tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48013546111296524952024-03-05T02:36:22.052-08:00Think SpeakAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-28532834503464857612015-11-14T21:56:00.001-08:002015-11-14T21:56:40.450-08:00A cuppa tea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I relax in the warmth of a sunny winter morning, the chirpings of birds fill up my reverie.<br />
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It is a good idea to be a part of the BITS Pilani campus and also to be a part of their winning team.Trees, birds apart, this a hub of Indian education and the processes of an IPSC school proves it. The Indian Public School's conference is a progressive group which encourages schooling for an overall development of the child. most IPSC schools offer a lot of activities which serve to initiate the learner into various activities thus enriching the teaching learning process.<br />
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After all, we all know that application or learning by doing is the best way to foster a skill. Books have to be gone through but an IPSC school aims to hone the skills of both teacher and the pupil.They are encouraged to move away from the class room to explore the possibilities of learning in an exotic environment. It has been my pleasure to have worked in two IPSC school. First, was Scindia school for Boys in Gwalior.<br />
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A school celebrating its 111 years in 2008, Scindia had a lot to teach me.The first lesson learnt was that change is recognised as part of the schooling process and it does come to India.Which is a really positive thought. Sometimes, we despair at the traditional methods which linger on in spite of failure.<br />
But Scindia embraces change.Even i immersed myself in various learning experiences.Most of my students grew closer to me as i took up clay modelling.I learnt it from the boys as some of them excelled at it.<br />
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This is something that i encourage in all teachers. Taking a leaf from my book of experience, I strongly recommend learning something either from your students or learning something together.It forms a bond that most of you would be proud to share.And this bond grows into learning experiences which take you far beyond the curriculum. Touch the stars together , feel free to explore. So many of us wonder how to move beyond the shackles of the curriculum or mere book reading and i feel this is a good way to do it.<br />
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I also remember the song,"I have a dream' taught by the scindians. They mentored me to stand on stage and sing this song.A first in my life and something I will always be proud of</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-35053799336249486782015-11-12T07:51:00.003-08:002016-01-07T19:14:47.011-08:00All my students<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In class that day ,while looking at their fresh faces, it occurred to me that they made me a teacher. My journey began very early.Maybe when I was little. Maybe when my own fingers were just beginning to grasp a pencil, My mind began recording the ways to learn.Sometimes, even how to learn.The tendency to how to became strong enough for me to start researching ways. That's how i began to teach and that's how they came to me.<br />
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My students. As we inch towards children's day 2015, 22 years of school teaching pursue me. What have i learnt all these years? In a nutshell I have learnt that it is they, my students who made me a teacher. For someone without a single goal in life,I sort of waltzed into teaching. Although ,while in college, I loved my subject,English Literature , i had no plans to teach it. On my very first day of work, I saw them.<br />
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Fresh faces eager to learn. I am yet to meet a child who doesn't want to learn. Maybe i have met some who may not be willing to learn by my methods. Sometime, I may not have been the best influence on their lives. After all, every child is unique. As adulthood creeps upon us, we tend to use the same gestures, notes.We are so practised, so geared for performance. Sometimes , it all falls through. A single question from any of the children sitting out there can upset everything.<br />
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Mostly,that's what I look for.Someone to break the monotony for me. A question that implies that I am an intellectual and not just another adult on a routine job. Recently, I felt this. After a long time of attentive scholars I have got some challenges. Thank you for upsetting my normal lessons with your curiosity.<br />
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Your questions on various topics and your queries on philosophy , has really enlivened my day. For it you who must make me. It is you who must demand excellence from me and pardon my mediocrity.Your relentless quest for knowledge , should make me run from pillar to post seeking out the answers. Hope all of you had a rocking Deepawali and I wish you a Happy Children's day. Celebrate the childhood in you , for it is a blessing. Till we meet again to light the lamps together, remember I will be waiting for you.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-71788367703426088172015-08-13T00:45:00.002-07:002015-08-13T00:45:19.695-07:00On being the Head Learner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
While studying for my masters in education studies from the university of Bangor, Wales, i was fascinated by what Tony Elliot , had to teach us.Tony took our classes for education leadership.<br />
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And what he taught was so far removed from the scenario in Indian schools, that i wondered if i will ever be able to find someone like minded. As for myself, this is the vision of the school leader i was always comfortable with. in Tony i found a teacher who taught me a leadership style , yet unknown .However, as Tony writes in his book, "The fourth way", this is the path to strive for.Especially if you want to make sense to the new generation.<br />
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So, who is the one who is termed principal, head, sometimes even manager? what exactly is he the head of? he is the principal what? Many would say that he is the principal teacher or, administrator or, both. The management then, rolls out a persona who is a kind of a Hercules faced with numerous tasks , much of which he is unable to do and most of it is done by others anyway.<br />
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I have been accused of not being comfortable in this role and i plead guilty. For, Tony gave me the answer sometime ago. The way forward is the "head learner". This person is the head learner .Thus he learns and keeps the wheels of the knowledge machine truly well oiled and moving. What are the connotations of this term?<br />
