Ouija board adventure proves ugly for tutors

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An apparently harmless experiment on a Ouija Board has conjured up fresh trouble for the Sree Chitra Home for Destitute and Poor (SCH) at  Pazhavangadi in the city.The consequences have reportedly harmed the young inmates, with an angry administration sacking tutors appointed to conduct vacation classes days ahead of the Onam examinations. The administration has also lodged complaints regarding the conduct of the tutors to the District Collector who had appointed them.Inadequate infrastructure and the discouraging performance of SCH students in the 2011 SSLC examinations had thrust SCH into the news for all the wrong reasons in recent months.On August 12, the current Class X students of SCH experimented with an Ouija Board after their grammar class, which led to the public dismissal of the tutor three days later. But the issue acquired a new dimension when the students wrote a letter saying that the teacher was not to blame as they themselves had started the Ouija Board adventure.The administration has ordered all 11 tutors not to conduct classes and has submitted a report to the District Collector P M Francis. In the meantime, the teacher concerned has written to the SCH superintendent Elsy Abraham saying that he was not heard by the administration.According to him, he took the grammar class as the assigned teacher was absent. "The children began their Ouija Board experiment within six-seven minutes after the class was over. They did not stop even though I affectionately dissuaded them. The letter signed by 17 students in my absence and given to another teacher is proof of this. It clearly states I am not to blame,’’ the teacher has told the SCH superintendent in his letter.On the other hand, superintendent Elsy Abraham pointed out that the teacher should not have allowed the students in superstitious pursuits even if they had prompted him to."One teacher from among the group appointed by the District Collector was responsible. Another teacher had forced the students to write the said letter freeing him from all responsibility. We have submitted a detailed report to the District Collector,’’ Elsy Abraham said. She said that the children’s studies will not be affected as they were attending school and also were tutored at SCH.