Over
the last few weeks, school life has been less about studies and more about a
study of conjunctivitis. Wherever you looked (if you were one of the last few
left who could still ‘look’) you saw children bearing down upon you in menacing
dark glasses, looking like phoney commandos, clutching their ‘weapons’ which
were so much more dangerous than any gun in the world – soggy tissues dripping
with drippings of pus and germs.
In
the early days of the epidemic, one did try to be polite. So one moved away
from the dark glass wearers swiftly – even while trying not to give the
impression of swift movement. No jerky jumps, no evidence-giving running. Just
a quick about-turn (away from the depths of those deep dark glasses) and a
gracefully rapid pirouette in the opposite direction, with an air of ‘Oops, I
have to go get those books from out there’. But after two weeks of such
graceful pirouetting, it all boiled down to simply screaming at the sight of
anyone with the-disease-that-cannot-be-named and fleeing helter-skelter.
Suddenly
one felt that there was no need for one to give students an occasional hug or a
pat on the back. The same words of encouragement could well be hollered down
the corridors, couldn’t they? As for birthdays, no harm in going up to the
third floor to lean out and wish the student on the first floor, is there?
And
then there were exams.
And
so there was a special area (‘special’ is a more politically correct word than
‘infectious’) for those who answered their question papers from behind dark
glasses. And since students suffering from conjunctivitis also need
invigilation, a teacher suffering from conjunctivitis was called upon to keep
an eye (oops!) on them. It was a rather heart-wrenching sight.
And
then these er…‘special’ papers needed to be corrected. It meant direct contact
with these papers. These papers were sealed into envelopes and handed over to
the respective subject teachers. (Might as well have handed over a ticking bomb
each.)
And
now, to open those envelopes at home. The scene resembled an art-and-craft
class.
Things
needed: some old newspapers, a pair of scissors, a pair of disposable gloves,
hand sanitiser, a pair of disposable glasses, a red pen, gum.
Method:
Put on disposable gloves and glasses, spread the newspapers on the work area,
open envelope with scissors, draw out the paper with the tip of the scissor,
use disposable pen to correct paper, return paper to envelope and reseal, throw
away pen, glasses, gloves, use hand sanitiser liberally, say a quick prayer.
Just
a moment... One did notice that not everyone was as scared of
the-disease-that-cannot-be-named. There were some who did get on with life
quite normally – and accepted their lot quite cheerfully when afflicted with
conjunctivitis.
So,
is the rest of the world eccentric, or what?