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It doesn't merely mean updating your knowledge ,of course. It means that the decision making in an educational institution should be with someone who is full of curiosity, is able to come up with different methodologies, can build up a team of enthusiastic teachers and learners. The main point in this argument is that the learner should get utmost importance in the learning situation. So, the institution should be headed by the "head learner" who can engage the students, understand their aspirations and lead them into creative learning situations.<br />
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Honing yourself to be the head learner is a difficult task. As Matt Ridley writes in his book,"the autobiography of the human genome", chromosome 19 is a mischievous genome. maybe, we could be making a genetic profile of the head learner keeping this genome in mind.But , are you surprised at the fact that genomes may have a personality?<br />
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Well, if it feeds your curiosity and you find this incredible itch to share this with your students, instead of scolding them or shutting up their questions, welcome to the club .... of head learners.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-25181330292316491912015-08-06T22:30:00.000-07:002015-08-06T22:30:18.106-07:00In Her Shoes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday , I was watching an old movie starring Cameron Diaz. The role is that of a young rather wild girl, who goes slightly berserk because of her disability to conform. I am calling this a disability because that is what it is. Disabilities such as alcoholism, not taking responsibility are behavior problems which some people suffer from.And they come in a spectrum. I am aware that all of us are familiar with terms such as these.<br />
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For the uninitiated I would like to clear things up a bit. Disability is the term we use when we know that the person who is so is not lazy, not irresponsible but simply cannot do it. Of course, there are obvious examples of disability. Physical handicap is one of them. we accept and sympathise with people with obvious handicaps readily. But those with behavioral problems or a learning disability may not have so much of sympathy.<br />
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The most obvious nightmare situations for such people is the school, the classroom and at home. The school teachers may be yelling at a bright middle-schooler calling her "sassy" or referring to his attempts at writing as "heroic". Apparently, nothing is obviously wrong with them.Intelligence tests,if taken, might even record an average or above average intelligence. So, why does this intelligent child who probably speaks well hesitate to read? or write? or have problems with numbers and directions?<br />
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As we keep conveying our frustrations with them, such people start showing behavioral problems.I always term such students as suffering from "behavioral distress". Yes, their behavior is distressed because of our inability to understand their problem as pathogenic.They have an illness which is recognised as developmental delay and yes, it can show up in a variety of ways.Very similar to conditions which show a spectrum of disorders.<br />
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The movie shows Cameron Diaz as seeing herself from her sister's point of view. Her sister ,unable to understand her screams at her to get out of her life. The sister is a successful lawyer and sees her disability as an inability to conform to norms.especially when a drunk Cameron goes to bed with her boyfriend. Most of us would react with horror and so did hr sister.How do we cope with such relatives?<br />
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Another problem are the behavioral problems. Why are they so persistent? Well as a person learns his alphabets he also learns behavior.There is a definite link between the two as they are learning situations. The curriculum while addressing this needs to fully look in to the other.<br />
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Cameron Diaz tells the blind professor who wanted her to read to him,"I am a slow reader" and he gently explains,"Well, I am a slow listener." That cinches the deal between them and he helps her to learn to read ,battling her dyslexia.To be in her shoes........... that's the best way to cope.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-13825011634875074112015-08-01T01:26:00.001-07:002015-08-01T01:26:56.775-07:00That's what friends are for<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I quite like cafes. They seem to be the ideal place for someone like me , who needs to be isolated, yet, be allowed to be near human kindness. I like to do my observations in this environment where people just seem to relax and munch on their favorite snacks.I truly feel that i am catching mankind at it's best. For hunger is the ultimate trigger. It triggers alacrity. Watch how we tend to hop over our closest competitor for the best table and then tackle the queue for payment.The adrenaline is pumping till we have settled ourselves.<br />
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Triggers are so varied. But normally, especially in India , we are somewhat aggressive in cafes. On account of the heat, traffic, large families, we tend to be a little more possessive about our seats while in a cafe. So it was a pleasant surprise when yesterday, i did not elicit a nasty response when i unceremoniously, without asking for permission, grabbed a seat opposite another woman, who just looked away.To be fair, i did this as i was a tad wet from the rains. I desperately needed a cuppa and didn't think the woman would give me the time of the day if i put in a request.<br />
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So ,i didn't. Put in a request for the seat i mean.Just plonked myself on the seat that was vacant.But conscience struck and i smiled in apology. She peeped from beneath her Burqa and smiled back. Soon enough , her companion came with a full tray and she stood up .Both went with their tray to a small standing table where they would have to stand to eat. I remember she looked pretty tired. So, they had left their seats for me.For my comfort, my privacy. Well, did they want privacy? the table was there's to begin with so they should've staked their claim.But they preferred to stand.a moral dilemma swept my mind. Shouldn't i be calling them back?<br />
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They seemed such a serene couple.The courtesy they had shown really touched my heart. Just the other day, i had faced a similar scenario. Clutching on to my shopping bags i had tottered from table to table but had met only stony faced glares. Especially from the women. All of them seemed to be waiting for someone. I frantically gestured to them. You know i didn't like to get up for fear someone might pounce on our seat. Yes, i felt as though they were my good friends. Were we like minded? I am not so sure. I may not have had the courage to do what they did.<br />
