Self-discipline is at the core of Saidapet Government School's values
'We had more students a few years ago. The number has dropped since then, but at one point, every classroom was at full strength. We had over 3,000 students in the school at that time. Today, there are 470 students, from kindergarten to class 12,' said Beulah, a Tamil teacher who has been working at the school for the past 25 years.
K. David Mano, the principal of the school, adds that admissions have increased recently. 'Our school is sought-after for sports, from volleyball to throwball. Many parents have now transferred their children from CBSE and matriculation boards to our school because they believe in government schools,' he said.
Illustrious past
Established in 1904, the Saidapet Government Model Higher Secondary School began as the Saidapet Model High School, which was attached to the Teacher's College located on its premises. According to A Manual of the Madras Government: Chingleput District by Charles Stewart Crole (1879), it was one of the schools in the Madras Presidency that provided middle-class education up to the matriculation standard. The school catered to both boys and girls.
'In 1989, the school came under the control of the School Education Department when it became a higher secondary school and began offering education up to Class 12,' said Ms. Beulah.
She also added that, as the school's strength had grown to over 3,000 students, it had to be split, leading to the establishment of a girls' school in the area.
Prominent alumni
The 129-year-old school boasts prominent alumni, from the second President of India Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, to the current Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Minister Ma. Subramanian.
Beaulah notes that over the years, the school has had a significant impact on students' lives, with a strong emphasis on discipline. 'That was the turning point. In the early years, students did not care about what teachers said. But now, we have ensured that they cultivate self-discipline,' she said.
She credits the collective responsibility shared by the school community, from parents to teachers, for the enforcement of good behaviour. 'We keep a watchful eye. From inappropriate language to other distractions, we make sure that we are the ones students turn to when they need support. We put in the effort to notice changes in behaviour and follow up. Only when the entire school works together can students truly thrive in the outside world,' she added.
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