‘Shala sutli, pati phutali’…. this Marathi song sung by Kunda Bokil is an iconic song. Our education would be incomplete without this rhyme. Written by Yogeshwar Abhyankar & music by Shrinivas Khale.
‘Aathavanitli gani’ are the songs in our memory. We may not really remember the words but the image is clear. The child returning from school. He is famished. He wants his mother to give him something to eat. In his rush he fell down & has a few scratches & his slate is broken.
The black slate was an important part of going to school. Later the slates changed to unbreakable ones. The pencil used to write on it could be chiseled for good handwriting. Care had to be taken so that the homework did not get rubbed off. Wiping it away with a wet cloth or later with wet sponge.
The blackboard in school & chalk were the main instruments or tools used by the teacher. He could use a scale or wooden stick to beat a wrongdoer. It was not violence. Straightening or disciplining a child was normal. ( Today only curls in the hair are straightened! )
Parents believed the teacher to be right & the child deserved the punishment. They are little time to follow their ward around. Doctors & teachers were revered by the society. Gradually the image changed & so did the professionals. Or vise versa.
‘Chadi lage cham cham Vidya yei gham gham … ‘ is another old song, a myth today. Beating a child with a stick or giving a slap is a no no.
‘Spare the rod & spoil the child’ I believe it to be true. Do not use the rod but scolding is allowed, when wrong. I believe ‘hazing’ is also a must but one must know when to stop. Without going overboard.
The small person in front of you is not a punching bag nor defenseless. If the balance is just right, it should make for an excellent learning experience!
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