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Well, my new friend smiled back at me and came back with her husband, for that's what he was, and her tray.I said," Hi, I am Anuradha from Delhi and you ?" She said" We are from Sudan" . Clearly she was enjoying the masala chai which is so Punjabi. He said," She is not well. We have come here for her treatment." Well, that is why she looked so tired , i thought. We smiled at each other for we had discovered that the world is full of smiles, after all. Her gesture taught me so much, which i can share later. But it was an educational experience. Mostly, i was so happy that they didn't mind sharing the table with me. That's what friends are for.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-2552927771739358072015-07-27T14:25:00.000-07:002015-07-27T14:25:00.913-07:00To dare to dream<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dr. kalam died ,leaving a blank in our midst. The children of this country looked towards him for inspiration. Of course, as he was one of our foremost nuclear scientists all of us looked upon him with deep reverence.He was the <b>Scientist, President</b>, foremost thinker and an<b> Educationist to the core.</b><br />
His words were full of emotional quotient.What he taught us was to think about the aims of education. I feel this is something worth discussing. Indian education seems to get lost in the dense forest of jargon.This is as much true of school education as it is true for higher studies.<br />
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The most important thing about kalam was his avoidance of religion and religious talk, a real novelty for India where religion still plays a major role in the country's dynamics. The founding fathers of this new country, which was fresh out of colonial rule, urged the country to inculcate the spirit of science . But it was a path full of difficulty. I feel Kalam made it easier. He made it easier for our children to relate to dreams.<br />
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Unfortunately, the atmosphere in schools rarely takes dreams into account.Those who feel that India is marching forward, should stop to look at the culture in schools.The questions to ask are many. But notable among them are those which pertain to culture, I feel.This is not such a close ended argument after all. It has more to do with inclusion, discovery learning, the encouragement of entrepreneurship, and a host of other things that we have forgotten. Most important of all being dreams. But Dr Kalam kept reminding us of this simple fact which actually, is the backbone of all sciences.<br />
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Dreams. Somehow we feel schools are too mundane to cater to these. However, most children will tell you that to them school is a place for dreams. They look for stardust when they enter the hallowed gates. It turns out to be the first most crushing defeat when they actually discover that the schools are full of dream merchants but there are no dreams.<br />
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The best tribute to him i feel is to keep thinking about how to rekindle our dreams. In my next post i will highlight some tributes by some friends in the media,And dr, kalam's inspirational quotes.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-13497838577273082172015-07-18T03:55:00.000-07:002015-07-18T03:55:03.762-07:00The unsafe corridors<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>"I am Vipul Parekh,<br />My daughter went missing at Shimla bridge during her school visit Please pass on the info to your friends and groups.....</i></div>
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<i>Any info please inform at :9569601532<br />Missing date : 9th May 2015"</i></div>
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This post is from my facebook page .someone sent it to me and i dutifully sent it to others. But this confirms one of the worst nightmares for parents as well as school authorities in the current scenario. Everything which ,we once felt was sacred to building up a good school life for children is getting defeated. One of these is the school trip.</div>
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A school trip is supposed to foster bonhomie , camraderie, bring the children and the teachers closer, but are all these goals being met? Instead, there are horror stories of children getting lost , things getting stolen or, some children feeling dreary as they feel left out . In colleges too, this is happening. Just recently, we heard about a devastating freak flood that claimed the lives of a group of college students who went too close to a dam.The accident occurred because of lack of supervision.Mostly.</div>
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There are so many stories of children getting killed on the way to school or on their way back, that one would be truly shocked ,if one knew them.Just last year, a friend's son died right outside his school.He was hit by a motorcycle ,which thundered at him, in spite of the sign, " Drive Slow. School ahead."</div>
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Children studying in government schools are not privileged enough to get buses. i have often wondered why? In Delhi, some public buses run for some private schools.These are very privileged private schools. But no one accepts that the children from municipal schools also may need protection. I have seen them running in groups on the streets.in Chennai, without any shoes.In Delhi , they clamber on the roofs of public buses and in Mumbai's crowded trains many fall as they hang on to the doorway in passenger trains. </div>
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No one thinks that safety training should be a part of education. No one accepts that discipline is something to be learnt in school and then made a part of our everyday existence.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-15692063098500896982015-07-18T02:56:00.001-07:002015-07-18T02:56:56.174-07:00Women and Girls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"<b>Mine own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people"</b><div>
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These words from a favorite canticle are going to serve a purpose here. A purpose which they were not meant for but a purpose nevertheless.These lines haunt me as i give you authentic stories of the way girls are looked at.And maybe even women, the female of the species, in fact.I was sitting among parents in one of India's prestigious private universities. My son had been called for an interview and like the rest of the parents i was siting in a large hall, meeting the faculty of the respective departments.</div>
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Here, i would like to digress and talk a little about that sub species called Parents. I of course belong to the category, however with a difference.The difference is that i have been a school teacher and is an insider as far as education is concerned. But my training is barely recognized.Most people i have observed have their own views on the processes of education. Also most people refuse consultation and certainly don't accept the views of teachers.</div>
