Mrs Vidhupriya Chakravarty, Principal, St Thomas School, Shimla, talks about the importance of vocational education and believes in accepting students with their weaknesses in order to make them better human beings! In an interview with Keekli Reporter, Ashima Sharma, she discloses how she has fought against drug addiction problem in school and taken effective measures to educate children by talking to them at every step rather than treating them as outcasts.
Keekli Reporter: How will you identify the educational needs and values of students and community at large?
Mrs Vidhupriya Chakravarty: Education plays a very important role in shaping future of a child. It is a basic human right and a significant factor in the development of children, communities and countries.
Keekli: Please describe the role you feel parents should play in the operation of schools and in the development of their children.
Vidhupriya: A school only works well for children if parents and teachers act in partnership for the best interest of their children. Involvement of parents is very essential in making a child disciplined. Parents cannot shoulder the entire responsibility of a child on the school. There are families where both parents are working and they are unable to devote enough time to their children. In these kind of cases parents should try to take out some time from their busy schedules to talk to their children about day to day activities so that they are involved in their kids lives.
Keekli: When you visit a classroom, what are the first things you look for as signs that the classroom is an effective learning place?
Vidhupriya: I make sure that the class is well equipped with charts and smart class facility. I make sure that the students are happy and well involved with the teacher. Interaction is very important in order to bridge the gap between teachers and students, it creates a healthy environment in the classroom.
Keekli: What discipline standards or procedures have you found to be effective when dealing with students?
Vidhupriya: Dealing with the students of today’s generation is not an easy task. They have way too much exposure and grow up too quickly. They have to be dealt with in such a way that doesn’t seem to offensive to them. I usually try to sort out the problem in a friendly manner. If nothing works out, I make them sit in my office for the entire day. This punishment is harsh enough for them (laughs). For disciplinary breach like cell phones, they are not allowed in the school premises, even the teachers submit their cell phones in the office before the school begins.
Keekli: “You educate a woman, you educate a generation”? Do you agree with this quote? If so please explain yourself.
Vidhupriya: This is absolutely true, I totally believe that a woman has the capability to change the world. She makes the world go round and her education can make a big difference in society.
Keekli: Bullying in the schools has become very common. What steps do you take to stop it?
Vidhupriya: I don’t think bullying is that much of a problem in day schools. It is more of peer pressure that troubles students. We try to overcome this problem by organizing talking sessions with the students frequently, through which they can talk about their problem with the teachers.
Keekli: Drug addiction is a major problem among students in Himachal Pradesh. How do you keep a check of it in your school?
Vidhupriya: At one point my school was infested with this problem. I have fought against it for three years. Things are much better now. We have regular value based talks to keep children away from such evils. In order to put an end to this life threatening habit among children one needs to accept them and then bring about changes rather than treating them as outcasts. This approach has worked for me and helped me in making my school almost drug free.
Keekli: How would you describe your leadership style? And what are the traits of an effective principal?
Vidhupriya: I believe in giving a push and empowering my staff and in order to do there has to be certain qualities in a principal. He/she has to be very communicative, filled with ideas as well as open to all the ideas that come in through teachers. The organizational skills have to be very sharp and last but not least the execution of work that falls on the shoulders of a principal.
Keekli: Describe your style of supervising staff and subordinates. Tell us about an incident where that style worked well. Describe a time that you were disappointed in the results of your supervision.
Vidhupriya: I have a very good rapport with the staff. I maintain a very cordial relationship with my teachers as it is very important for a healthy environment in the school. I cannot remember a particular incident because every day is a learning experience for me. I have been on this post for seven years now, there have been lot of disappointing moments and mistakes but they have made me stronger and given me maturity.
Keekli: What tasks or responsibilities do you typically delegate and what do you do yourself?
Vidhupriya: According to me the word school itself represents responsibility and even my teachers share the same idea. I don’t have to delegate any special responsibilities to my staff as they are very responsible and understand the importance of the duties assigned to them.
Keekli: Describe a recent incident that required quick reaction and good judgment on your part to control children?
Vidhupriya: No such incident has happened recently, as far as quick reaction and good judgment is concerned, I require it every day to handle the students. To control children one needs to be a very good listener and understand the minds of the children.
Keekli: What is the hardest part of your job?
Vidhupriya: Looking at the present scenario where ethics and values are deteriorating day by day, the most difficult task for a school principal is to keep them intact. It is a challenge for me to fulfill this task but I try my best to make the students understand the importance of these values and ethics.
Keekli: Can you describe a typical day in the life of being a principal?
Vidhupriya: I learn and grow as a person each day when I walk into my office and take up the responsibility of being a principal.
Keekli: Do you feel the Education Department and the Government has taken sound decisions in framing the education policy? What is your opinion?
Vidhupriya: I think the new education policy is very good and up to the mark. The problem arises in implementation of these policies in different schools. If the policies are implemented properly they will turn out to be very fruitful.
Keekli:If there was something you could change about the education system what would it be and why?
Vidhupriya: I am completely satisfied with the kind of education system that we have in India but if I would like to add something to it, it would be vocational education. Vocational education helps students in better performance of their jobs as they acquire a great learning experience. It makes an individual responsible and independent whereas those study regular courses lack in this sphere.
Keekli: What methods would you adopt to teach discipline to the students? What role should parents play in controlling their children?
Vidhupriya: My disciplinary methods differ according to the age group of the students. As far as the role of parents is concerned, they have to work hand in hand with the school to bring about discipline in children.
Keekli:Are you in favour of the International Baccalaureate Worlds Schools coming up in India?
Vidhupriya: I cannot talk much about these kind of schools as I have no experience of working in the system. I feel they are creating a different society all together which is not a good thing and our country is not ready to accept this kind of education system.