Backbencher

#Backbencher

The idea of using circular or U-shaped seating in school classrooms is impractical and unnecessary, especially in places like Kerala where HSS classrooms often have 60 or more students. These arrangements may sound modern, but they create more problems than they solve. 

First of all, they simply can't fit all students properly. In a crowded classroom, trying to form a circle or U-shape leads to confusion, poor visibility for some students, and a waste of valuable space. Traditional row seating allows everyone to face the teacher clearly and makes classroom management easier. 

If the goal is to increase student participation or avoid the so-called “backbencher” issue, rotating students through different seats regularly is a much more sensible solution. 

Such fancy seating ideas seem to be inspired by unrealistic scenes in some poorly made Malayalam films, not by real academic needs. Education should be based on practical experience and proven methods, not on cinematic idiocracy.

Even so-called innovative ideas like KSRTC bus classrooms were more of a media gimmick than a lasting solution. Today, many of those setups are abandoned or left in poor condition for dwelling of snakes.

It's time for education leaders to stop blindly following trends and instead focus on strengthening time-tested methods. Before introducing new classroom ideas, they must ask: Will it really help students? Or is it just a showpiece? “Look before you leap” is indeed the right advice for these overenthusiastic reformers.

-K A Solaman

#Kerala #TN #schools #Backbencher #cinema #Seats