Are Backbenchers Mischievous, Mediocre?

    • Dheeraj.Jangra@timesgroup.com
    • Publish Date: Sep 19 2016 8:56PM
    • |
    • Updated Date: Sep 20 2016 3:02PM
Are Backbenchers Mischievous, Mediocre?

Not necessarily. In fact, former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, said “The best brains of the nation may be found on the last benches of the classroom.” 

Consider this: If backbenchers are dull and troublemakers, does it mean that first and middle benchers are an intelligent lot? Again, not necessarily so.  Teachers say that in a classroom, “it makes sense that taller students are seated at the back. Otherwise the shorter students will have trouble looking at the blackboard.” Also generalising backbenchers as a mischievous flock is "unfair and unjustified.”

Agreeing with the view, Shloka Naudiyal, a class 12th student from KV, Ahmedabad, said that “seating arrangement is not a reflection of a student’s character and intelligence. What matters is how attentive you are during class proceedings. A frontbencher could also give a false impression that he is fully concentrating.” Whereas, Hema Nair, principal DAV, Mumbai, points out that “Students tend to do mischief when they feel teacher can’t see what they are doing. Teachers should always stand and teach so that they can see till the very end of the classroom. This will force students to be attentive.” 

Do you think that backbenchers are considered to be troublemakers and dull in studies?  Let’s know in the comments below. 

In fact, most teachers agree that “they should closely observe each and every student and the best way of doing it is by moving throughout the classroom while teaching”. 
Many students also pointed out that, “In most schools, rotation of seats is carried out to ensure that every student gets to sit in the first as well as the last bench.” Though sometimes students don’t follow these rules. 
 
 
Harmless banter
We talked to a lot of students who claimed to be backbenchers and “still managed to do well in exams.” Some said that they are “shy and introvert” by nature and feel comfortable sitting at the back. Plus, they get a a good view of the class. There are others who hop from front to back and vice-versa depending upon the teacher and the interest in subject. 
 
Well this is not to say that students at the back don’t indulge in “harmless banter” once in a while.  “Some of the pranks they play are so hilarious that I burst laughing when I share them with my colleagues. Backbenchers are sometimes naughty but to say that they are unintelligent and mediocre is totally incorrect,” said Sharan Taneja, teacher, DPS, Ahmedabad.  A  teacher also said that all children —irrespective of where they sit— like to have fun, and what is mischief for us, is fun for them.
 
A backbencher jovially mentioned that “A first bench student knows the answer to every problem but the last bench students know how to tackle every problem." When we put forth this view in front of a teacher, she said that this is not a battle between backbenchers and frontbenchers.  “For a teacher every student is special. It’s for the teacher to make classroom interactions interesting by incorporating various fun elements into teaching. An interesting lecture can make even make a dull student sit up, and grasp what is being taught, irrespective of his/her seating position.” 
 
Students take 
 
Backbenchers are normally more studious than the ones sitting ahead. They tend to read all the time without wasting any minute. Being a backbencher, I feel extremely comfortable to take out a book of my choice and start flipping through the pages. 
Ravi Sangoi, class IX, New Horizon Public School, Airoli

The backbenchers are normally considered to be mischievous because they are usually the one who make most noise in the class. But we can't paint everyone with the same brush. 
Adit ingle, class X, SOS, Nagpur

Backbenchers, in my experiences are one of the most mischievous and the smartest brains in attendance. The seating location, in my opinion can’t really define somebody's level of intellect or make them mediocre. However, sitting on the last bench has its own set of advantages like you get a better field of view. 
Gauri Pathak, class XII, Rachana School, Ahmedabad
 
 

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Comments

Vandana Subash City International School Wanowrie

No,in fact in my class the dullest and naughtiest children are kept in the front so that they can be given more attention.And yes,many a times the seating arrangement is according to the height.This is just a stereotype.

