Academic Pressure in India on School Kids

It is heart wrenching when a child feels pressurized for not scoring well and therefore not getting admission to a college of choice......Don't we parents/teachers have it all confused in our minds ? Aren't we giving too much importance to any kind of academics, too much importance to any kind of institution - their so called 'reputation' (read 'elitism').

We all deserve to be acknowledged as whole individuals by everyone around. To achieve that may not be easy. On the other side,to counter this would need a strong, centered person. What is it that we as parents/teachers are doing to inculcate this inner strength and calm? Are we hinting that exams are a test of a child's being? Or are we saying that an exam is an exam is an exam. And in India, in many cases exam is not a test of real learning and application. Are willing to take that risk for the sake of the being of our children? Hasn't it come to academic achievement versus the child's existence? And if it has, then what else are waiting for?