March brings with it not only the summers, but also the much dreaded exams into perspective. Exam brings with it difficulties not only to the people writing them, but also to their families too! Daily routines get temporarily modified for sometime. The TV, movie-watching gets the much needed rest, the radio is seldom switched on, attendance in family functions see a decline and the like-wise.

I'm currently experiencing similar exam related routine changes, thanks to my cousins! and i end up enquiring some issues related to it. Recently i learnt that students can use simple calculator to solve numericals in Physics, but one still needs to use Clark's table in tuitions! To achieve what? I don't know...(is it a test of time management? Maybe)

Physics involves numericals that involve quite some amount of calculations. When i studied Physics in 2nd PU, we used to solve the numericals by the use of Clark's tables. I didn't understand then and don't understand now as to why do obsolete methods need to be used as and when we have advanced further in a particular field. Clark's tables was used in ancient times because of the non-availability of a computing device aka the calculator. Now, after the calculator is in wide-spread use, why should one be using a Clark's table to solve numericals?

People who have attachment towards the old methods argue that it is expected of every student to learn the usage of these methods. But to achieve what end? when one has absolutely no usage of it any further, why fill the neurons with redundant data?

I don't know if the concerned committee has even given a thought to it. But i don't see any value addition in using Clark's tables.(I know that one may point out many such redundancies, if we may call it, that exist in our education system, but this is one of it). Rather, the time consumed in learning the methods of usage and solving problems by looking up at those tables could have been put to a productive use... Would it be?

I'm back with one of my auto related experiences :)
This was in the aftermath of the change in auto fares, all the meters have to be re-calibrated.One morning in an auto having an electronic meter with old calibration

Me:Innu haLe meter ide. Yaavaga change maadthira?
      [The meter is of old calibration. When are you going to get it modified?]

Auto driver: Ondu RTO alli dinakke 6 auto-meter maatra change madodu. Adakke tumba nidhana aagtide. Adhbere yeradu saavira rupaayi kottu change madasbeku madam!
      [6 autos are calibrated in each RTO per day. Hence the process of re-calibration is taking up lot of time. Also, it costs around 2k to get it re-calibrated! ]

Me: Ashtondu duddu yaake?
     [ Why does it have to cost that much?]

Auto driver: Maamuli meter na entu nooru rupaayalle madkodthare. Aadre electronic meter alli IC ella change madbekalla, adakke yeradu saavira rupaayi!!
    [ The older meters can get re-calibrated at only a hundred bucks. Since the electronics meters have IC's in them, it costs more!! ]