Sarath Kumar RM Bethel Mat Hr Sec School

According to me backbenchers are mediocre . Surely , we cannot say that they are troublemakers. They have some innate talents that has to be explored by the teachers. They are more clever than the students sitting in the first benches probably in other fields.

DIWANSHI SHETIJA BHARTI PUBLIC SCHOOL (SWASTHYA VHR)

Backbenchers are not always mischievous or notorious.They tend to have a clever and intelligent minds.Most of the great personas were backbenchers. We should not be captious as most of the time they are the only ones who turn out to be charisma. Though they are indolent and feeble in studies at some point of time but are lively too as compared to the bookworms who work hard but still lack in attaining marks.These backbenchers don''t work hard but they have a mindset of doing smart work,

Harini MS NAGARJUNA VIDYANIKETAN

Backbenchers cannot be termed a naughty or dull. I have been a backbencher for most of my school-life, and inspite of that my teachers know me as a sweet child rather than a mischievous one (not bragging). Rather, backbenchers are the emotionally stronger ones, as many a times their potential is ignored because of attention given to the front benchers.

Darshil Shah ST. XAVIERS - LOYOLLA -2 LOYOLLA 2

Not all students are good in studies. The same is the case with the backbenchers. They are maybe not good in studies but they must have a good talent in some other field like sports. We shouldn''t call them troublemakers as it their nature to be naughty.

Vishnu Varthan J Bethel Mat Hr Sec School

No its not like that the back bench student should be troublemakers and dull in studies. They may be hyperactive and they may make wonders in the world some day.

Vinutha Kumaran ST.MARY''S CONVENT & PUBLIC SCHOOL (STATE & ICSE)

It is not in all the schools they make this type of seating…In my school there is a rule of changing the places of students in a systematic order… so that everyone gets a chance to sit in the first bench as well as the last bench… According to me backbenchers are really talented in something... which the teachers need to observe and bring it out the world outside...

Bhavana Jaison Atomic Energy Central School No 2

Back benches are not always mischievous, normally children who are tall use to be put in back bench. In our school teachers make the good children, who need to be less concentrated and discipline sit in back benches. So we cannot say that they are mediocre or mischievous.

Priyanshi Banerjee Somerville school, Greater Noida

I dont think backbenchers are mischievous or spoil the decorum of the class as we have regular rotation in our school, moreover the notorious crowd is made to sit in the front seats.

Amish Agarwal Goldcrest High Vashi

In my classroom back benchers form the nucleus of the class because they are the ones who answer most of the questions. Being a backbencher I myself enjoy since I can communicate with other scholars regarding studies and other stuff. Life of a front benchers is at times boring due to constant staring of the teacher and restricted talking.

Hiya Kilam global indian internatonal school

We should not stereotype the children who sit on the last few benches as naughty or dull. Seating arrangement of a student in a classroom does not accurately judge anyone''s skills or intelligence. In some schools such as mine, weak students are made to sit on the front bench which a child who is regular with his or her work. This does not mean that all the students sitting on the first few benches are weak.

Sanjana Mehta G.D. GOENAKA PASCHIM VIHAR

Categorising a student''s caliber on the basis of where they sit is unjust. In fact most of my class toppers, including me, sit on the last bench. We might be amongst the most mischievous students but that is how we like to learn. By creating a fun environment in the class we not only enjoy learning, we try to give the teachers a happy retreat from their tedious schedules, which helps them teach better. This makes the class a place to learn and not just to rote and study

Aditi Sahi D C MODEL SCH PKL-SEC-7

I personally love sitting at last bench of my class because it is more advantageous for me as I totally agree with the point that one can actually flip through pages according to one''s choice.where one chooses to sit is personal preference and is no way related to their level of intelligence. some teachers even tend to pay more attention towards the backbenches so a trouble makers don''t prefer to sit a last bench.

