The news that the government has, allegedly under pressure from certain quarters, decided to scrap the plan to introduce two assistant teacher posts, for music and physical education, at government primary schools has baffled many.
The newspaper report on the issue states that while, initially, these posts were included, later, the posts were slashed. Although no valid reason was provided for the abrupt move. In this time and age when schools must focus on comprehensive education, the step seems rather incongruous. “This is regressive, to say the least,” commented Abrar, a class ten student. Naturally, the first question is: what is the rationale behind the decision.
But first, let’s take a ride back in time, in the late 1970s and early 1980s when we were at school.
When we loved being at school:
At that time, the school we went to, Shishu Bitan o Shikkhangon, now renamed Eskaton Garden High School, created the PT (Physical Training) teacher post and, my memories of PT Sir, Mr Khalil, who was possibly with the National Cadet Corps at that time, are vivid.
Every day, before classes began in the morning, we took part in a twenty-minute exercise session. Twice a week, we practiced marching and performed other drills similar to that of cadets. Khalil Sir, sinewy and fit, exercised with us and always wore boots. As part of the PT sessions, we were introduced to a variety of sports like one legged cock fight, handkerchief run or roomal dour, 100 metre sprint and a discipline called poshak poridhan or, turnout competition. While most sporting disciplines involved physical activity, the turnout completion aimed to hone the attire sense of a young boy and a girl. I do not know if this discipline still exists today but back then, through this, we learnt the importance of proper appearance.
Khalil Sir, always sharp dressed, made it a point to instill in us the significance of the immaculate look. The significance of other sporting disciplines do not need to be elaborated as we know very well their benefits. Khalil Sir was also in charge of sports and, therefore, it was his task to detect talented players for the school team.
Understandably, the inclusion of PE teacher has multifaceted benefits!
From a purely sociological angle, this post provides job opportunity for former sportsmen who retire from their career and seek employment aligned to their discipline. In Dhaka, almost all private schools have PT teachers and most of those employed are former division level players from cricket, football, badminton or other sports. Schools employing former players do so in the belief that as a professional sports person, someone would be cognizant of basic physical fitness and, therefore, be able to impart his/her skills to students. These trainer posts provide much needed employment to sportsmen and women who have pursued sport at a mid-level and, need a permanent income source for livelihood later in life.
For instance, if we take football players as an example, a large number of footballers who played for smaller outfits in the local league often need a livelihood opportunity. While many opt to go into personal business, others seek employment and jobs related to sports and physical fitness.
Now let’s come to the issue about music teachers. Would anyone be wrong to state that abolishing this post will hamper the cultural development of children! Again, I am compelled to go back to my childhood when we had ‘gaaner class’ or music classes as part of the curriculum. From a very early age, we became familiar with Nazrul, Tagore plus modern songs. These classes were held in an atmosphere of joviality with the inclusion of light-hearted fun. After we grew up, it became clear that the gaaner classes were aimed to make school more lively and convivial.
In several acclaimed private schools there are debating classes, drama sessions and other engagements which aim to nurture the creative side of a student. At St. Joseph’s we had debating clubs, a science club called Scintilla and regular talent hunt schemes for school football, cricket and basketball teams. In fact, St. Joseph was the first school, which also had an American basketball coach in the 80s. The ultimate objective was to make education not just about getting grades but also about discovering inner talents.
For argument’s sake, let’s assume a student taking part in dance, music or sports related classes does not shows any exceptional talent in these areas. But just by being part of them, they learn to solidify teenage bonds, leading to lasting friendships.
At school, we also had religion class, Islamiyaat, plus a special session called ‘maatir class’ where children were given clay to make an object of preference. Our religion teacher or ‘Hujur’ as we called him was more like an avuncular figure rather than a teacher. The same Hujur came home and taught us Arabic.
Often students were put into groups to make clay figures that were put up for display with the best one receiving special mention.
During the late early 80s, a special subject called ‘Krishi biggan’ or Agricultural Studies was included in our curriculum where we learnt all about crops, gardening, farming and the basics of agriculture.
Change of outlook about education:
Across the world, general outlook about education has underwent a drastic change with learning going out of the classroom into areas where a child is given the chance to enjoy moments spent in school. In Bangladesh, the attention is still more on grades with many teenagers forced to give up other creative pursuits in the face of an invisible pressure to perform well in academia. Young lives become the proxy competition tools for academic excellence obsessed parents. When children already grapple with relentless social pressure to be the proverbial ‘meritorious’ student, the absence of sport and music will deprive them of the joy of school.
For almost every person, any trip down memory line evokes images of school life – the fun, laughter, mischief and above all the bonds cemented through sports and other activities. Perhaps, a wider social debate is needed to analyse the reasons that motivated the recent scrapping of the posts of physical and music teachers. There must be some logical reason, which is not evident to a lot of us. From a lay person’s angle, I can say, my school life, way back in the late 70s and 80s, gave some unforgettable memories.
They include singing Kaarar oi Louho Kopat, Ma Munia, Shonkocher o Bihobolotay, constructing a pirate ship with clay, learning the basics of martial arts, making makeshift hockey sticks with old chairs and looking up in awe at Khalil Sir, who, to us back then, seemed just as handsome and invincible as Steve Austin, the Six Million Dollar Man.
The writer is a former journalist
