Hoopla about Schools

Does it matter if a boy is admitted to a Co-educational school? A lot of fuss is brought about between co-educational school and single sex school where there are only boys. The main purpose is to impart education to all whether it is a 'male or a 'female' child, therefore co-education does not make a difference as I too studied in a co-educational school Stracey Memorial High School in Bangalore while doing my Xth Std. The girls in the school had helped me to prepare for the Board Exam by providing the important questions that were sure to come for this Exam. We used to prepare only these important questions which were provided by the girls. We were quite lucky enough to get these questions! Not only we used to discuss about academics but we did have lot of fun with each other! On every Raksha Bandhan day, the girls made it a point to tie 'Rakhis' on our hands! A sense of togetherness & belonginess prevailed too.
Co-educational school teaches us to respect 'each' & 'every' individual, whoever they might me whether it is a 'boy' or a 'girl', mix and talk with both the sexes and have fun too! We used to prepare together for the exams that were held in the school. It also brings about a sense of togetherness and belonginess to one and all!
Thanks to the teachers, not enough to tell ‘thanks’ but a big ‘Thank You’ is due to all the teachers who made me an' individual’ I am today. Below I am accounting for the lots of help I had received from the teachers:-
Calcutta, my birthplace, 16th August, 1974, within an hour of my birth pneumonia had struck me and one of my lungs had collapsed and this was my Journey into the new world and then on to Lucknow where I studied in St.Francis College cum School and was selected to play for sports for Francis’ House in the same institution by Mr. Parker our Physical Trainer (P.T.Master).The College had 5 Houses. But I could not pursue this as we had to move to Bangalore due to a transfer order.
Travelling from Lucknow to Bangalore the search for admission to the Xth standard had started. Just after two days of search, I got admission in Stracey Memorial High School in Bangalore. The classes were to start the next day. I felt nervous as how I would adjust to this new environment as I had been a very shy boy and would not talk to anyone at all. Stammering was one of my set backs.
The next day the classes began and a week had passed. Our English Madam had noticed that I was keeping away from others. The next day, she remarked in front of all the other students, “Manu, you are still in the egg shell, when are you going to jump out? It is time for you to break up from your shell and come out in the open as you may have seen the chicks hatching out from the eggs and are ready to face the world.” I was taken aback and shocked as inspite of teaching all of us which comprised about 70 students she had indeed observed each and everyone very carefully. This had helped me to break out of my shell and come out in the open to face the due challenges of the world. The teacher appointed Deepak to watch if I was mixing with everyone mostly with all the girls of the school. I still remember the Head Girl of Xth A coming towards me asking “Who do you consider as your best friend? To which I replied “Everyone.” After this we became great friends! After our farewell party she came towards me and touched my leg too. Just imagine just a student from the Xth Class!
Few months passed by and the school had decided to organize an exhibition on Saturday from which I did back out at first but the same English Madam did not allow me to do so and made me the Incharge of the Ice-Cream stall. I had to collect the paid coupons for the Ice-creams and then sell the ice-creams. The day came and I began selling the Ice creams. There was a large crowd for the ice-creams and as I was busy selling the ice-creams. As I had been selling them someone had placed the soft drink tray over the ice cream cart and as I just opened the cart the soft drink tray jumped out and the bottles broke spilling out the Pepsi on a teacher’s sari who was standing just beside me. Her sari had been spoilt. This matter came to the notice of the English teacher and I was forgiven. When the classes began on Monday, the English teacher remarked that all the ice creams had been sold on that day.
Looking over the joyful days in the Xth Std., whenever I look back I owe my thanks to the teacher who had helped me to overcome my shyness and face the world with confidence! If I was not to break open from my shell I would have remained a shy boy forever! If it were not so I would have remained aloof from the world. I had progressed further & had completed my PG Diploma in Journalism and become a Journalist infact.