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All this was evident at this gathering.The most expected questions were about job placements and as to why the college had not advertised their clients. Graduates study for 4 years and in some courses for 5, so cam there ever be a prediction about the job markets way before that? And even if there is, it would be only a prediction, not a claim or a certainty. No one was interested in the academic principles, the courses of study, not even the kind of assignments their children would get. All that ,of course, is seen as though a punishment which the children will have to go through.</div>
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Then came the mother of all the questions.It was addressed to the head of the Msc. in Nuclear Science. A very worried voice piped up,"My daughter wants to do it.Is it a good choice for girls?" </div>
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To do him justice ,the head was stumped.I was glad that he was speechless.It meant that he hadn't thought about it. If he was glib then i would have taken him to be superficial.and that's not going to help the feminist cause. </div>
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Did the set of parents know that a lady was heading, or maybe she still is heading, India's nuclear program? or, should this be our closely guarded secret? I do hope the education of girls really grow by leaps and bounds, but what are they learning? All careers are fine but if you are in a career because of a gender bias , that harms all of us .</div>
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I do hope that all our children, both boys and girls are following their dreams but without self imposed restrictions. My own eyes ...........</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-49585713412548598892015-07-12T13:35:00.001-07:002015-07-12T13:35:33.617-07:00Women and Women<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This was my life in college...... becoming a woman ,getting to know women and being friends with them. While trying to move onto how the human mind works i am really tempted to write about my days in college. I have written about rebellion.Well we had that.Sometimes, in our country just being a woman is rebellion enough. You aren't different, you are just you but a pair of eyes seem to follow you everywhere. Sometimes the pair of eyes develop a mouth. The mouth inches closer and you are no longer what you were building yourself into- no longer the intellectual or the professional.You run for cover from the prying eyes and the slimy mouths pouting deranged lines.<br />
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So , my most vivid memory of college is the bus ride from Delhi's Jantar Mantar to Greater Kailash , thrashing at the pair of gulping eyes. Yes beating the thronging crowd to docility as a brave young woman. We took oaths to stop going to marriages where gifts had been taken, dowry was exchanged. I remember reading a lot of Beauvoire and we encouraged each other to look for jobs. Never shall we accept subjugation. Which actually meant, for us, that we would give up our daddy's cars to travel in the husband's. I was determined that this should never happen.<br />
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Spreading our wings, preparing for flight with our mothers' trying to clip those wings every single day. Who can imagine the pain of being cut down as soon as you have tried to spread your young magnificent wings ? I think imagination would fail here. Most of my male friends did not understand it at all.Except one, the one i married. In fact most of us did get married after college.So what did we do to the spirit of rebellion? We channeled it back to the family, of course. We are all virago wives, mothers and daughters. Did we contribute to the workforce? Yes, we did. Most of us just about managed the work life balance but some of us did it like a dream.<br />
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We did satisfy family. However, have we satisfied ourselves? In college we studied our courses, took interest in hobbies and were groomed to be the backbone of family. Welcome to the modern Indian woman. The system beat her by pretending that she is being taught rebellion. Actually we were being trained to conform, without us suspecting it. Cognition has nothing to do with gender. But bias will always pussyfoot around the growing woman , making her conform even when she does not suspect.<br />
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The film Mona Lisa smile is so true. Unfortunately, we never met a teacher like Julia Roberts.The lady teachers were chosen with care , they had to come from a certain background , they had to conform. Weird, but the curriculum was always one of their weapons. So we never had an art appreciation or even an art history course.As a school Principal i miss this. The efficacy of art education is so evident to everyone now.But do we have such exposure? We dont because the slimy mouth does not approve. Schools and colleges can have short Life Skills courses so that aesthetics is a reality for everyone.<br />
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Will this tackle the crime rate? will it create more jobs? I can see the mouth working furiously. Frankly, let all this be rhetorical. Let's just sincerely offer youth Education in it's full sense , as promised.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-37741104970903405062015-07-11T09:51:00.001-07:002015-07-11T09:51:46.934-07:00IndYeah : the country's history of education<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Most of us don't know much about India's history of education.At present, i would like to touch upon the beginnings of western education as sponsored by the British and modern times.For us in India today this is most important to understand the true relevance of what is really the problem. The problem, let me say at the outset has nothing to do with ancient India or any of it its systems.The problems which are evident in education today are created very recently and are largely a result of a phenomenon i term as <b>poverty of the mind. </b><br />
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This was and could only have been a result of being a slave country and colonial policy. The breakdown of a certain cultural structure, the trauma of losing faith in one's language brings about poor thinking, deranged thinking even and a whole nation suffers from the poverty of the mind. India has been accused of being superstitious, of believing in hobgoblins. Who wouldn't blame a society which watched a small girl being thrown on the burning pyre of her dead husband?<br />
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However, this deranged thought process has a reason. That reason is relevant even today. Lack of self-esteem. That is the global phenomenon that Indians all over the country suffered from and still suffer from. From this underlying cause springs the black falls of poverty of the mind. The antidote lies in education as intervention and not mere literacy or in the pursuit of technical skills as we still see education as.<br />
