*Parent-Teacher Meeting*, by V.V. Sundaram (Hindustan Times, 1983)
As instructed, all parents reported at the school at 8.30 am sharp. “In our school we maintain strict discipline and punctuality,” said the Head Mistress in her opening remarks, as she showed up twenty-five minutes late. “The role of parents in teaching their children at home,” she cautioned, "has acquired increasing importance, especially in view of the stiff competition from other schools.” “Ours,” she continued, “is an English medium school. Therefore at the outset I must call upon you to speak to your kids *only* in English.” She ran her eyes over the audience and was quick to add: “I realize the difficulty some of you will have; but it just can’t be helped.’ At this point a person, who had all the bearings of a Corporator, Councillor, or MP, entered the hall. Quick to the situation, she added: “Of course, I need not emphasize the importance of speaking in Hindi since it is our national language. Here I have observed that children speak faulty Hindi. For example, what will you say in Hindi for ‘out’ she asked pointing her finger at me (a price I paid for being on the front row, and listening a little too attentively). However, backed by 20 years of stay in Delhi, I had no difficulty in answering her. “You see, this is exactly what I have been trying to correct in the children. You pronounce it ‘baar’. It is ‘bahar’. To be sure that I got it right, she asked me to repeat it thrice (fortunately she didn't ask me to stand up). This done, she suggested me to meet her after the class which I did to be told that I should better engage a teacher for myself first before venturing to teach my son. “As regards mathematics,” she continued ‘help your children in counting by means of beads”. She demonstrated the technique twice for our benefit with a bead-mala, each time arriving at a different total. “Anyway, you have got the idea; that is important.” “Whenever you teach them any lesson," she went on, "please explain the picture therein. Take for example the lesson, *Ramu*. By the way, how many of you have gone through the lesson?” she asked. Most of us raised our hands. “That is a good sign. Now tell me from the picture what are the things you saw in Ramu’s room?” Nobody made eye contact with her. She said, like the teachers, the parents too should be observant, in future. “You see there was a ball, a dog, and…what else was there in the room, Mrs Gulati?” she asked the class teacher who hesitated for a moment and replied. “I think that is about all.” The Head Mistress moved on to the next topic, but suddenly remembered something. “I think there was a doll also, wasn’t there?” “Yes, yes,” hastened Mrs Gulati feeling ill at ease. This was followed by a few sermons on neatness, dress, and weekly nail-cutting. Then we were asked if we had any questions. One parent got up and complained that his son was not getting proper instructions on home work. “What is his name?” asked the Head Mistress. “Arun Saxena”. “Oh Arun. I think the less said the better." She turned triumphantly to the class teacher, and verified if it was not about him that she was complaining the previous day. She clarified it was Arun Gupta. “Anyway, all Aruns are the same”, said the Head Mistress making an on-the-spot judgement. “An other problem?” No one answered. I am very happy at this exchange of thoughts, and hope that your continued efforts and the performance of your children will further improve the image of our school.” She was about to close the meeting, when one of the staff handed her a chit. She hastened, “Ah, the beads I showed you a little while ago. They are available in our canteen stores and are cheaper”. “When will we have our next lessons?” whispered a parent as the Head Mistress left the room. V.V. Sundaram Phoenix 4 November 2011
