Darla school changed its girls dress for second time in a year

Old red tego

A kira, woonju, tego, gho, or shoes and socks may not be the ingredients for my favorite outfit, but if I were given a choice, I wouldn't dismiss the idea of a schooluniform. Wearing a uniform is a badge of pride, creates an identity for a school, and is an important part of being a student.

Uniforms show that you are part of an organization. Wearing one says, "We are all in this together." Moreover, if you wear your uniform with pride, it means you are halfway to being respectful.

Old Dress

I feel uniforms are great social equalizers. They discourage inappropriate dress, help bolster school and academic pride, and make getting dressed in the morning a no-brainer.

One parent told me this morning, "My kids go to school, and uniforms were the best thing that happened. They don't see friends having better clothes, and in the end, you can save a lot of money."

I also believe that uniforms give students a sense of belonging to a particular schooland create an identity for the school in the community.

New faded ash tego

Some people believe that school uniforms can improve learning by reducing distraction, sharpening focus on schoolwork, and making the classroom a more serious environment, thereby allowing students to perform better academically.

Perhaps most importantly, a uniform means students don't have to worry about peer pressure when it comes to their clothes. When everyone is dressed the same, worrying about your appearance becomes less important. There is no competition over wearing the latest trends, which would place great financial pressure on students and parents. Potential bullies have one less target for their insults—it's hard to make fun of what someone is wearing when you are dressed exactly the same.

In America, where a majority of schools do not have uniforms, roughly 160,000 children miss school every day due to fear of attack or intimidation by other students. This may not be directly linked to clothing, but having a uniform can provide a safety net for many students who might otherwise suffer from bullying. A strict uniform also gives the impression that rules are strict, perhaps helping maintain a sense of order at school.

New dress

The Pros and Cons of School Uniforms

According to proponents, school uniforms:

· Encourage discipline

· Help students resist peer pressure to buy trendy clothes

· Help identify intruders in the school

· Diminish economic and social barriers between students

· Increase a sense of belonging and schoolpride

· Improve attendance

Opponents contend that school uniforms:

· Violate a student's right to freedom of expression

· Are simply a Band-Aid on the issue of school violence

· Make students a target for bullies from other schools

· Are a financial burden for poor families

· Are an unfair additional expense for parents who already pay taxes for free public education

· Are difficult to enforce in public schools

Darla School changed its girls' dress for the second time in a year. Starting this July, our girls will be wearing an ash-brown tego instead of the bright red one. A number of students have complained about the change, and there was a general opinion that this new dress is really bad.

The red tego caused many problems, with many students, some teachers, and parents against it. The change to red was driven by only a few individuals in the school. Many thought it was not a good choice. Though symbolically confident and bright, the red had more negatives than positives. The red was so intense to look at that it affected the eyes, especially for teachers who had to see the tegos all day. I also heard that it attracted bulls and leeches, which are plentiful in Darla.

The current tego was chosen by our schoolgirls before the first term, and they now like it. One student said, "I like uniforms because everyone is the same and no one can be left out by the way they are dressed. Our new tego looks smarter, which is good."

With the change of the tego came a change of principal. Mr. Tshochu was replaced by a new principal, Mr. Tshering. The former principal moved to Gedu HSS, while the latter arrived after his studies. To date, I have worked under seven principals, and I found Mr. Tshochu to be the best of them all. Though he was also a little crooked—and who says humans are not? Everyone is. Everyone can be a little un-human and lack civic sense sometimes.

When I have time, I would like to list down some traits of good and poor leaders:

Lack of Transparency – We can tell when someone is not being completely honest. There is rarely a reason not to be entirely transparent with everyone, every time. Lack of transparency can result in a lack of trust.

Egoistic – The best leaders accept blame when things go wrong and give credit to their team when things go right. To be a true visionary leader, you need to let go of your ego and focus on your people, because without them you would be nowhere.

Lack of Confidence – The boss I worked under in Tsirang at the start couldn't make decisions because he had no faith in his own judgment.

Arrogance – It takes confidence to lead, but it also takes humility. Many leaders think they are confident when they are really just pigheaded and proud.

Disorganization – I have worked with some hard-driving, capable leaders who hamstrung themselves by never getting organized. I had one leader who ran after women and bothered little about the school. If I were boss, the first thing I would do is fire him.

