I've been meaning to comment on this post earlier... though I'm not sure if "Preetam Raikar" is really Preetam Raikar.
We're all missing a key point here: the key problem is compulsion. It becomes intensely problematic when *we* believe that *we* can, and should, be laying down standards for everyone! The problem with Konkani/Marathi enforced medium-of-instruction at the primary level (done in the name of 'education in the mother tongue', a questionable argument if you scratch even lightly below the skin) is precisely this: compulsion. Compulsion likewise causes problems with the Devanagari script in Goa as we have recently seen, or Luizinho Faleiro's policy of not giving the choice to parents to decide whether their children should be studying English or not as a subject in Std I (giving the Marathi press a chance to whip up hysteria through eight-column banner headlines) and in other cases. When it comes to uniforms, is it hard to imagine that a section of parents in Goa find the Western garb to be an immodest form of dress for their daughters? If so, is it fair to force it on them? Once we accept this reality, then the only question left to be sorted out is what choices should be given over the uniforms to be worn, who should exercise these choices (parents? students? educational institutions? PTAs?) and how the interests of those (minorities -- but not necessarily in a religious sense) should be taken care of. While *we* think it is abominable to be forced into a purdah or salwar kameez, why not ask others what they feel about it? Is it any less abominable to force them to be clad in a Western attire, which for whatever reason they are unwilling to accept? If you think my logic is flawed, let me know why. FN [Goanet] Talibanisation of Goa. Preetam Raikar preetam_raikar1 at yahoo.com Sun Jun 11 21:54:00 PDT 2006 Recently, I was astonished to read an article on the local Goan english newspaper on the Higher Secondary Schools change of uniform to Salwar Kameez. I request the Eduacational authorithies not to strictly impose the dress code to Salwar Kameez. Its the full right of the students to wear dresses, skirts or whatever they like, so long as they don't breach the moral standards. The subtle ideas of this Salwar Kameez idealogy is the 'outsider' influence that is now threathening the very social fabric of the native Goans. Today no skirts, tommorow no Jeans. Preetam Raikar -- ---------------------------------------------------------- Frederick 'FN' Noronha | Yahoomessenger: fredericknoronha http://fn.goa-india.org | +91(832)2409490 Cell 9822122436 ---------------------------------------------------------- 2248 copylefted photos from Goa: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fn-goa/ _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
