GOING TO SCHOOL - SOME CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

     I studied mostly in the Kannada medium. I hardly remember what I learnt at the schools but vividly remember some of my teachers and my friends. But I very clearly remember the schools and the process of going to school every day.
     In fact, we looked forward to the activity of going to school everyday. We walked to the school. We would go along with our friends. There were many trees on the way. They belonged to no one in particular. There was a mango tree. We would throw stones at the tender mangoes and sometimes succeed in getting a couple of them. We always shared what we had. We did not have anything to cut with. We did the next best thing - strike the fruit to the floor and share the pieces! That some one got a bigger or a smaller piece did not matter - what mattered was we all got a piece each!
     Then there was a tamarind tree - boys loved the mature tamarind - We would pick the fruits from the roadside and share and eat them. I cannot forget the sweetish - sour   taste of the tamarind from that tree. Friendships were built on sharing the tamarind fruits from other sources. I remember explaining mathematical problems to my friends and getting sweet tamarind in  return!
     There was a ice candy vendor just outside the school. None of us had any pocket money - so we could not think of buying one! When we were thirsty playing in the school, we freely drank the municipal water. And we played every day during the last period. There was a great camaraderie and all enjoyed the games. That we played was all that mattered we did not even bother to see who  won.
     We had to have only 3 vaccinations - small pox, BCG and Tetanus toxoid out of which the first 2 were given in the school. That we picked fruits from the 'dirty' floor, drank 'unclean' water and had fewer immunizations made our immune systems stronger and we got allergy and  asthma less often. Now there is a lot of emphasis on 'very clean' food and water and too many vaccines are given and deworming is done too many times and too often in the pediatric age group resulting in an imbalance between the T2 and T1 immune lymphocytes causing allergy and asthma. There is a move in the west to encourge children to eat from the table tops so that they are somehow exposed to some infection. so that the rising incidence of asthma is reversed.
     In the rainy season, a holiday would be declared if many children got wet. There were no autos and it did not matter when a holiday was declared. On a very rainy day we would intentionally fold our umbrellas and stand outside the school building for 2 to 3 minutes.We would get soaking wet and the headmaster would  take pity on us and send us home. We of course had a different agenda. There were paper boats to make and to be left in streams of water which flowed vigorously during  the rains. It gave us immense pleasure to watch our tiny paper boats travel fast in the steam.
     Then there was the much awaited craft period twice a week. We learnt to make kites and magic lanterns. The craft examination consisted of making a kite - the success was gauged by one's ability to fly the same.  Almost every boy succeeded in succeeded in flying his own kite!
     The day began with a prayer We were taught prayer songs from different  religions. Significance of each day was explained. Each festival was celebrated. Diwali  was celebrated in a unique way - each one would get some crackers and give them to the class teacher. They would be collected and equally shared among all. Sharing equally was the rule - no one objected.
     Then there were yearly picnics - usually to the nearby places in and around Mangalore. The parents of some children gave food, some gave beverages - mostly home made - Some helped by accompanying the children so as to help the teachers in controlling them
     You thought I forgot to mention homework and exam ! Not really! There was no home work! Non at all! All studies were completed at he school. There was no tution. Teachers in the schools gladly cleared  the doubts. Revision classes were held just before the exams. Exams were a routine affair - we were scared of the exam  but were well prepared for it.
     If you ask me did I love my schools, my answer would be "Yes, of course"! But i would shudder at the thought of having to go to school today as a student simply because such schools simply do not exist anymore!