I am a former student of tender heart school, Chandigarh, and spent 10 years of my formative years in this school. I have mixed experiences during my association with the school. Some good, some not so good. The primary wing of the school was wonderful and somewhat the best, amongst all the schools of Chandigarh in the lovely ’90s. Lots of good teachers, great souls whom I would remember and admire till my last breath. They left lasting impressions on me and helped me become who I am now. I would be indebted to them. But as we graduated to the middle standard, things started getting weird.
There was clear cut bias in a few teachers against students coming from lower-middle-class families. They would shame them in class for one reason or another or pass a crude remark, regarding there families in front of the whole class. Also, they would encourage quick learners only. If a person happened to slow learner, and could not keep pace with the class, remain silent few teachers would not even bother to assist them and they felt ignored. They were like a social outcast. These teachers openly tell other students not to talk with such students. They felt alienated and this gave a blow to there self-confidence. Also, students from the rich background would form groups and degrade, accuse and label those coming from not so financially well off families. Even teachers did not try to stop this, while all this happened beneath there nose. Overall by the time I left school, it was really a toxic atmosphere. Students seemed to complain against each other all the time on small issues. A favour for those wards coming from rich well to do background was clear cut evident in the conduct of a few teachers if not all.
Today, in this age and date it seems unbelievable but this is what we dealt with firsthand I saw as a student. Also, there was an acute shortage of basic infrastructural facilities like library, computers, sports, labs at that time, and the fees, they really charged a fortune. Quite high as per the standards of those times and even now. The books prescribed were from private publishers, and the standard was quite high in comparison to the age group, I mean they were not scientifically aligned to the mental level of the child. . But still it benefits in some way or other later. Some teachers taught one thing in class and put question papers totally opposite. They did not have clarity of concepts. Also like other schools, they insisted on purchasing books and uniforms from a particular supplier.
Further, the sports and PT teacher used to beat small kids but later I guess they left the school. Finally, I left school and joined somewhere else and it was a good decision for me. I am critical here and I only said what I felt and saw as a former student. I have no bad intention and I hope things are much better now. It’s a good school overall and helped me immensely to shape and develop my personality, no doubt but there was a distinction of have/have nots that I felt at that time. Hope now things are better. I wish all the best to tender heart school.