STEREOTYPING RAMPANT IN SCHOOLS

Stereotyping and insensitive behaviour prevailing in school curriculum is taking a toll on the mental health of students.

Recently, a college in Bangalore glorified dowry in its sociology syllabus, drawing flak from students, parents and teachers. This is one of the examples of insensitive behaviour.

There are also instances where teachers cite students in the class as examples based on stereotypes. This hurts mental health of students.

Ashish Naredi, a parent, said, “There is a lot of insensitive behaviour in schools. The effect of is noticed when students do not find anything wrong in controversial passages or examples because it is already imprinted as right in their minds.”

The common insensitiveness seen in textbooks is related to the skin complexion.

“Dark skinned girls are often portrayed as sweepers and well-educated girls are finding it difficult to get marriage proposals due to their higher qualifications,” said Maya Suresh a parent of a standard X student.

Hridesh Gupta, another parent, said, “Stereotypes are meant to be broken not enforced in young children minds who have to lead the nation tomorrow. Such contents should be checked by the government at schooland college-levels.”

School textbooks also contain controversial statements.

Reshma Joshi, principal of Aurobindo International School, said, “We have had lessons in which words such as ‘black girl’ were used. I remember there was a case where a girl student was insulted based on her skin colour by her classmates.” She further stated that students tend to follow what is written in their textbooks.