Many flavours of broth
The very fact that The Artist revived a dead art, introduced a generation(s) to silent medium of the cinema, challenged the conventions of box office by becoming the top grosser silent movie of all times, and dared to be universally critically acclaimed while simultaneously be appealing to the masses, makes the definition of broth somewhat amusing. I guess a movie needs to be an abstraction, with a tone of pessimism for it to be deserving enough for the nod of recognition from the clique of dilettantes.
Harsimran Singh Anand
Posted on the website
I always felt that the Oscars have been gradually losing their touch, opting to go for safe choices preferred by a large section instead of actually appreciating the movies which may not be mainstream but deserve recognition. The author's views on The Artist hit the nail on the head. Maybe over the years, film festivals like Cannes and Sundance will gradually have higher regard if this so-called ‘safe' trend in the Oscars continue. A very well written article and well documented.
Prashanth Rajan
Posted on the website
Different views
This refers to “Making our skies inclusive” by Jo Chopra (February 26). While the concept of inclusive education at school level is a practical one that would ideally serve to integrate special needs children into society and foster understanding and acceptance of these ‘different' people, we have to view this idea from a different perspective too.
Today's school education is a high intensity package so that the students have an edge in competitive exams, and are able to face global challenges in different fields of work.
By having a few children such as suggested by the writer — an Autistic child, a Down's Syndrome child and a Cerebral Palsy child — in a classroom full of boys and girls who can respond faster, we would be slowing down the teacher, who has to cater to the average competence level, as also the students who are raring to go ahead. This may be fair to the special child, but is it fair to the other children?
Would it not be a better idea to have, in a normal, mainstream school, a separate section for the average or slow learners together with the special needs children, so that the teachers here are not hampered by the pressures of completing the syllabus, the need to slow down or repeat lessons, but can give their time to each child as the need arises?
One more passing thought... if the Captain who off-loaded Jeeja had not done so and a ‘special person' had spilt hot tea over herself or locked herself into the toilet, the same champions of people with special needs would be discussing his callousness for having allowed him/her to travel unescorted!
Malathi C
Bengaluru
Inclusive education right from the start is what we need to slowly bring in the change that our society so badly needs. With all due respect to those who comment that inclusive education may put a strain on the class, it has actually been found that teachers who provide differentiated instruction in their classroom, sometimes because of the special needs child they may have included, end up helping many more children along the way. Strategies that help children with special needs help learning become more meaningful to typically developing children as well.
Aparna
Posted on the website
