How strict is too strict for colleges?
Simran comes to the canteen, tired of attending classes back-to-back all morning. She buys a soft-drink and sits down to take a breather. She glances at her watch, the time is 11.57 a.m., her next class starts at 12.00 p.m. She rushes through her drink, taking big gulps, hardly tasting it and heads towards her classroom which is on the third floor of the next block. The bell rings while she is on her way, she runs to the class only to find the door closed! She checks the time, it is 12.02, she knocks on the door and the lecturer opens it. “I am sorry ma’am, I was in the other block, that is why it took sometime to come to class.” Simran says. “That is not my problem!” says the lecturer angrily and shuts the door again!
The above incident, though fictitious, is based on true occurrences and many college students will be able to relate to it. Is the lecturer justified in doing so? Or is she being a little too strict? This brings us to the question, how strict is too strict for colleges?
After 14 years of wearing a uniform and following strict rules and regulations in order to be the disciplined and obedient student that all parents and teachers want a child to be, college offers youngsters a chance to heave a sigh of relief and be themselves. Every school student dreams about the perfect college life which is bindaas and carefree, and eagerly looks forward to the commencement of a life where there is no uniform to be worn everyday, instead one can wear an attire which reflects his or her personality, where lecturers are more approachable and not as strict as school teachers, where everyone treats students as young adults and trusts their decisions; a life which includes milestones like the 18th birthday, first bunk, first election where one gets to vote, and probably even the first date, first cell phone, first ATM card, first vehicle and first job! All these things are hallmarks of what is called ‘growing up’. Then why is it that sometimes, even in college, students are treated like kids and unnecessary rules are imposed on them?
Many of the colleges in the city manage to irk students with some weird rules which according to students are not required. One such rule is the dress code. Pradeepa Iyer, a student of Sri Indu College of Engineering and Technology said, “According to me my college has a whole set of stupid rules. Firstly, no mobiles allowed, but we still carry them. Secondly, the dress code for girls which I find really hard to digest. Girls should only wear salwar with dupatta. No jeans, t-shirts, shirts or even kurtis! All the girls are complaining but to no avail, the management doesn’t seem to be bothered. Even the boys are not spared and should come only in formals with shirts tucked in! Is it a professional college or a school?” Bindu Korla of DVRCET said, “My college is kinda strict. ID cards and formals are a must. I really don’t understand why a dress code is required!” She further added, “We still have to do homework, not assignments, similar to a school student! We are still treated as immature beings. Innovative technical ideas are hardly considered. It is almost like the lecturers don’t believe that we are future engineers. The shoddy formalities make our task difficult!”
Another thing which angers students is when colleges try to restrict their
Tons of homework! Is it college or school? Credit:Mystical Vigilante
movement, whether it is going in and coming out of campus or on the campus itself. Smitha Vrath of Stanley college of Engineering and Technology said, ”My college is too strict. We can enter college at anytime but we can’t leave early. We have to take the Principal’s permission to do so. I feel it is ridiculous that at this age, we are not allowed to be ourselves. Even if the last hours are free, we are forced to stay back!” Sirish Aditya of CVR college of Engineering said, ”My college is not a little strict, it is more of a primary school! I’m almost an engineer and I am not supposed to be seen in the corridors, grounds or the library during class hours, they treat us like little kids! My HoD threatens to call my mother if my attendance is not up to the required percentage. I would say 90% of all the rules in my college are unnecessary.”
Though Sri Charan Panchavaty Ganesh, another student of CVR, agrees his college is strict, he feels that most times, it is justified. “My college is strict sometimes, but most of the time it is called for. Colleges are under private ownership, protocols within premises need to be strict to keep everything in check. Taking into account the quality of the crowd and the atrocities against girls in some colleges, ‘grown up’ is not ‘grown up’ enough as yet,” he said. However, there are a few things that he would like to speak up against, “But, blackmailing students is utter treachery. Giving low scores just because the student wasn’t paying attention in class, despite doing well in the exam can’t be justified in any way. By doing this the teachers are just putting the future of the student at stake when they should do the exact opposite! What are they doing here, playing God?” he retorted. When asked if there are any rules in his college which according to him are not required he replied, “Students are checked for their bus ID cards each and everyday. If someone forgets to bring it then he or she is fined even if the faculty knows that the student possesses the card and has paid the fee! Another outrageous rule is that a boy and a girl can’t sit together in the bus. Either they want us to grow up to be socially narrow minded or they just don’t trust us!”
Pin drop silence in class! Credit:Mystical Vigilante
However. there are a few colleges which treat the students like the young adults that they are. “I’ve never felt that my college is strict. We have an open gate system and our dress code is pretty flexible and comfortable.” said Rajitha Sanaka of St. Francis College. She further said, ”Well, one time I wasn’t allowed into the class for being 5 minutes late and another time I was made to stand at the back of the classroom just for talking to my friend in class for a minute! These incidents made me feel a little weird but apart from these, everything is fine.” Nidhi Inani of JNA & FAU said, ”Our college is not strict at all. Since we are an arts college we are not confined to classrooms for classes, our classes are usually outdoors. There are no rules that make us feel like we are in school. We have an open gate system. Everything is fine as long as we submit assignments on time and fulfill the required 65% of attendance.”
