EXPECTATION FROM PARENTS 
Hail to a prosperous and fulfilling 2011!
It is with a bagful of mixed feelings that I have reminisced my growth as a leader at the turn of this New Year. The genesis of my life at RIMS as its Principal and the transition from the conventional mould of teaching to a greater realm of an innovative international standard of teaching have but one formula and that is Passion. Yes, we started our journey with a passion. If learning is a religion, how can we make the place of worship better? This is a resounding question I ask myself everyday as Principal at RIMS.
As I look back on the years that went by, I feel satisfied and happy. You, as parents and partners have put a lot more responsibility on me and I assure you, my team and I will put in the desired efforts not to let you down. A big thank you from team RIMS for your support and confidence. Our growth and our success are for your child.
I believe we are at the cusp of something even bigger, and more significant. Our reputation as the chief anchor of international education is built, broadened and branded to the highest order. Look around you. Don’t you see a new India that is competing with the best world class education? A new India that is young. A new India that is confident. A new India that is progressing. It is comforting that RIMS is one of the vital spokes that steers the wheel of the changing educational scenario, especially in India. You and I have made this difference and therefore we must rejoice in our accomplishments. Your belief in us is the force that propels this change.
At RIMS, our prime concern is to come out of the stifling conventional mould of imparting education. While still preserving the traditional values of respecting teachers and elders, we strive to break the bridge between teachers and students. We have created this through various efforts like Field Trips, Study Tours, Long Tours, Picnics, Trekking and various School and College Days. I have always encouraged the participation of parents in our academic get to-gethers, be it the Parents-Teachers Picnic, Annual Day special item, Sports Day activities or Orientation Days and Open Houses. Parents who participate in these are Parents who reap the best benefits in their parenting. I need not elaborate. Relationship of any kind doesn’t come naturally. We have to work on it, nourish it and fuel it, incessantly. There are many instances I myself haunt various Cafes and Teenage hubs- much to the teasing of my teachers- only to trail and understand my kids better when they are in their true elements. Trust me, I have gained so much from these experiences, and I intend to continue this rather bizarre and embarrassing tactic of playing the detective, spy or security guard. To what extent I can go for my students is beyond my fathom.
A Principal’s job is a 24 by 7 activity for me, mentally and physically. There is no time to take a breath sometimes. Accolades and awards come very often, the recent one being Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award for excellent contribution in the field of Education, for which the true credit goes to the management and my team of supportive teachers. However, the true rewards I consider are in witnessing a difficult child metamorphosing into a disciplined child, my students gaining entrance into prestigious foreign and Indian universities, my students coming forward with their personal problems and dilemmas and parents becoming more responsible and vigilant for their kids at RIMS. These are rewards which may not be tangible yet priceless. The trophies and medals are in our hearts and we have every right to flaunt them because we made them happen.
Now that I am a father, I can vouch for the extremely challenging task of parenting. Proudly, I can empathise with you in your plight in raising your kids. With parents who have teenage kids, my sympathy lies. For, the new age parenting is a different ball game altogether. Myriad of technologies and burgeoning entertainment sources are what we are up against. The new generation parenting needs more calculation, caution and care. It’s as if the whole materialistic world is up against us to devour and lure our kids away from the moral values of life. But this is when we buckle up, take a tough stand and lead our children.
Kids today want freedom. They yearn for privacy and individuality. They face a humongous amount of peer pressure. Therefore, should we give them unlimited space or an authoritative grip to tide the flow of this dangerous psyche? Never. Let us learn to be a part of our children’s lives. The moment we are our child’s confidant, friend, adviser, guide is when we are successful in our parenting. Let’s respect their individuality, but let’s remember our Rights as parents to create boundaries and limits. Let’s focus on their needs and not our wants and ambitions for them. For each child is special and different in his or her potentials, intelligence and interests. We often compare them with better and brighter students. Those are our mistakes and our failures. For comparison does nothing good but breeds contempt and disappointment. Have we decided to follow the worn out safe path of traditional parenting, of exercising power and force to bring them to the right path? If yes, then it’s time we change our strategies. It’s time we are open to new and practical ways of 21st century parenting. We may not be successful always, but there is nothing to lose. There is no harm in trying.
Half the race of life is won if we win the hearts of our students.
My childhood memories fixed permanently in my mind consist of old values- love for parents, family, friends, neighbours and society. I am afraid our kids today do not get the wonderful childhood experiences we once had. Their lives are consumed by computer games, electronic gadgets and machines. Their activities no longer require team spirit, close companionship and fun derived out of simple things in life. To make up for lost time, we, ambitious parents supply them with everything which money can buy. I fear for the lack of humanity in our kids’ lives. Let’s take time out for our children. Let’s teach them the basics of social etiquettes-saying Thank You, Sorry, Please and meaning them. Let’s show them the world of a lesser God: of the world of the deprived, the poor and the oppressed. Let’s teach them what they can contribute to humankind. I believe that students who have strong ties with community are strong students. Let’s revive in their hearts the age old saying that Money is not the be all and the end all. Let’s mean it in our hearts when we say so, else it will sound hollow to their discerning ears.
We call parents ‘Partners’ at RIMS. Therefore, we seek accountability, awareness and responsibility from you. For our partnership to yield the best returns, we need to invest our time, our heart and our soul. We are the shapers of our children’s destiny. It is their life that we deal and no other cards. Let’s all hold the trump card, come what may.
There are no road maps for good parenting. There is no success formula, no safe recipe, no ready menu. The task of parenting is a unique privilege. There is no uniform pattern. We make errors but we learn from them. To each his or her own parenting style, as children are rainbows. They come in various hues- some excel in sports and some in academics. Some are partakers while some are wall flowers. But, I tell you in all sincerity, each child is special. Each child is a promise.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
ON CHILDREN
Khalil Gibran
Duty of the Parents
It will be appreciated if Parents cooperate with the disciplinary rules, which are in the child’s best interest and ensure that:
- Their children attend class regularly and punctually.
- Their children bringing their Smart Cards regularly.
- They complete all the projects/assignments on time.
- They put in regular amount of study time at home.
- They check the website regularly for student progress and attendance.
- They log in to their RIMS Connect ID on a regular basis and generate mails for any administration work required.
- They submit a leave note in case the student is absent for more than two days.
- They keep a regular contact with the school administration and the faculties with prior appointment.
- They check regularly their ward(s) notebooks and worksheets.
- They make sure they attend Orientation, Pre-Open-House, Open House, Sports Day, Annual Day or any other activity, which they are requested to be part of.
- They adhere to the Office timings which are 02:00 pm to 04:00 pm.
All parents can access the progress of their child and any new development on RenWeb account through our website, http://mumbai.rims.ac.in and log-in into their account which has been accessible to each parent.
