My daughter and two other kids go to school in the same van, and my morning routine includes sending off my daughter in the school van from our building premises. Yesterday, one of the kid (a boy) didn’t turn up, and later I got to know he had fever. Today morning when I went to drop my daughter, the boy was there, looking very dazed. I asked him, “Couldn’t you rest for one more day, and start school from tomorrow.” The boy replied, “No, I don’t like to miss class and even if I miss there will be a lot to write later.”

The 8-year-old boy is studying in Std 3.

I am stunned. Where are we heading? At this rate, the word ‘childhood’ will be redundant very soon.

Who is to be blamed for this attitude? Parents, teachers, peers, society, education system…

Some food for thought!