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Way back in the early 19th century when Macaulay's system of education forced our children into stuffy shirts and English alphabets, some colleges were also opened as the British needed clerical staff to run the government. Indians, needed jobs. Some of us, however, resisted. My maternal grandfather was one of them. He studied political science from Presidency college but refused to work under the British. What he was doing was to delink degrees from jobs, something we still haven't achieved.<br />
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H came back to his village,Runshi, opening a small school for the village children. The village schoolmaster was soon forced to marry one of his tomboyish pupils.He remained her Guru, however, and my grandmother graduated in English Literature from Dacca university under his care.They brought in the flavour of English romanticism in that village corner, so that, years later, i could feel it's heady scent and followed it in defiance of a technical education.<br />
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This spirit of rebellion is not peculiar to my grandparents alone. This was the flavor then, as Indian youth tried to understand modernity within a traditional context. I am sure most of us such stories tucked away somewhere. When India became free these rebels came forward to lead the country. The colleges were flush with idealism.<br />
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Our parents had difficult childhoods.Society was in transition and they had no clue as to where they would be as adults.But the spirit of rebellion continued and flavored college education. The very rich would go abroad for their studies. The middle class went to the colleges opened by the British.My stepfather attended Banaras Hindu University or BHU, a symbol of national aspirations.It was an institution built by Indians for India. A bastion of ancient culture BHU instilled the kind of confidence in him that took him from a remote village in Bihar to Prague ,addressing the labor unions.<br />
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We saw all this , were affected by it but our mantra was austerity. Our parents were not ready to shell out too much for a fancy education.My husband and his sisters entered government colleges to study medicine.Ever the rebel i took up a course in English Literature in a private college.It was a tad expensive but the spoken language was tolerable. Then we had a comfortable ladies hostel and a fully functioning library which was open late evenings. An unheard of luxury those days.<br />
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Perhaps it was us who ushered in the era of private colleges and universities. It was certainly us, the debonair private scholars who patronized MBA or management education.Some of us went abroad and most of us girls decided to work. Braving well meaning aunts, mothers, possessive fathers and lady teachers we wanted to do everything. We smoked, we fought, we spoke to boys and broke all taboos. It was necessary. We felt that the onus of being change makers was on us. Privileged girls. We had to show the way out of harassing in laws, dowry deaths and a host of things our deranged society forced on the young people.<br />
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We also fought through the issue of reservations. Some of us were for it others weren't but the fight was important. There was still rebellion. My grandparents rebellion, my stepfathers' rebellion and my own. Indian colleges fostered all this while still trying to plod on with Macaulay's justification for college degrees: cushy jobs.<br />
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Now What? The colleges are numerous , some are private and affiliated to foreign universities. But the youth do not rebel. Macaulay looms large. Most of us just want our children to get a job , preferably escape the country. They have forgotten the pain of slavery or maybe, poverty of the mind has numbed them. They have erased revolution.Instead, the young people are resorting to cheating, happily paying for seats in colleges or tamely going to private universities. The colleges are bigger, smarter but i look on with horror at the failure of all rebellion.There will be no myth making anymore and our sons and daughters will not blow their bugles for war. I applause the colonial culture for it has been tenacious, it has won.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-36479080895735888522015-07-11T09:01:00.001-07:002015-07-11T09:01:18.871-07:00The parliament of crows<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Borrowing a phrase from classical writers i would term the next experience as "the Parliament of Crows". I will spare the fowls as they are hardworking birds which give us our real food these days.Let's have a simile in that urban phenomenon, so common in Delhi, where i am at present, the crow. The creature braves all things urban ,namely, electrocution, manhandling, starvation and the weird rains of delhi, which are capricious at best. Just like them, the youngsters look when they gather for their interviews for admission to undergraduate seats,in one of the private universities of Delhi.<br />
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They were all sitting in a huge comfortable room sizing each other up. My son, too, after his harrowing ordeal at a private medical college was there.He wanted to be considered for a seat in architecture. A girl sobbed as she came out of the interview for the medical physiology course. Another looked worried so my son coached her somewhat.After all he used to have aspirations for medicine.Once. She was really happy as the questions asked were a little tougher than expected.<br />
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Then there was the geek whose parents wanted him to do architecture while he wanted the predictable computer science engineering. He had a good score in the architecture aptitude test. But his genius gained recognition. I watched all the young ones indulgently. Parents are not always self centered maniacs driving their kids up the wall.The geek's parents, obviously wanted to give him a creative break but the geek was not up to it. He wanted the challenge of long hours.<br />
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I watched as all of them turned into 18 year olds and spoke happily to each other about their dreams and aspirations. I watched my son's eyes turn cheerful once again as he went for his interview. There were no more fears in this world, no harassment or donations. Yes, fees in some of these private universities are high.But are they really for a privileged few? or are they for discerning parents who care for their children? We are ready to forgo all pleasures and make drastic cuts in the home finances so that our children can go to a real college.<br />