Over-promising and Under-delivering – This affects more than just politicians. People leading up in an organization often do this to impress those above them, failing to realize that under-delivering shoots themselves in the foot. People at the top fall into the trap by overusing promises to ensure team loyalty. I see most leaders in Bhutan are like that—sycophantic.

No Clear Vision – No one wants to follow in the dark. It is impossible to motivate people who feel lost in a fog.

Failure to Enroll Others – Some leaders simply expect people to follow them because of their position. That is wrong. If a leader cannot enroll others, failure looms.

No Accountability – If a leader avoids responsibility and refuses to hold their team accountable, they will shipwreck the organization. Accountability is essential.

Nobody is born with any given skill; we learn through observation and by copying others—our role models. You might gain some valuable information from reading books on this subject, but I remember an old saying scribbled on the cover of a book I read in my teens: "Life is not learned from books, but by living it."

While meeting great leaders has always been a wonderful experience, it is the bad ones that truly reinforce the values of good leadership. I have been lucky in this sense, as I have had the chance to meet some of the worst leaders you can possibly imagine. Leaders who fail to keep up risk being clueless, close-minded, and arrogant. A lack of knowledge leads to indecision and fear and can cause employees to quickly lose trust in their leader.

Bhutanese Films and Theaters

Bhutanese people take pride in three names—religion, culture, and tradition—and these are all interconnected. They often come to the rescue of our identity and nationalism when engaging with the outside world or participating in intellectual debates abroad.

As a proud and true Bhutanese, I once hoped that our youth would deeply absorb Bhutanese values. But as it turns out, only a few young people now show interest in religion, culture, and tradition.

However, being a devoted son of Bhutan comes with its own perils. When I was thirteen, I watched Gasa Lamay Singye with my friends. It was Bhutan's first movie. It was not about religion, culture, or tradition, but about human bonds—a love triangle. There were small quarrels, fights, dishoom-dishoom, and songs. The movie moved some of us to want to be like its heroes, and it entered our juvenile brains. It was no traditional-cultural film, I remember.

Today, when I look back at those days, a sense of nostalgia takes over. I can still recall the scenes of that movie. It was, in fact, the beginning of filmmaking in the country. I am not a Bhutanese movie buff now. I watched Gasa Lamay Singye simply because there was no television at the time. Now, I am the type of "Woods"—just like many of us—Hollywood and Bollywood. I have watched about seven Bhutanese movies so far, and I find them a little un-Bhutanese: tactless, amateurish, sluggish, and predictable. They are all copycats—Bollywood copying Hollywood, Hollywood copying Bollywood, and other "Woods," and then Bhutanwood, or "Drukpawood." Our Drukpawood is a mixture, a masala of all Woods, hoping to become delicious emadatshi. Thinking that our Drukpawood could reach international standards, we copy. But in the end, it tastes ordinary. Our Dzongkha is becoming "Dzonglish." Let us think about this: Fiji, a country smaller than Bhutan, produces some of the world's best films.

Most of our movies do not tell the stories of our country's rich history—its historical background and traditions. We have so many Penlops, Deps, legends, myths, and folktales that could be made into very good films. For example, the legend of Ling Gesar Gyap, Zhabdrung and his dzongs, and others could become beautiful movies. But nowadays, we live in a floating world, so we see in movies flashy cars, immaculate houses, decked-up ladies in tatters, fancy mood lighting—all flesh and bones—and it is difficult to understand what is being portrayed and why.

Bhutanese movies are heavily threaded with misery and a weepy kind of life, with only little sparkling moments of joy that bring a smile to the viewer's face. There are scenes like Phurba Thinley trying to behave like a woman, which draws small laughs, or westernized musical parties where kids gather, dance, and sing "Nga Chelu Ga" or a "ting-a-ling-ling" song. Otherwise, there are no striking moments. Scenes where Singlam and Galam visit their old ruined house and break down, or the cruel mother-in-law Aum Lamo smashing her daughter-in-law's head against the wall, or heroes running through poverty and dejection (usually because of the woman they love)... gripping lives... and then they understand each other's hearts, come together, start a new life, and succeed within a minute—with little connection. Most of the time, the films tighten the knots of brutal and faithless life, making audiences—especially Bhutanese women—mistake their own lives for the film.

