Preschool Application Forms Asking ‘Method Of Childbirth’ Stirs Online Debate: Why There Is A Need For Overhauling Questionnaires To Balance Ask For Essential Data With Sensitivity?
Social media, which started as a platform for entertainment and keeping connections, has now emerged as a great tool for discussing social issues and their consequences on society. Recently, a social media post went viral, where Shridhar V, a stand-up comedian, shared a picture of a preschool application form on X showing the appalling and insensitive question found in a preschool application form in Mumbai. The form involves peculiar things (questions/statements) where parents or guardians were required to mention the delivery of the child- from the options as premature, normal or surgery. The question has ignited outrage and disbelief among parents and netizens.
The point of virtual debate was the need for such questions in preschool admission forms and their relevance with the admission of little minds.
Many comments pointed out that the mode of delivery is a matter of privacy, and it has nothing to do with the ability of the child to learn. The online discussion, which started from an application form and its intrusive questions, eventually gathered many reactions from the parental community, which commented on many similarly different incidents where the questions asked from the parents have perpetually nothing to do with the child’s ability to perform in the preschool. One of the users commented that the preschool demanded the parents’ CVs to get their admission into the preschool.
While most people find these questions disgusting, a few folks support them by saying that the preschool authorities should know the child’s medical history (including Prenatal, natal, and postnatal) and developmental milestones. They justify their opinion by adding that this helps in the identification of any condition (physical or mental) and helps in early intervention.
Question of privacy and relevance.
In general, preschools and other early childhood education programs have the right to collect information that is relevant to the child’s health and well-being. This typically includes information about allergies, chronic conditions, or medical needs that may affect the child’s care or participation in activities. However, the specifics of birth circumstances—such as the mode of delivery or premature birth—are generally less directly relevant unless they have ongoing medical implications.
Medical Relevance: Preschools should focus on information directly impacting the child’s immediate health and safety. For example, if a child was born prematurely and requires special medical care or monitoring, this is relevant. However, if the birth details are simply about whether the child was born via caesarean section or vaginal delivery, and do not have ongoing implications, this information is generally less pertinent.
Privacy Concerns: Asking about the mode of birth can infringe upon a family’s privacy. Such information is personal and can be sensitive. Families might feel uncomfortable or discriminated against if they perceive that their child’s birth circumstances are being scrutinised or used as a basis for judgment.
Is this way of asking questions on the application form justified?
There is no doubt that some kids who are born prematurely may have some cognitive issues. Families and doctors must be vigilant of the potential for these early-emerging health problems in children, but categorising kids, even if the same is done for their betterment, doesn’t sound justified.
If the schools do any evaluation for learning disabilities or developmental delays as a part of their program, then this category of asking questions may find its relevance. However, again, it is advised that the teacher or the evaluator asks these questions personally only if they feel there is a need for such information for the child’s development.
Questions about birth circumstances might lead to implicit biases where certain birth methods or conditions are perceived as ‘less desirable’ or indicative of potential issues. This could affect how the child is viewed by admissions staff or teachers.
Is this the only case of such irrelevant questions, or is there a big problem overall in Indian society?
Recall certain forms from school life that used to ask questions about ‘parent’s annual income’. Whenever such questionnaires were filled, there existed a negative serenity of discomfort among students, and they never wanted their friends to see that column or the amount that they had written. We are not saying that the form was intended to hurt the feelings of students. Certain forms were helpful in figuring out underprivileged students so they could be helped economically, but the way the questionnaires were being formed and distributed to everyone in the class gave anxiety to students to fill the forms.
Similar situations can be seen in job scenarios during hiring, where ‘salary drawn from last job’ or the ‘gap years’ make candidates uncomfortable and put them in a zone where they may feel biased. Although, again, such information may be necessary on certain grounds, giving specific spaces to such columns in the application form is a question of debate.
Conclusion.
In a country like India, where there are still taboos on various subjects, ranging from age-related pregnancy, IVF pregnancy, or surrogate pregnancy, this one option can again add to the list of stigmatised topics delving around human values. Not only in application forms for preschool admissions but also in job recruitment forms or information-asking forms in mid-school everywhere; as time passes, there needs to be an overhaul in the process of making questionnaires so that the relevant information can be collected without hurting the sentiments of any section of the society.
