Attributes of a new age leader:

Guest Editor -Ranjini Krishnaswamy 

Principal, St. Gregorios High School

A quarter of a century ago, life was simple and uncomplicated. Careers too were not as varied and most young people just drifted into a job not a career. The scenario today is totally different, right from pre-school times, plans are being drawn up and careers plotted to the minutest detail by anxious parents. Changes in the academic arena are however slow to manifest themselves; it is here that the changes, especially in mindsets should be radical; because the pupils who are currently in schools and colleges will enter the workplace some ten/ fifteen years from now and face totally different challenges. Again, everyone wants to lead-not follow. The question here is can everyone be a leader? That too in a world that is fast changing.

What then separates the new age leader from the earlier ones?

• Being tech savvy- As computers and advanced technology become the norm, the leader would necessarily need to have these skills which will give him/her an edge over others. 

• Team player- the days of a single leader leading a team are over. Today, with an increase in the complexity of tasks involved we have situational leaders each of them willing to let others lead when the opportunity arises. 

• Multi-tasker- No where is this seen to be as important as in schools. The school head is a teacher, mentor, agony aunt, subject specialist, administrator, counselor ,HR person all rolled into one. Above all this he/she needs to be able to manage time, space, resources and people. 

• Superior communication skills- Leaders need to inspire, nurture and mentor their teams . This will be effective only if he/she is able to convince and swing the others to his way of thinking by virtue of his/her clarity of thought and vision. 

• Networking – The leader today needs to know a host of people and know them well. This involves constant interaction, keeping in touch and being visible- which are needed for collaboration and creativity. 

• Global mind set-To use a cliché the world has become a global village”. With the advent of international education it has become imperative to be able to think beyond national borders and embrace a global culture and work ethic. 

• Lastly he/she needs to have a high level of emotional quotient-security (both personal and professional) if he / she is going to make a difference.

Of course it goes without saying that along with the qualities mentioned above a leader needs to walk the talk, this sends a clear signal that he/she can, will and is able to do all that is expected from the rest of the team. Only then will the leader earn the respect of the entire team.

I want more numbers in my school- student recruitment

Some of the well-known factors that affect School Enrollment Growth -

Leadership – The vision, drive and personality of the leadership (primarily the head of school) will affect the enrollment.

Quality School Experience – Parents are investing significant resources to provide the very best education for their child and because of this, they expect the best overall quality of the experience.

Faculty and Staff – Your faculty and staff should be the primary connection that a family makes with your school. When they deliver a high quality educational experience and personally connect with the students in a positive way, this experience will impact enrollment.

Parent Satisfaction – When parents are satisfied, there are at least two primary results that affect enrollment. First, satisfied parents will lead to strong retention. Secondly, satisfied parents will tell their friends about your school.

Reputation – The experiences of parents, students, graduates, faculty, staff, and donors will fuel word-of-mouth, whether positive or negative, in your community. In turn, this will create the reputation, and word out on the street, about your school.

Marketing and Enrollment Plan/Strategies – It makes sense that every school desiring enrollment growth should have a marketing and enrollment plan. However, many schools I have come in contact with do not have a plan. With an internal marketing and enrollment plan, you will be able to implement specific strategies that will impact your school’s growth.

The first step for effective marketing starts with your "internal marketing." You need to ensure that there is match between your mission-vision, goals and the message used to communicate by your staff, board, parents, alumni, and students. What does your receptionist say? Is this person friendly and welcome and informative?

Today's "external marketing" strategies for schools have become extremely complicated and demand a level of understanding and measurability that need serious consideration. Direct mail, for example, has a far higher rate of success and return for schools than it does for other business enterprises. Radio advertising and billboards are effective "image" tools for schools, while the time proven open houses, coffee sessions with the Director Academics and key staff and public outreach programmes, as well as word of mouth, continue to serve schools well. They must, however, be appropriately designed and staffed to gain maximum impact, and done at the right time of the year. It's never too early to start reaching out to your current and future parents and students.

• Walk through / visit the campus

• Allow students to get a taste of your school by holding a visit the campus day. Create a sample walk through, invite potentially desirable students to visit your campus and follow a current student through a day of class.

• School reach out visits

• Venture out to area schools and speak with students about your school. Contact the preprimary / primary schools from which you commonly draw students, and set up informative assemblies.

Use our assistance, get more students and Develop Schools.

School Punishment too Harsh for Children

Rita Wilson, Chief Editor

(Ex-chief executive and Secretary, ICSE)

Do schools punish students using methods that could severely harm them? It seems so.

It comes as a shock that some forms of punishment are used in this day and age, when the harm they cause is so clear.

Bizarre incidents of punishment have been reported from across the country. According to a survey undertaken by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in the academic year 2009-2010, 6,623 out of 6,632 students across seven states or 99.86 per cent of children faced corporal punishment.

The Right to Education Act (RTE) outlaws corporal punishment. Even addressing children as stupid, dull and useless and insulting and humiliating the children can be viewed as corporal punishment and is proscribed under the RTE.

We all recognize the tough job schools face in creating a nurturing education environment for their pupils. We also understand that appropriate discipline is vital to fostering a fair and respectful climate within schools — however, sometimes schools go too far.

For example - the seclusion method began in schools for students with special needs as a safety precaution, but in the 1970s, it slowly slid into other schools as well.

The slow transition left schools to monitor these methods themselves. With individual teachers governing their use, faculty in many schools would abuse it to punish students.

Locking a child in an enclosed space is easier than other forms of discipline. It is quick and doesn’t require a teacher to deal with him or her for longer than they have to.

To be clear, separating one child from other children may be necessary in specific circumstances where the child’s behaviour reaches a point where they become unmanageable and a potential danger to themselves or others, but that certainly does not mean that solitary confinement is the only option. Furthermore, the use of isolation as a form of punishment has been shown to be very distressing to children both young and older. There is also evidence to suggest that solitary confinement actually can increase aggressive behaviour rather than calm the child.

Anything that can emotionally harm children in such a way needs to be prevented.

However, it is important to stress that on the whole teachers and school administrators do an admirable and even exemplary job of educating our young people. It is the parents’ job to mould their children into well behaved, respectful young adults. Too many teachers are now responsible for not only teaching, but parenting these students. Disciplinary issues are real issues, but something needs to be done at home.