Aristotle rightly said that films must excite, startle, thrill, and shake viewers. These effects cannot be produced by a play lacking conflict. Conflict in a movie may be between human beings pulling in different directions, between a character and their environment, or between a character and the society they belong to. Movies must generally represent human suffering, which raises pity and fear among audiences and leads them to consider a film great in its tragic appeal. The misfortune portrayed should be simple and straightforward, yet sublime and universal in its penetrating appeal.

In my judgment, a good film should represent human suffering, evoke fear and pity, use embellished language, have an emotional or cathartic appeal, and above all, educate, entertain, and inform. There are two views on the tragic vision of life. One is that man is the plaything of an inscrutable power called fate; the other is that character is responsible for the tragic end. In Greek tragedies, the tragic fate of the heroes is predetermined. Oedipus and Antigone become obstinate and tyrannical. Their tragedy is due to their overconfidence in their respective attitudes.

Although films portray the contradictions of our lives, a majority of viewers take them as reality. Because of this, films should touch on various themes and issues. Instead of love failures dominating most Bhutanese films, they must represent history, contemporary Bhutanese society, changing relationships, and educate about the morals of faith and belief.

Moviemakers cannot retell the story of Gasa Lamay Singye again and again. Bhutan has a rich, diverse history. We have so many untold stories. Our people are rich; each of us has much to share. Every stone, every tree, every valley, every hill, every mountain, every village has a story to tell. There is a Galem and Singye in every hamlet, an Amrish Puri, a Phurba Thinley in every hamlet. There are unsung heroes. We are not short of stories. But we are short of an audience.

Many Bhutanese movies are said to have run at a loss. The question is: why? Why do most Bhutanese movies run at a loss? Why has Bhutan not succeeded with our Drukpawood? Why are Bhutanese people not skilled at producing better movies? What is lacking in our entertainment industry?

I think we are not devoid of a market or audience—people do like to watch—but we lack good places for screening. Our villagers are hungry for Bhutanese movies.

Therefore, to bring Bhutanese movies to our hungry audience, we need good distribution systems and good entertainment venues, especially halls or theaters. Good halls with proper seating, sound systems, and so on. They would also serve as meeting places for local communities. Ideally, such halls should be in every gewog, or even every chiwog. Building good theater infrastructure and providing better, efficient facilities for audiences would profit filmmakers and improve the quality of movies.

In this way, we could promote our own films and Drukpawood, and promote our own shows, thereby educating through our own traditions. Not only that, we would create many job opportunities in this industry and generate significant revenue. We would likely see fewer drug users and less crime overall, as such venues engage people and give them a second thought.

Our neighbor India has a very strong and prosperous film industry because almost every small town has good cinema halls.

Bhutan does not have many good halls. We have some in Thimphu, Phuntsholing, Samdrup Jongkha, and Gelephu. But these are not really theaters—they are simple halls. They all lack good sound systems and technical quality. The size and cleanliness of these halls could put them in Grade G.

I hope our government will look into this matter and establish good theaters. I am ready to contribute a small amount to help build good theaters in our country.

Transformative Pedagogy -- 2016

Most employees want the same things: a fair and competitive salary, hikes and promotions, and proper TA/DA—all of which foster greater engagement and a sense of job satisfaction. Monetary benefits consistently top the list of what would give employees greater gratification. Provide these benefits, and one can expect a more positive culture, more engaged employees, and a more loyal and productive workforce.

The Ministry of Education has been working on developing teachers' skills and increasing their happiness. "A teacher is the heart of the school and of education," said Education Minister Norbu Wangchuk. Thanks to his vision and sound planning, teachers in Bhutan were able to attend five days of training at various centers across the country. Although the workshop timing fell during the summer break for some teachers, it was mostly scheduled at the beginning of the second semester. The workshop centers were carefully planned. To ensure teachers received entitlements such as TA/DA, they were sent a fair distance from their schools. For example, teachers from Darla MSS were sent to Phuntsholing and Chukha, while teachers from Chukha schools were sent to Gedu. This thoughtful arrangement was truly heartwarming, and many teachers were grateful. Thanks to this approach, all teachers were entitled to full benefits—something that might not have happened if the initiative had been steered by less capable hands.

