Wither IITs
I think education in Indian Institutes of Technology has become a big joke!
Read this news item from Times of India:
A general category student scoring 5 in maths, 0 in physics and 3 in chemistry and an SC/ST student who scored up to 40% lower — 3 in maths, 0 in physics and 1.8 in chemistry — was given a seat in IIT-JEE 2008.
Now that relaxation will also be 50%. In 2009, if the general category subject cut-offs remain constant, an SC/ST student with 2.5 in maths, 0 in physics and 1.5 in chemistry would squeeze into the hallowed IITs.
This year, score of the last general category student to be admitted was 172 (out of 489). The cut-off for an SC/ST student was 104.
Next year, assuming the general category cut-off remains the same, SC/ST students with 86 marks (50% of 172) will make the cut-off.
No wonder employers shun the IIT-ians and prefer even upcountry engineering colleges over the much-hyped IITs.
Poor IIT alumni, they can’t flaunt their snobbish, elitist name of their alma mater any more!!
Children and science
Surprisingly children show exemplary scientific temper and spirit of inquiry, given a chance!
Here is a set of scientific musings of school children peppered with humor and creativity!
To explain nuclear reactions, one child said, “When they broke open molecules, they found they were only stuffed with atoms. But when they broke open atoms, they found them stuffed with explosions.”
Concerning astronomy, one child said, “Most books now say our sun is a star. But it still knows how to change back into a sun in the day-time.” And another said, “Some people can tell what time it is by looking at the sun. But I have never been able to make out the numbers.”
“Vacuums are nothings,” said a young physics student. “We only mention them to let them know we know they’re there.”
“Evaporation gets blamed for a lot of things people forget to put the top on,” one child observed.
“Rain is often known as soft water, oppositely known as hail,” reported a budding meteorologist. Another added, “Thunder is a rich source of loudness.”
Other children added these observations: “Isotherms and isobars are even more important than their names sound.” And, “It is so hot in some places that the people there have to live in other places.” And, “The wind is like the air, only pushier.”
These children have a way to go in their quest for more knowledge, but I applaud their efforts to learn more about the universe.
(The source of the aforesaid snippets has slipped out of my memory. I’ll be glad to acknowledge it if someone cares to point it out to me.)
It is time our parents and educationists imbibe a craving for pure science in the minds of children and provide a space for experimentation and error.
Corporal punishment for class topper too!
A week after her teacher bashed her with a bulky record notebook, 17-year-old Caroline T. Daffadil, still struggles hard to move the swollen neck and lift her face. She is unable to stand without support. Tears roll down her chubby cheeks as the Plus-Two student of a government school at Ponneri, near here, tries to pick up a book to prepare for next month’s public examination.
“No, I am not able to hold the book,” she sobs, her neck tilted right. The class topper is unsure of taking her examination.
You can read more about this sordid episode in this news item that appeared in The Hindu
I wish God make yet another avatar to save the children from the evil hands of the demented pedagogy!
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About Me
I am S.K!
Ok, what's the big deal, you may ask! But you may miss a good deal if you do not dwell deep into this web site, specially hand-crafted for you. But what about me, the person? Wait, I am not good at making things up. If you stumble upon a good-sounding résumé, please pass it on to me!
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