If You Could Change One Thing About Your School, What Would It Be And Why?

Ask any student to name one thing they would like to change about their school, and you would probably get a long list. But if you had to pick just one and nothing else, what would it be? I have spent some time thinking about this, trying to identify the one thing I would like to change about my school, and I think I finally have an answer: I would give more importance to extracurricular activities and put less pressure on students to perform well in academics. 

Ignoring extracurriculars results in lost opportunities

Human beings are born with different shades of intelligence, sensibilities and talents. If one person is good at mathematics, another may be talented at writing poetry, and still, another may have a knack for landing a ball in a hoop. By not encouraging such varied interests outside of academics, we are not only wasting the students’ precious talents, but we are also denying them the opportunity to discover other avenues for success. 

Effect on mental health

It’s a well-known fact that the Indian education system puts a disproportionate amount of focus on academics and neglects sports and the arts. My school is no different. Sadly, those students who are good at academics are pressured to keep doing better and rank high in extremely tough and competitive entrance exams, while those who are not good at it are left feeling like they are not good for anything at all. 

Excessive pressure on students to perform well in exams can negatively affect their mental health. Suicide rates are high among students due to the pressure to study all the time, whether it is coaching for an entrance exam or hunting for their preferred university. It forces us to ask: how can India become a better nation if the majority of its population are anxious and depressed instead of developing their talents and finding success in non-academic fields?

Loss of cultural heritage

Ignoring extracurricular activities can also have a profound impact on the attitude of the new generation towards their cultural heritage. Indian culture is rich in various forms of arts and sports, whether it is Carnatic music, Bharatnatyam, Kabaddi or even our very own martial art forms like Kalaripayattu. If the new generation of Indians is not taught to cherish and value these art forms, they will one day cease to exist. These art forms will be nothing but our distant past, which would be a shame because some of the country’s greatest pride are the great artists and sportspeople of our time, including the likes of A. R. Rahman, Sachin Tendulkar, Mohini Dey, Priyanka Chopra, M. S. Dhoni, P. T. Usha, Neeraj Chopra, Shreya Ghoshal and many more. 

FAQs

1. Why is it important to give importance to extracurriculars?

It is important to give importance to extracurriculars because without exploring extracurriculars, students lose the opportunity to develop their hidden talents into viable careers. There can be a negative impact on their mental health, and they would grow up without understanding the importance of Indian arts and sports.

2. How does excessive academic pressure affect students?

Excessive academic pressure affects well-performing and poorly performing students equally. Students who perform well are pressured to do even better and lose the opportunity to explore other interests. At the same time, those who perform poorly are written off as failures.

3. What are some important art forms and sports of India?

India’s important sports and art forms include Carnatic music, Bharatnatyam, kabaddi and martial arts like Kalaripayattu.

4. Who are some famous Indians who have made a mark outside academics?

Some famous Indians that have made India proud on a global stage include A. R. Rahman, Sachin Tendulkar, Mohini Dey, Priyanka Chopra, M. S. Dhoni, P.T. Usha, Neeraj Chopra, Shreya Ghoshal and many more.