It was clearly announced and published in newspapers how much budget the new Education Minister had invested in teachers. "In order to develop the capacities of teachers, Nu 116.8 million has been allocated this year, up from just around Nu 8 million last year. The ministry in 2016 will initiate new pedagogy training for around 9,000 teachers across the country" (Kuensel, "Investing to Better Teachers," June 6, 2016). We know that teachers do not typically receive benefits such as travel allowances. Providing equal TA/DA and mileage entitlements would boost the efficiency and productivity of civil servants in Bhutan, thereby benefiting the country's overall economic performance. Furthermore, this would increase the level of confidence, competence, ethics, and integrity among civil servants. In the long run, it might also indirectly reduce corruption and improve accountability. I particularly thank Lyonpo Norbu Wangchuk for this good initiative—it will certainly boost teachers' morale.

During the training, we were provided with sumptuous lunches and refreshments. Given the nature of other workshops and training sessions in the country, I did not expect this to work at first. But I am confident it will.

By the end of the workshop, we felt a certain sense of satisfaction. We learned new skills and knowledge, including how to apply cooperative learning structures and active learning strategies. I will not reproduce that literature here, as we received detailed handouts.

Keeping the young safe from alcohol

My article published in kuensel. Check this link: http://www.kuenselonline.com/keeping-the-young-safe-from-alcohol/

Alcohol is one of the most used and misused drugs known to men. It has now become a major social issue in many countries. It is as though alcohol is strangling societies gradually.

Alcohol has disastrous effects on consumer’s health, career and family.

In Bhutan, the reason alcohol is misused is because it is widely accepted in society. People drink to be sociable. Many restaurants and shops offer alcohol. Bars and pubs are everywhere. Alcohol is usually included at celebrations or family and social gatherings. For example, we cannot do away with alcohol items during any kind of rimdro.

Bhutanese pick up drinking habits early on. And as they grow, the habit becomes stronger and often difficult to tackle. Children copy their parents and elders and drink openly. By and by, casual drinkers become serious alcoholics. They become helplessly dependent. Alcohol then becomes a friend indeed. One needs it in times of sadness and sorrow, in times of happiness and jubilation. Alcohol is a vital element during celebrations.

But the cost of consuming too much alcohol is huge, both on the person who consumes and on the state. In Bhutan, where health services are free, it is a heavy burden on the government coffer.

Alcohol is already the major killer in the country. How we can wean away habitual drinkers from alcohol is the major challenge facing the country today.

Besides damaging the liver, alcohol affects the brain, heart, kidneys, and digestive system. It is also a leading cause of cancer. To reduce deaths related to alcohol consumption and to minimize the burden on the country’s health system, therefore, there is a serious need to come up with innovative and effective ways to address alcoholism and social acceptance. It is a challenge to teach moderation. How successfully do we do that?

Consuming a moderate amount of alcohol is indeed good. It helps bring your HDL level up, which helps protects your heart against diseases. It can also lower the risk of developing diabetes by increasing your insulin sensitivity. It can also raise ‘good cholesterol levels. Our problem, though, is that we do not know how to consume. Perhaps, we should start from here, with strong education and advocacy.

Bhutan has tried various methods to address the problem of excessive consumption of alcohol. What is important is that ways and means ought to be practical and true to the purpose. Banning alcohol imports did not help. It never will help. Raising alcohol prices won’t help. In fact, this could have a more detrimental effect on society, considering that habitual drinkers will anyway find a way to drink.

But the real problem is when young people increasingly take to alcohol. This could, in the long run, have serious implications for the health and economy of the country. It is because of this that we need to address this growing societal problem urgently. It is not the responsibility of one ministry alone to wean our young people away from alcohol. As citizens, there is an urgent need to put in concerted effort to educate our people about the harmful effect of excessive consumption of alcohol. Our methods need to change. We need to adopt innovative and effective measures.

As a result of alcohol abuse, children and family members often have to grapple with domestic issues. This leads to a series of problems in the lives of many people. Alcohol consumption and depression is today the leading cause of suicide. What is alarming is that the issue of alcoholism is growing in the urban centers rather than in the rural pockets of the country where it is traditionally accepted. That’s why, to put it mildly, urban families are increasingly becoming fragmented, affecting everyone in society.

It is no more surprising to find youth drinking in bars, throwing invective words. This is a worrying sign of failure. Who do we blame when a child goes off the way? What do we say when parents themselves are alcoholics and do not care about the future of their children? Do we blame education, or do we hold bar owners responsible?

Schools and teachers have played their part. They can only do so much. The blame lies entirely with parents. Bring up your children responsibly. Real education begins from here.