To: kvpta@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 2004 17:11:06 +0530
Subject: [kvpta] minutes of meeting with parents of middle school (6, 7, and 8)


The focus of this meeting (held on Sept 6, 2004) was on maintaining
teaching quality.  We did discuss a few other things (notably discipline
and the second shift issue).    Please see three sections below.

I. TEACHING: Many of the following may be obvious, but discrepancies
were noted.

- We request that 

  + Teachers teach science to arouse the curiosity of the children, and
  not just do rote memorization.

  + All (not only selected few) teachers complete the activities and
  experiments prescribed in the textbooks, especially science.

  + Questions at the back of the text lesson be answered, especially
  when students raise doubts.

  + Correction of the questions/answers be accurate (At times mistakes
  are ignored.)  Homework needs to be corrected also and returned in
  time.

  + Exams are not made too long or fielded late.  A particular case
  (Maths) was noted as a point.

II. ORGANIZATION:

- Refresher courses are apparently being taken, probably we need more
preparation to clear student concepts adequately.

- A best teacher award/certificate should be issued by the PTA every
year, and announcement made on the annual day. Periodic citations of
teaching excellence with examples could be made to motivate teachers to
do better.

- The IIT best teachers may be asked to come and teach.

- The current system of a parent giving a written complaint in case of
problems needs reflection.  A possible alternative is the (rotating)
class parent system.  
      Severe complaints from a specific parent can be forwarded through
the class parent to the PTA executive committee (and thus the principal)
shielding the parent (and thus the child).  
      Notices from the PTA and the school (e.g. class specific
competitions  can be given to the class parent). 
      Thus, complaints and issues could be co-ordinated and feedback
given in an objective manner.  This should be recognized by the
school. Parents are encouraged to think about how
to implement.

- Better planning and system needed for

  + Homeworks by rotation so that only two subjects a day have homework.  

  +  Desks having lockable sections to keep books in class.

  + There are at times four notebooks per subject that the child has to
carry daily though only one of them may be needed in the class. Is there
a way to avoid this?

  + Certain children are made to correct the notebooks of other
  children.  

  + Children are made to do administration duties and miss class.  A
  better system needs to be considered.

  + Only a few children are encouraged to participate in exhibitions.

OTHER

- The student teacher relationship should be such that the child is not
afraid to ask questions.  Currently many children are scared to approach
the teacher as they feel the teacher may shout at them.

- The proposed shift change system was discussed with most parents opposed
to the idea.

- Our database needs to be improved. Suggestions such as announcements
via posters (School/Campus), and verbally in school were made.

- Funding could be organized via a trust.  

- Toilets are often dirty and water is not available at times.  Faculty
have suggested contributing towards maintenance of toilets.

- More such parents meetings can be organized. As next step the PTA can
raise some of the points from above with the school at their next
meeting.