I had gone through the website of Gear and it was really promising and the first impression I had is that I should admit my son in Gear Innovative international school for sure. So, I filled in the online inquiry the same day for my son for grade 4. A week later I received a reply to for registration and test for my son. We went to the school where we have been asked to pay Rs 1000/ as application fee, and son was called in for an assessment. It was for 1 Hr. written assessment, Post the assessment my son was so happy with the way he performed in the assessment and he was discussing the math, English and science questions asked. We were also happy as my son is from a Montessori environment and giving an assessment for the first time in 4 yrs.
A week later we got an email for Prospecting Parents Meeting, so we were still more excited to attend. We reached the place well before the requested time. All the parents were called into an A/C room for the PPM. First the principal started by explaining the high-level hierarchy of their organization. Then the son of the Founder spoke about 20 to 25 Mins only about the fees(Which they would have given a pamphlet instead), Then comes the Founder of the institute Mr. Srinivasan, He spoke for about 30 Mins and the whole 30 Mins it was self-praise and every minute he pulls example from United states( In United States). I was not so happy the way he was talking. His philosophy is to believe him and then see the results as he is not ready to divulge into more details etc. As a new parent, how can I believe a stranger without knowing what the product is going to be? Then comes the Q&A where most of the parents were insulted for their questions. The way he treats the parents was frustrating and I did not expect that from a senior educationist like Mr. Srinivasan, who claims to have Masters in Gifted & Talented Education from the University of Connecticut, USA. I lost hope in the school there itself. Immediately after the PPM, the parents were given slots to meet the founder for further discussion along with the kid.
We got the slot in the next 2 days on a working day. So, we went along with the kid(Because of Wife’s compulsion) and the Kid was so excited to see the school, but I was telling my son that GEAR is not the only option and there are lots of options as I have in back of my mind that I won’t admit my son in GEAR. We were called inside a room where the founder along with some other lady was waiting with the Assessment answer sheet. There was no proper greeting to my son from the founder to make him ease to the new environment, He seems so stressed(I can feel that). Few Mins of silence and the founder said your son will not suit the School. I was thinking of how he can say that in front of the kid. My kid was supposed to cry, and I was convincing him by giving him a fake smile. I was so angry at the founder and want to stop him there itself… Then he gave a question to my son, my son was already in a different state of mind, he did not answer the question. Then the founder started next round by going further and saying that my son’s lack of language and no creativity, he went further and said their 4th-grade students will have more creativity. I don’t know how I was going to convince my son for the rest of the day. My Wife asked the founder how they feel that my son won’t fit GEAR, the immediate reply was “The written assessment”. So, we left for the day with a heavy heart and whole the return journey I have to say moral stories to my son that the world is so big and there are lots of things to explore, etc. But still, my son had his face down the whole day. I really felt bad for bringing a bad experience to my son at this early age.
I am writing this review after taking daybreak and to the parents who really care about their kids.
I really don’t know about the school, but this guy( Srinivasan) is really not fit for the school atmosphere My questions are
How can an experienced academician break the bad news in front of the Kid?
If they were judging the kid based on the Assessment, they shouldn’t have wasted our time in inviting us to the meeting?