The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Sunday, July 20, 2003, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

M A I L B A G

Principal’s post not a bed of roses

APROPOS of Ms Deepti Dharmani's article “Wanted: Principals with a vision” (July 6), he/she will have to possess leadership quality.

He should be able to inspire and lead his colleagues. He must be a role model to be emulated by teachers as well as students. He must consider himself as first among equals.

The success of a Principal would depend on to what extent he is able to provide a transparent, responsive and student-friendly administration. Though this office carries a lot of glamour, it is not a bed of roses. One has to manage the post with tact, and resourcefulness to maintain the equilibrium among contending forces like the government, the managing committee, the students and the teachers. To be successful, therefore, a research degree and teaching experience are not enough as it is not child's play to run a college these days.

PROF K. L. BATRA, Yamunanagar

To run a college effectively has become a challenge for the Principal. Since he has to interact among different constituents of the social set-up, his major task is not only to extract the best out of them but also to mould the institution. He is, no doubt, supposed to act under certain constraints, internal and external. But it is here that the leadership qualities of a Principal come into play.

That the job of a Principal is complex and intricate is undoubtedly true. It is not uncommon to come across instances where the Principal, despite his best efforts and good intentions, may not get cooperation and at times meet even hostile behaviour. If a teacher is found instrumental in creating problems in the routine functioning of the institution, should the Principal be merely a shock-absorber or should he deal with an iron hand? I am for the latter course. For effective administration, it is not only the competent Principal but also responsive teaching faculty along with responsible student community that are indispensable.

To be an effective administrator, a Principal should identify his objectives, fix targets, organise his administrative machinery well, grow an efficient teaching faculty, motivate and inspire both teachers and students, maintain rapport with the parents and the community and evaluate his performance by comparing his achievement with targets and taking corrective measures.

K. M. VASHISHT, Mansa

III

Ms Deepti Dharmani's view that the Principal of a college needs to have more of vision than that of first-hand experience is not correct. Colleges are not research-oriented as she thinks; they are places of teaching only.

Research and scholarship are different than teaching various faculties and disciplines. A college administrator's essential qualifications are his/her administrative worth. Research and scholarship are, of course, desirable but not a must.

Recruitment is made ‘without’and ‘within’ methods. ‘Without’ is direct recruitment and ‘within’ is called promotion. The promotion principles are seniority and merit. The recruitment of Principals is done within the university system defined by the UGC. Teaching experience of about 15 years falls under the university system. Therefore, while appointing Principals, both the principles — seniority and merit — should be applied by the appointing authorities.

OM PARKASH WADHWA, Gohana

Retain death penalty

This has reference to the debate on ‘Capital Punishment’ (June 8). Judgement, it is said, is purely based upon witness and evidence. Now these can be true or false and fabricated. If these are true (which seldom are), the judgement will also be true.

On the other hand, if these are false and the victim is awarded death sentence and, at a later stage, these proved to be contrary, then who will be at fault — the victim or the judgement? Then, should capital punishment be totally banned and scrapped from the statute?

Some advocates, however, are of the view that capital punishment must be awarded to the person who has committed some heinous crime such as he has intentionally murdered someone or has raped some innocent girl/ woman or has killed some celebrity or a national figure and terrorists. Under these circumstances, capital punishment is most appropriate.

Capital punishment is justified. But before it is awarded, the person, his witness/evidence should be thoroughly examined so that no innocent's life is taken away.

A. K. KAUL, Chandigarh