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Yes, if we think about it ,that is what it has come to.The government system has failed us totally. Some of the private medical colleges are setting a trend that can benefit just a privileged few. For most of us, tax payers ,the choice is limited to a few private universities and colleges who have tied up with universities abroad to strengthen their courses. I would say that they have restored youth back to the nation. Is it too much for a teenager to ask to safely go to college? without his parents getting harassed or his being murdered?<br />
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My son came back beaming from the interview.They had really grilled him.They also said that he could be a good doctor but hey, maybe that would be a loss for architecture. His lecturers had showed interest in his blog and said that his photography portfolio was terrific. Private universities. May their tribes increase....... As the parliament folded ,once again i decided to turn back to Kaku's theory......</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-11482745806780978922015-07-09T02:18:00.000-07:002015-07-09T02:18:15.823-07:00He is not even 18 yet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Much as i would love to discuss theory and of course, kaku's contribution to the Physics class, i cannot help but ponder on the scams in education that are a part and parcel of Indian life. Ask any set of middle aged parents in India and they will tell you how worried they are about their children's college education. The whole of the college scene is a dismal ,sleazy world dominated by goons.<br />
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One would think that education is the least likely o fields to have sensationalism rear it's ugly head but here, you cannot escape it. The stories connected with higher education are full of murder, tales of underhand dealings and the reality makes bollywood dramas look like primary school plays.As far as western education is concerned, India is a fairly young country. Most of our colleges have opened post independence and so higher education is just about 70 years old.<br />
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Colleges favoring humanities were the first to open. Technical education also began after the British left. Most doctors and lawyers would have to make a trip to the UK or Germany to get trained. However, things changed and by the 90s we had full fledged institutions. But instead of training brilliant students who would be an asset to the country, these institutions became the hot bed of politics and the exploitation of students is a saga that Indians today, should be ashamed of.<br />
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The common admission tests are all in the hands of goons whose duty it is to arrange mass irregularities in the selection process. Each day we wade through newspaper reports that go into gory details. Such details which would frighten any parent or any adolescent. In the long lists of such scams murder is also being added.<br />
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Worse, it's not only the children who want to pass in the usual way that are hit.Those whose parents arrange for an admission through a financial arrangement suffer most. Some of them are murdered if the scam comes to light. Some are harassed for more money through out the course of their studies. Recently, i went to a reputed private medical college for my son's admission. They took a test and on finding him suitable invited me in a special study to confer with the director.<br />
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Silently, the man gave his calculator and said,"Madam, please deposit this amount in cash by next week for the offer of admission." I peered in to the device to see ,by my standards at least, a huge sum in Indian rupees. I managed to croak," Can i give this amount in a cheque or bank transfer?"<br />
The man smiled indulgently and said""No, cash only." A phrase which has become so common in India nowadays that i have my doubts about our banks.Are they for show or they too have a hand in fostering this malpractice through the loans that they give out so readily?<br />
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But nothing had prepared me for my son's reaction. "No, mummy we musn't pay them.' he murmured. Still i ventured," Maybe we should ,after all it's your future we have to think of. ' What is he thinking of ? i wondered, is it heroism or too much honesty or is he feeling guilty about it.<br />
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Then he looked up and i saw the terror in his eyes."No mummy, don't even think of leaving me to study here, alone, with these goons." That's when pity , not just for my son but all of them, our children, my students welled up in me. What have they done to deserve this terror? He hasn't even turned 18 yet.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-37162773578272198402015-06-15T23:54:00.001-07:002015-07-01T22:34:22.436-07:00The mind and us<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Reading Michio Kaku's book on the human mind is a real eye-opener. Effortlessly he gets rid of previous paraphernalia that maybe proving to be a nuisance to a clear thinking in your mind. The poem ,The Road not taken is similar in vein to this process of cleansing of the mind.<br />
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In the poem the poet refers to the road as a metaphor for that which he might want in life.as he stood at a crossroads, hoping for a clear direction he got his answer.He chose the road which is "less traveled by". This is indeed attractive and for people like me hoping for less claustrophobic ways to travel it can appear attractive. A road does not just take you to a destination.As you travel it becomes your life.<br />
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It shapes your thinking and sometimes if the journey has been a night mare, it can also raise apprehensions about going further or, going back. All these possibilities are an integral part of humdrum life.Somehow i have also interpreted this poem to mean that the road you take may not be as important for the destination is the same,whichever road you may have taken.<br />
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Michio Kaku says confidently that any kind of sixth sense or paranormal abilities are unnecessary as the mysteries of the universe can be understood by our native intelligence. What are the implications in education in all this? how does it affect the class room situation? This is extremely important for the classroom in my muse. I began writing this blog to clear my own dilemma about my aim in life.<br />
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After all, often in life the clutter gets to us.We forget what our compulsions are. COMPULSIONS. A very interesting word, indeed.It somehow defines us. It is different from goals.While goals can be set and are largely, externally set, compulsions are more inward.In the humdrum of life we tend to disregard them.But i feel if we can stay in touch with the inner self, we will understand these delicate attitudes that actually define us.<br />
