How to Select a Good School for Your Child

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.

Each child's learning ability and communication skills differ. To find the right school for your child you have to a Smart Parent.When it comes to what can be termed as a 'good school', there is no 'one size fits all.'

Most mainstream schools follow the chalk and blackboard method. There are students who can absorb and understand a given subject even if they are not spoken to on a one-to-one basis. However, a more involved teacher may be needed to instill interest and curiosity in other students. In such cases class size definitely matters. It is easier for a teacher to provide individual attention in a class of 17-25 students where each group of students may be assigned different projects.

In India the parents have to deal with making a decision between State Board or CBSE syllabus. Both have their merits and demerits. CBSE schools may be more oriented towards getting good grades under pressure. Such students are said to have a better chance at getting into professional colleges where the admission process can be grueling. State board schools are less likely to focus only on text book content. So there may be more time for extracurricular activities and developing social skills. However there are several State Board students who have done phenomenally well in professions like medicine or engineering.

In the end a student's abilities and work ethics play a larger role later on in life. 
The interaction level that is allowed between parents and teachers is also important. There should be more than just the mandatory parent teacher meeting once in a few months.

Each child should be allowed to find his/her hidden talents and skill sets rather than be cornered into focusing only on grades. In today's world communication skills and the ability to handle emotional issues is just as important.

A good teacher should be able to guide in these areas as well.

Since the child has to focus on so many tasks on a given day, it may be a good idea to choose a school that is not too far away from home.

Asking other parents also helps in your decision making process. Sometimes parents of children from the same school might have different opinions depending on how well their child is adapting to the given environment.

The infrastructure of a school matters. You do not want your child's school to look like it is badly maintained. But the best place to form an opinion of the school is the class room. Do the children look bored and fidgety or genuinely interested and motivated?

The space within a campus may not be a good indication of the amount of emphasis the school places on sport and physical development. A large playground may hardly be used while a school with lesser space may have a good indoor gym/play area which the students are encouraged to use regularly. A good school should strike a balance between Academics, Extracurricular activities and developing communication skills.

Shri Ram Centennial School Indore