymous said...

Where have you disappeared??

Divs said...

hey Priyanka - just stuck in a writer's block I think :-)

Anonymous said...

Come on, take off that block, I'm sure you have loads to write and share :)