Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Tuesday, 23 February 2016

LESSONS FROM WEST


International    Exchange   Program


We have all heard about these programs under which , ( for example ) students from India would go to USA , spend a few weeks with American families and even attend local universities


In turn , American students would spend similar period in India ( may be , with the parents of those Indian students who went to USA  ) and attend Indian Colleges


In the process , both groups learn the customs / traditions / life-styles of their host Societies


I suppose , they also learn quite a lot about the Education Systems of host countries

Which would include , academic pursuit and teaching methods


But , above all , they would learn how the students behave in the class rooms and how the teachers maintain discipline


I believe , it must be a " Shocking " experience for those Indian students to find that professors in USA wield unimaginable  power , unfettered by the Dean or Chancellor of those colleges

Eg :

*   A professor's is the final word in the evaluation of any student ( no court of higher appeal )

*   Quite a lot of that evaluation is based on the number and the quality of questions asked by the students

*   " Shot-gun "  exams are a teacher's way of judging the progress of the students

*   If any student absents from class room without a satisfactory reason ( ie satisfactory to the subject teacher ),
     the teacher can simply tell him to stop attending the classes ! Heavy rains or snow storm does not count ! And
     the Dean cannot question the professor's decision


*   Teachers don't prescribe any text books , but they may suggest a dozen books to refer to

*   Many teachers just " refuse to teach " ! They insist that the students come to class , having " self taught " the
    subject and the class room is only for the purpose of "solving difficulties" faced by students while self-teaching !


*   Emphasis is not on a student remembering the exact mathematical equation but on knowing which equation to
     use  !

     Hence , most professors will allow a student to look up any book during an exam  !


*   Even arriving at the exact / precise " answer " is not considered important . It is your " approach " to solving a
     problem that counts more . Were you able to suggest a non-traditional and distinctly innovative " approach " ?



MORAL   OF  THE  STORY  :



How about Shri Narendra Modiji ( himself , a champion of " Out of Box " thinking ) , signing an " Exchange Agreement "  with President Obama , under which , a batch of 40 Indian Legislators ( to begin with , opposition members of Rajya Sabha ) , are deputed to USA for 6 months ( or till GST Bill gets passed ? ) to attend the sessions of US Congress / Senate , to learn / imbibe their ways of conducting official business ?


Of course , our deputed legislators must be paid a " Copycat-ing Allowance " of $ 100 per day while in USA  !


After all , cafeteria in American Congress building does not provide "dosas" @ Rs 2 per piece !


While readily agreeing to the Indian request , it is quite possible that President Obama may politely decline to send the American Legislators to attend our Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha's budget session  ! Entirely understandable  !

Dear Shri Venkaiah-ji :

 You may get much more cooperation from all parties after 6 months  !


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


23  Feb  2016





hemen  parekh


Marol , Mumbai , India


( M ) +91 - 98,67,55,08,08


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