Flash News - Part 2

Thanks to the amazing chemistry between me and my BFF Malu, our team won the third place at the South Zone Chemistry Quiz at Bangalore!

Considering the higher-than-we-expected standard of the questions, and too-brilliant rivals, third position is just AWESOME! I can't deny that I am a teeny bit disappointed that I won't get to go to Kolkata for the national level, but then, you can't win always, can you? Win or lose, my quizzing experiences are ones I will always cherish. They gave me a lot of knowledge, instilled in me something that I sorely lacked - a sportsman spirit! But above all, they gave me my best friend. (Long story....)

Now my only prayer is that I don't end up writing the formula of valeric acid, the ores of various metals etc. etc. for my Maths exam on Monday! :D

Here's my BFF's take on our win:
http://malavika-malsworld.blogspot.com/2011/07/happy.html?spref=gb

Flash News!

Started my quizzing year with a fab success!

My team (consisting of me and my BFF Malu) was placed Second in the state-level quiz on Chemistry conducted by the Regional Science Centre and Planetarium, Calicut! Our next destination: Bangalore! where we'll attend the zonal level of the quiz, to be held on July 7th, at Visvesvaraya Museum. I really hope we can grab the first place there and be off to Kolkata for the national level.

Your prayers and support, please! :)

Poem: The Colour Green

I searched;
Searched everywhere for
The colour Green.
I searched up and down,
Left and right, far and wide;
But it was nowhere to be seen.

I searched;
And saw many colours - dusty brown,
Plastic white, grey of smoke.
I searched and saw a
Thousand colours, but not Green;
My heart broke.

I searched;
And saw black waters, skies
Of a polluted blue.
I searched and saw a
Million shades, but not one of Green;
And my sadness grew.

I searched;
And saw the wilted red roses,
The dull yellow sun.
I searched and saw a
Myriad of colours, but not Green;
I had forced it to run.

---

Written on the occasion of World Environment Day...

New School Year Begins... Officially!

Well, it began yesterday, but I couldn't get time to post. So here I am, just another student in class X A, Presentation HSS. There was a big hungama over 10th standard students being shuffled (put into other divisions); the first ever policy of our new HM. We weren't pleased, of course, this being our last year, but couldn't do much. Got to adjust...

Today was the first proper morning prayer session of this school year, and our class did the honours. I said the thought for the day. Classes resumed normally, and it's back to my books once again. Maths is starting to freak me out a little :(

And my History teacher has threatened to conduct a test tomorrow, so have to go and study... be back soon with more posts!

Yet Another (Un)Educational Reform in Kerala

Disclaimer: The fact that my second language is Special English has nothing to do with this post.

The latest buzz in the Kerala state educational circles is that one IT period will be cut per week to accommodate more Malayalam classes. And this seems like another bead in the string of stupidities of the education department.

I could start a rant about how ridiculous and moronic the education sector in Kerala is, and never stop. The textbooks, instead of being guides, play the part of workbooks. What's more, they have innumerous mistakes. One small example: My 9th standard Geography textbook mentioned that Ecuador's capital was Quetta! (FYI: Ecuador's capital is Quito, and Quetta is in Pakistan. The authorities were off by a few thousand miles.)

Back to our topic. The plan to increase the periods is supposedly the part of a proposed move to make Malayalam the first language. I'm not saying Malayalam is unimportant - it's my mother tongue after all. Agreed that the popularity of the language is decreasing, with more and more importance being given to English. But will forcing such decisions upon students make them like Malayalam overnight? Moreover, won't the cutback on IT classes affect the students?

Face it. This is just another doing by someone somewhere to benefit someone else, not students. If this decision is really going to be implemented, we students have to bear the brunt of it. Most likely, this means lower scores in IT, especially in Government schools were there are no separate teachers for the subject. More than that, it means that there will be a little or no change in the number of Malayalam fans.

The bottom line: The number of periods allotted to a subject is NOT directly proportional to the students' interest in it.

The Changing Dynamics of the Parent-Child Relationship

Today in class we had a debate on "Old Age Homes: A Need or Not?" During this, I noted that everyone was quick to place the blame on the children's/youth's attitude. Granted, the youth's attitude shift is disturbing. But is only the younger generation at fault? This is a completely different take on one aspect of the topic.

Until around thirty years or so, the relationship between a child and his parent was quite precious, pure and uncomplicated. But ever since new technology came, and with it the Western influence, matters have taken a turn. Take, for example, a typical scene in most modern households. Both parents working, and the keys of the flat are with the kid(s). After they arrive from school and have food, they stay glued to all the serials, reality shows, item songs etc. etc. Otherwise, it's computers and internet - with Facebook and Orkut and, god forbid, porn. Enter the parents, around 8 o'clock in the night, dead tired from their work. Just a few casual words exchanged, and then it's bedtime.

Where has the love gone? The care, the concern, the affection, the queries about school and life? Where are the bedtime stories and "bonding time"? Most parents don't even know what's going on their children's lives, and vice-versa. Parents have been reduced to just ATM cards and children to spenders. Is this what you call an ideal parent-child relationship? One without any communication, any connection?

I don't. And for me, this is one of the crucial factors in the current surge in the number of old age homes. The first question in the blame game is always "What did you do for me?" and parents will be left answer-less. And no later, packed off to one of such homes. I don't like the concept of these, and neither do I support abandoning one's own parents. They're our parents, after all. But it would be good if parents remembered to say "We love you" to their kids at least once a day, and kids to reciprocate this love. Because these words, even though only three, have immense power.

And remember what I told about matters taking a turn? It's up to the youth to decide whether the turn is for the better or worse.

My First Poem

I was just sorting out all the old files in my PC when I came across this poem. It was the first one I ever wrote, back when I was in 6th standard. Reading it brought back old memories; seriously, getting into tenth standard has made me nostalgic every single day! So, anyway, here's the poem...

The Call of Nature

Nature calls you always,

Do try and listen.

She calls and calls,

She wants you to play with her.

She has trees with emerald-green leaves

And fruits and flowers to add to the beauty.

Water's there to quench a thirst 

And be a home for many lives.

Air's there for you to breathe;

And to carry the fragrances of flowers

Over distant lands;

Without air how'd you live?

Sky's where the sun, moon and stars shine

And clouds float in different shapes.

The sky changes its colour like a chameleon...

It's so wonderful to see.

Nature's waiting for your answer,

She's wishing

And hoping that you can join her.

Nature loves you so much,

So please be kind to her.

She can also be very angry,

And wreak havoc everywhere.

Nature's calling you, so

Go play with her.

Nature's waiting for your answer,

Do respond to her call.