Rajathariga S P AECS MAGNOLIA MARUTHI PUB SCH

Backbenchers have the advantage of not being easily spotted by the teachers, as they are sometimes covered from the view of the teachers by the students in the front and middle rows. This fact tempts them to talk more often during class. It has nothing to do with their studiousness.

Harini.V Bethel Mat Hr Sec School

Backbenchers are not dull ones. They are in fact more brilliant than the first benchers. Each one has different talents. But the teachers believe that only the "A" grade holders are bright and they can only have a successful life. These are the misconceptions of the society. The fact is no one is ready to give chance for the talented.

Khushi Sharma BHARTI PUBLIC SCHOOL (SWASTHYA VHR)

No, not at all! Infact most of them are the ones blessed with the most creative minds. They know how to overcome obstacles. Even Dr. Kalam quoted that the best brains of the nation may be found on the last benches of the classroom.

Arthi Anand Kennedy High The Global School

I am a backbencher myself and in our class almost all the nerds sit in the back ''cause they don''t really want themselves to have an eye of the teacher all day long. And a another reason why I sit in the back is there is a window in the back and since my class is in the 4th floor I have a lot of fun sitting back enjoying the weather. So being a backbencher is actually fun more than sitting in the front. And that''s the reason I <3 being a backbencher.

Linet Christina Thomas Ryan International School Nallasopara

I love to sit on backbench. But we have the rotating system so every week i wait to get to backbench.

NAVYA MALHOTRA SWARAJ INDIA PUBLIC SCHOOL

Sitting at the back is no sign of the child being less studious or inattentive ......totally their wish where they want to sit and anyway many a times , the naughtier ones are made to sit ahead

RIJUL NAGAR THE H.B.KAPADIA NEW HIGH SCHOOL

in our class the backbenchers are not so mischevious but they are so intelligent

Ritvik Baweja Bal Bharati Public School

The backbencher are stereotyped to be naughty and mischievous but in reality they are not so, choosing a seat doesn''t change your attitude and personality.

Sharmeen Khan PADUA HIGH SCHOOL-MANKHURD

No. I dont think the arrangement of sitting can define ones personality. Sitting at the back has its own set of advantages. However, in most of the schools the naughtier students are made to sit in the front so that they can be seen easily. Its just another hollow thinking that will evolve with time. Or I guess so.

Himanshi Dhawan Saffron Public School

Backbenchers are the most notorious and intelligent brains. They always sit at the back to enjoy school life. It''s not always that a backbencher will be mediocre. One of my friends sits at the backbench and she''s the topper of the class. So, it varies from student to student.

Hansika bhardwaj PRESENTATION CONVENT(RED FORT)

classmates at back benchers are not only micheivous they at times are trouble makers but also they have sharp minds and also very intelligent .

Mansi Borade PADUA HIGH SCHOOL-MANKHURD

NO I DON''T THINK THAT who sits at last they naughtiest because in my school the students who are naughty teachers make them to sit in front and who are quite and good in class teacher make them to site at back bench . so according to me backbenchers are no mischievous or mediocre.

Brenda Marshal PADUA HIGH SCHOOL-MANKHURD

No, I don''t think that back benchers are the trouble makers and the dull in studies. Because, in most of the class tall students are the back benchers and trouble makers are seated in front benches so that they can be disciplined and can be controlled by the particular teacher. So we can''t say that back benchers are mediocre and the mischievous students of the class. ^_^

Romana Shaikh Vidya Prabodhini English School

No back benchers are not mischivious but because of some people everybody do think so all back bencher are not the same a very big example of it is Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam.The seating location, in my opinion can’t really define somebody''s level of intellect or make them mediocre. However, sitting on the last bench has its own set of advantages like you get a better field of view.

Priyanshu Mohta Maxfort School - Rohini

Backbenchers are both studious and noutorious. Some are interested in studies and some are not. So putting all of them in the same category is not right as their comfort level might be at the back of the class. So determining someones behaviour according to where they sit- back or front- will not be right.

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