8th
July 2017
From the Principal’s Desk
As
we live in times of breaking news on TV, unauthentic reports in newspapers,
news bites from WhatsApp and Facebook, let us take a pause and reflect.
What Happened!
In
Hyderabad, Police catch drug peddlers. Investigations reveal that young people
from 13 years of age are their clients. They are either school going or college
going students.
A
Telugu newspaper prints names of 18 schools in the city saying that students
from these schools are drug addicts.
(
Police statement says students of schools and colleges, not any names. But
Andhrajyoti – a telugu newspaper prints a list of schools without any scruples
about its’ authenticity, or the impact of such yellow journalism.)
As
a precautionary measure and advice, IG Police of the respective department
sends an official letter to all schools
in the city.
(The
letter does not say that students of your school are caught- it only says, be
alert)
And all hell breaks loose
after that!
Reactions of people
·
Calls to schools pour in as if they are answerable to this crime.
·
Messages on whatsapp fly at the speed of light.
·
One school owner circulates a message to his parent community that his
school is holy and his students need to be protected from 1000 drug addicts of these
18 impure schools! What levels people can stoop to sell themselves!
·
Within 2 hours, people want to know the action plans of schools. Even
though people and schools got to know the news at the same time.
·
Letter to one particular school
was circulated on whatsapp as if a state secret is revealed. Anything for news
bites!
·
And a counselor begins self promotion mails that he can be the cure to
all these ills.
Well, the next day is another day! Hopefully with another scoop or they
can retire into oblivion with sunshine messages or some forwards.
Whatever
happened to rational thinking? Common
sense is certainly getting scarcer by the day.
Before the
good wears the shoe, bad travels around the world and comes back !
Media Schools and People
May
be such news is not worth sharing or may be there are no takers for positive
news.
Lakhs
of students study in the private schools of Hyderabad. They bring laurels to
the city and country. People who run these schools work day and night to make a
difference. But these people are neither talked about nor validated.
Private
schools and particularly ‘international schools’ are portrayed as if they are
money making machines. Not a word about the world of learning they create to
give the best to children.
Schools
neither encourage drug sales or drug addicts nor stay oblivious to students’
erratic behavior. Moreover information flow in schools is so active that no
news of this kind will get ignored. But people don't see the obvious.
Moreover,
what children do after they leave the school, is the responsibility of parents
and society.
Schools
can only teach values and academics. But parents and society need to be
watchful of what is happening out there. One cannot just lamely watch and talk
only when the hell breaks loose.
New lessons
Interestingly,
with each passing year, the cautions we have to take and the lessons we have to
give are changing.
Besides
safety, security and power of saying ‘NO’, rational and responsible thinking should also
be a lesson worth learning.
How
to sieve, filter and be sensible in assimilating news, and what news is worth
sharing and what is worth ignoring is another attitude worth developing at all
ages.
Sharing
of ill information is like sharing our ignorance and adding to the existing
chaos.
Reactions
and responses of people in complex situations are true indicators of their
mindsets and personalities.
There
is a great need for matured, intelligent, rational members of society who add
value and not let others devalue.
Silver Oaks and this news
Amidst
the mindless frenzy, we at Silver Oaks have chosen to stay calm and sensible.
We teach our students to be proactive, balanced and reflective. And that's what
we did.
For
15 years we groomed children with character and competence. Nearly 3000
students passed out and 3000 more are now studying in the school.
One
news report cannot damage our heritage nor can it dampen our spirits.
But
what really lifted our spirits are the messages and calls from our parent
community, alumni and well-wishers
saying ‘we are with you’ .
Summing
it up, Silver Oaks stands tall and proud with silver shining in everything it
does.
5 comments:
It's a good message to the society.
Silver Oaks keep shining tall and strong!!
We all from the education field are with you! Continue the good team work you all doing with the same zeal and passion to bring out the responsible and good citizens of the country besides good academic results!!!
Media please play a more responsible role!
True it is a concern for many of us, I do appreciate creating awareness is one of the major challenges whereas the other part is the Gossip created out of this Issue in What’s up and Media sad to see how people react and create stories. The Media, Well, they can build or destroy ones reputation all said and done when we do so many good deed that are not highlighted in Newspaper, very sad to see immature, sarcasm people around the city, People should know what is worth sharing and what is worth ignoring, yes it is alarming for the Team or the parent community,
I liked the support and Trust we got from all across the globe and most of our students think wise and stay balanced. We build Character first and Competence next and that all our students set a fine example of it. Nothing can faze us. Where the mind is without fear and head is held high.
DEVI RAO.
Though I left Silver Oaks a few months ago due to my father's transfer to America, I still read these kind of blogs, and when I read this it was really inspiring , i am trying my best to warn my family and my community to decrease drug addicts.
I am proud to be a team at silver oaks, whether to react or respond to the situation matters a lot as long as we are on the right path, the media "Spill the beans" Just feels horrible and embarrassing and, We believe in the culture of the school since 2005 and that we stand tall and proud with our ideology and philosophy of our school. We need to be matured and sensible and stay reflective. I am happy to see the parent community and the team /students of our school how each one of us was like a pillar supporting the school and be with the school during the crisis this is a fine example of our culture what we preach and follow no matter what, we give the best and get the best with all positive energy that flow in Silver Oaks because of you Seetha Mam. Proud of you Mam,Touch the sky with glory.
Devi Rao.
Post a Comment