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So, for me it's always a tiny voice asking me : will this work in the classroom? If it will how will it work? As i read Kaku i will write about the educational implications of his thoughts.I hope it will be a very interesting read............</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-81464742467420040702015-05-28T03:12:00.000-07:002015-05-28T03:12:55.145-07:00Moving from good to great<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The question of competitive examinations is always on our minds.Is it good or bad? should we go for standardised testing?<br />
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The issue, according to me, is not so much about skills but about endurance.The entrance tests in India are certainly to test endurance ,the patience of the public and the innocence of our children.Months of anxiety precede the circus that these tests have become. I would even venture to say ,that the anxiety could be of a thousand years.<br />
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Sometimes i have this quirky feeling that parents in India miss out on the giggles of their offspring.Maybe they just stare at it wondering whether they will make it in any of the entrance exams.Babies ,i have a feeling are judged entirely on an imaginary idea of success .Do they have a chance against prejudice? Will they ever be able to prove their mettle their individuality?<br />
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Standardized testing,again, has it's drawbacks.Has anyone ever thought about those who can't get through an academic program successfully because of developmental delay? They too have to go through a process of assessment.<br />
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Somehow, this does not involve the artistic process. However,as Howard Gradner keeps insisting development is as integral to the artistic process as hormones are to sexual development.Which means that artistic development,the level of it achieved can truely reveal a child's development and it's potential for further growth.Then why do we disregard it ? why isn't the creative process in children left out of assessment? Standardized tests etc? Is it because most of us would rather ignore the potential given to us to move from being good to great ?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-3909005028464757112015-05-06T07:10:00.000-07:002015-07-01T22:35:03.950-07:00These are a few of my favorite things<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My school life was, apart from being delicious, full of songs and the sound of music.I awoke each day to the sound of tinkling bells ,rung by the matron. After that came the lilting sound of the piano.The dulcet tunes beckoned us for morning assembly everyday. The lords' prayer was repeated to the music of the piano daily.<br />
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The assembly ,now that i remember it ,was full of the joie d vivre of fresh life.It was an experience one could not forget. An experience to remember, an experience to cherish. Like most mortals i took it for granted. Many times i tried to slip out of it.Trying to miss assembly was one of my endeavors.<br />
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But most of the times i was caught and put back among the cheerful faces that lined Lawrence hall, the everyday venue of the assembly. Lawrence hall is legend among Martinians. Our dances, assembly, special assemblies were all held here. Memories of good cheer flow over me like waves of the sea.Here is where i was initiated in life.<br />
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Life was lived to the full.One can see from my recall that there was no dearth of sensory stimulation. Something that most educationists believe in. lack of sensory stimulation can lead to developmental delay in children. Cramming, thought to be such an integral part of education , is the opposite of sensory stimulation.However, to commit anything to memory,one needs to be receptive.<br />
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Sensory stimulation ensures that memory is enhanced. Research proves that whatever constitutes happiness is well remembered. To learn well we need to connect the learning situation with pleasure.<br />
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Happy memories need not be only those spent on the beach with family. A child's learning situation can be full of happiness and with the aid of sensory stimulation happy children are well on their way to be successful, well adjusted adults.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-58343920311082447822015-05-03T06:29:00.000-07:002015-07-01T22:35:28.979-07:00It's a girls' life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Sigh ,it's a girls life</b>.<b> </b>Prancing in my dancing shoes all day, i would repeat this phrase every minute every day of my school life.The majority of which was spent in La Martiniere ,Calcutta. It means the line of martinians and is a reference to Claude Martin our generous french benefactor. We hailed his name in our school song. Even today, i hail his name for making my girlhood days so delicious.<br />
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Many may wonder at this word.Is it appropriate to term the experience of schooling as delicious? But the flavors of my school is the first thing i remember. First , the tinkling of the matrons' bell as we arose in the morning. As we thundered down a spiral staircase to the dining hall the fresh smell of waffles, sandwiches , fried eggs would greet us.<br />
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Breakfast was gobbled , chewed upon and splattered as we dug in to delicious home made jam. One little Anglo-Indian lady would make the jams for us.what is school life without home made jam eaten with big spoons on large slices of home made bread? I had just entered my teens and my mother would restrict sweets.<br />
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But in school we were encouraged to eat. Pimples notwithstanding, we ate jams,jellies, candy to our heart's content.I really pity the girls on television who hide their faces because there is a pimple on it. I salute the martinian temper where woman power was celebrated and we grew up imagining ourselves far superior to the boys who attended the boys school ,just across the road.<br />
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Founders' day was full of the same gusto for food. A day before we were treated to the most fragrant biryani. It used to be cooked in the premises.As a result the boarders would be taking a peek every now and then. We would report every spice that found its way in the pots to our day scholar pals.<br />
Finally the biryani day would come and fill us with a beautiful aroma.We were proud to be martinians.<br />
