Thursday, March 6, 2008

5 WH of Bunking



Teenagers today demand for a lot of freedom. For the sake of their independence, they are willing to go to any length. One of their forms of rebellion against authority is bunking. This growing menace needs to be tackled as effectively as possible through careful study and analysis. Simply speaking, bunking is the process of leaving a certain period or all the classes of the day.
Who Bunks? The greatest numbers of students who bunk their classes range from 14-18, i.e., high school students. But this trend is rapidly on the rise, with kids as young as 11-12 opting for the canteen than the classroom. According to Isha Rai, 15, "I began bunking when I was in class eight; now even my younger sister regularly misses her classes." So, bunkers are likely to be teenagers with a happy-go-lucky attitude.
Why do they bunk? The majority do it just for the heck of it. The new found freedom and peer pressure have a lot to do with this. Pradip Kyastha from Khowpa Collage has a very short answer to this, "It's cool." Many bunk to show off, fit in or oppose authority. Binod Timilsina, 16, says, "I used to bunk a lot, maybe due to my immaturity and irrational wish to outwit the guardians."
When do they bunk? Students bunk when they do not want to attend classes or have problems with the institution. If a teacher is absent or the forthcoming subject seems boring, the class becomes empty. Babu Ram Bhattarai, coordinator of Richmond Academy, says "Sometimes students leave for school in the morning but instead of arriving here, they go for a spontaneous shopping trip."
Where do they go? There are various options available, depending on the situation. Most schools are strict about letting students go out, so they opt for some place inside. It turns out to be the garden, library, terrace, canteen or empty classroom. Sharmila Gahatraj shares a unique experience, "Once, we hid inside the toilet for a whole hour. It was stuffy but we had a lot of fun chatting in low voices." If the venue has been fixed, it's often a popular eatery, mall or entertainment center. Thamel, New Road and Putalisadak are the favored areas. Going for the latest movie, party or concert are also preferred.
What do they do? There's a single word: chill-out. Depending on the time, place and budget, the bunkers can be found eating, singing, playing games, roaming and shopping. Smriti Bhagat, 16, says, "I was a timid person but I enjoyed bunking, I loved the shared camaraderie of the thrill."
How does the authority react? Parents and teachers alike are understandably concerned. According to Anita Bhagat, Smriti's mother, "Even we were mischievous in our time but we never behaved in such an irresponsible manner. I am always worried that my daughter will fall into bad company or that she will not realize importance of dedication toward education and career." Parents often retaliate by restricting privileges like telephoning or going out, while the school issues suspension orders, counseling and rustication threats. "But," opines a high school English teacher," We can't make a difference until the individual decides to be conscientious of his/her personal accord."

2 comments:

Unknown said...

i want to say you that bunking is really cool. so i'm still bunking with my friends and having a fun and one thing i want to remind you that sometimes you have also gave me company and have fun.

Unknown said...

once angain i want to remind you that i'm not a regular bunker.