Editor,
As a mother of a middle school student I request the teachers not to burden the students with mindless homework every day. The new academic session has just begun and most students have already started to suffer from tremendous mental and physical strain. If there are eight periods in a typical day and a student spends a minimum of half an hour in each subject (in most cases it is more than half an hour), then at least four hours are spent in doing homework every day. After long hours of sitting and writing in school, the student spends the entire evening also doing homework. This leads to mental and physical strain and fatigue. When does a growing child play and relax? I agree that homework is necessary and students need to study. However, the type of homework given is actually detrimental to learning. For example, textbooks have a lot of subjective type of questions. Teachers usually give the answers in the class and tell the students to copy all the questions and answers at home in the exercise books.
Another example is the trend to mark the answers in the textbooks from a certain sentence to another. The students have to copy these answers verbatim. Most of the homework is merely copying questions and answers. This leaves no time for the students to read and understand the lesson; it hinders their ability to think and frame their own answers; it sucks away their creativity and curiosity and takes away the joy of learning. Therefore, I request the teachers to put themselves in the shoes of the students and be more child-friendly. I beg of you, please don’t kill the joy of learning.
Yours etc.,
A helpless parent
A communal move
Editor,
I wish to draw the attention of the concerned authorities through the columns of your esteemed newspaper to the bandh imposed by Naga Students Federation on all Manipur/Meitei owned vehicles. While I condemn the act of Manipur Commandos over the NSF students’ leader on 14th of Feb 2016 at Mantripukhri, Imphal at 6:30 am on their way to Ukhrul District to attend Lui-Ngai-Ni festival, this reaction is uncalled for. I would not hesitate in pointing out that the NSF has done tremendous work for the welfare of the students and society. But it is very unfortunate that the NSF has blamed the entire Meitei community as being responsible for the situation and as a result has banned entry of vehicles in Naga- inhabited areas starting from February 24 onwards. As student leaders, one must have a sense of duty and responsibility and uphold the welfare of the society, including the common people of the state and country in general irrespective of caste, color and religion.
I would like to mention further that the people of Manipur are called Manipuri and so the term Manipuri does not necessarily mean he Meetei / Meitei only but all the different ethnic groups of Manipur as well living in different hilly areas of Manipur. So, pointing out one specific community and making common people the victims of their ire would be wrong and unwise. When NSF stated ‘’Naga Inhabited areas’’ I am confused whether their statement lies under Nagaland jurisdiction only or any other states as wells for NSF does not exist in Manipur State. I am also shocked to notice that intellectuals and state representative students took such an ugly and irresponsible step that could lead to communal violence.
As a responsible citizen I feel sad about this incident and I believe in peaceful co-existence so I urge the Government of Manipur to strictly investigate the matter and book the culprits as per the laws of the country without further delay. I also appeal to the NSF to kindly review its stand over the restriction of plying vehicles owned by Manipuri / Meitei / Meetei over Naga inhabited areas, as I believe it would lead to unnecessary communal tension in the two states.
Yours etc.,
Chongtham T Meetei,
Shillong – 3