THE school decision

Okay, I have been obsessing. About school. No, I have had enough of education for myself and in any case, that decision was never so 'important' when I made it for myself. I remember getting the Petersons guide for half an hour to 45 minutes at REC Trichy because my father begged on my behalf. Barely got past the 'A's in the book, applied to American University, got in, got a schol and it worked out pretty well for me.

No, this decision is way more important because I would be shaping my kids' lives and outlook to everything. Maybe I am more sensitive to it because I was not given much of a choice myself. Suffered through compulsory school changes and 'assisted' subject choices and in some ways, am still dealing with the consequences of those choices today. My parents meant well, I am sure. And it worked out fine for most part....though there are still days when I wake up and don't want to go to work because I am not passionate about accounting. Come on, creative accounting equals jail term!

So the school choice for my kids seems to be a major one in my mind. I was all set on one choice for a long time, got exposed to some other choices and then began swinging like a pendulum, much to my husband's dismay. I am sure the poor guy dreads every day and the change of opinion/passionate defence of the day's choice that it brings

The choice is made really complicated by the presence of several alternatives, all of whom have different strengths and weaknesses. One school's weakness is another's strength....so in the end, one has to figure out for oneself what is important personally. Is it going to be a compromise in favor of alternativeness/distance/quality of education/lack of academic pressure/cost of education/syllabus?

My analysis (after much swinging and passion....caveat emptor!) of the important factors in the decision are:

1. Personality of the kid in question - sensitive kid....and want to retain a certain level of that sensitivity/creativity/differentness? Look for unconventional schooling first, and then conventional schools that look out and work with this kind of kid. Competitive kid - look for alternatives that channel it positively....schools that do not believe in competitiveness will not work. India does need that Olympic gold medal......in this millennium, please god?!

2. Personalities of parents and attitude to academics - If you are a parent who is type A, wanting your kid to get into an IIT (or humanities at Delhi Univ from what I hear!), go conventional and into a school that is old-fashioned and will pressure the kid. If you value learning over marks, get on board with me on the boat of confusion!

3. School management - Of PRIME importance. Super Prime. You want a principal able to think differently, care about the kids, exposed to the world outside their four walls, interested/open to learn and change......AND kind of older than 30! Professional qualifications would be ideal. Guess what? Such a person is tough to come by daily. And if they were dime a dozen, we would not have this much of a dilemma.

4. School policies - on discipline, attitudes to children, competitiveness, exposure to extra-curriculars, secular education.....you name it. Warning - it seems like you will always love some things and hate others.....in each school. So a rating of personal requirements will save the pendulum swings. Little to no swing - good thing!

5. Distance from home - Another super prime factor in today's Bangalore. The pressure on this factor comes from the fact that you are making a decision that (hopefully!) will take care of your kid upto standard 10. So another 10 - 12 years of traffic patterns and road development. Since the home next to yours can become a mall anytime, good luck with this. If foreseeing on this level was even possible, Bangalore would have roads like any western country. Or even Delhi! :-D

6. Syllabus followed - ICSE, CBSE or State? Go ICSE for 'difficult as you go along but good fundamentals' (great for English....those so inclined will love it!). CBSE works as a good syllabus in general, if dilute on some subjects and concentrated in others. State - depending on the state.....speaking for Bangalore, easier in general and works when the kid is getting into professional sports and will want to keep academics easy. Also works for those kids who are smart but not academic in orientation. These are purely personal opinions - I have gone through all three syllabi (at different standards and in TN). Another caveat emptor here.

Some factors like extra-curriculars and cost have not seemed to matter too much except when one is out of the fringe.....like you are looking at an International school that costs lakhs or are looking for golf/equestrian training. Most other schools are in the general broad price/activities range.

Also, if everything becomes a factor, we would have to home school!

Last part of my analysis - the admission process itself. We have to list the schools in order of preference, be alert to when they give out application forms/info, haunt them to get forms complete and within deadline, and PRAY.

Our kids will probably do fine, the parents are the problem! :-)