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Founders day lunch was always special. Continental style preparations gave us an insight of a culture which seemed different from our homes. The flavors were,sometimes, really exotic.This whetted our appetite for school. I think this factor is really significant. Should the flavors of school be delectable enough to attract students? i hope the answer is a overwhelming YES</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-87661500181043374062015-05-01T21:18:00.001-07:002015-07-01T22:36:06.570-07:00All those who wander are not lost<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In my last post i was talking about a solution to regular schooling.When do we look for an alternative? We look for an alternative when the current situation does not suit us. Numerous instances of drop outs have not sensitized us to the dangers of traditional schooling.Dropping out of a system which no longer works for you is a fairly reasonable demand.However, most of us would rather not.<br />
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There are many reasons for not opting out of the traditional system. Chances are we are also stuck in a rut ,trying to go with the majority. My reference is to institutions which all of us want to be a part of ,even if they are unsuitable. In this millieu there are surprises.People have opted for different schooling and home schooling is one of them.<br />
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As soon as i suggest this there will be voices raised in alarm.However, there really is no need for this.Home schooling is a viable alternative ,in many instances when traditional schooling methods have failed for the individual. Many of us know about Thomas Addison who was rejected by his teacher. His mother, however, continued his education at home.<br />
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In some societies, this was not considered so path breaking. India's elite ,at the time of British rule preferred to study at home with progressive tutors.my grandmother who was denied the right to education ,being a child bride was taught by her husband and later, tutors and cleared her graduation from Dacca university.<br />
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A very encouraging example is that of DR.Ranjit Singh,who is Head of Pulmonary diseases in the renowned Christian Medical college, Vellore. He passed his matric examinations in 1985 and till then was educated at home. Inspired by his mother, Ranjit studied at home.His first teacher was his mother. In all that he did he acknowledges her inspiration and his guidance.<br />
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They were not in a village for Ranjit's father worked in Tata Steel and lived in Jamshedpur.This is one of the most remarkable cities in eastern India. Perhaps. for Ranjit's mother, the general environment of the city was encouraging. There are a lot of educated people there , hailing from different parts of the country.This multi cultural tradition is, in itself quite an experience.<br />
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The reason for accepting home schooling is that Ranjit was a precocious child. He disagreed with most of his teachers .Probably they considered him rude and ill mannered. Ranjit is no home bound eccentric though.He is athletic , loved to create a ruckus and had a gang. Unable to respect his teachers or,the school system , he learnt at home with his mother.<br />
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If Ranjit had continued schooling would he be delinquent? there are numerous instances of precocious children abandoning studies altogether. Those with an inquisitive mind often find the atmosphere in conventional classrooms regressive with the result that many drop out or, turn into very average students.<br />
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Ranjit, meanwhile, grew up to be a doctor. He does chuckle at people who predicted that he would never make it. What surprises me most is Ranjit ,actually , realised the great middle class dream.Of being a doctor. His unconventional upbringing did not hamper his career pursuits. In fact it strengthened it.<br />
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This is a true story and i will try to bring such stories which will guide us and help us to take decisions which affect our education.After all, the male sparrow is facing the challenge of extinction but he is sticking to his choice of the balcony. Point Taken about survival of the fittest?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-83328255060694201982015-04-28T04:53:00.000-07:002015-04-28T04:53:47.219-07:00implications of REM sleep<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>To sleep, perchance to dream. As the celebrated bard has taug</b>ht us, sleep is essential in determining dreams and dreams make us. It is a wonderful ability, the skill to dream.I truly believe that it is a part of the innate talent in man's creative abilities that ensures that he dreams. And dreams have led all of us on. The starry eyed hope that fresh dreams bring into our lives is a direct result of REM sleep.<br />
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REM or rapid eye movement ensures dreams and a deep,quality sleep that leads to intellectual development. I am mostly interested in education.Educating the child is important to an educationist.Most experts in sleep maintain that REM sleep is essential.Children should be allowed to sleep from 11pm to 7 am in the morning.That is when the deep REM sleep takes over.<br />
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Ye olde dictum of burning the midnight oil may not be such a good idea after all. This is so much a part of schooling that believes in habit formation that most teens are made to go through the grind of studying late at night.Next to junk food, this habit can also lead to obesity.The educational implications are also clear. Those who get their full dose of REM sleep, are more likely to achieve their educational dreams.<br />
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This also speaks volumes about the traditional approach of "early bed to and early to rise".Although i am not aware of research that proves the contrary is true most sleep researchers do insist that REM sleep is essential and is best in the wee morning hours.As children are told to improve their mathematical abilities daily we should also let them sleep.<br />
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In India ,traditional schooling has ensured that children get into habit formation mode by waking up early to please their elders and school authorities. Is it really beneficial? In my next post i will suggest a way out.Of course it is just a mere suggestion but many will find it useful.<br />
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Meanwhile the male sparrow returned with a pretty mate. He still dislikes my balcony ,preferring my neighbor's. I watched them frolick . This is one stud i truly appreciate and i hope that his progeny grows.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-60539537319855311882015-04-20T23:58:00.000-07:002015-07-01T22:36:45.407-07:00Songbirds and what we learn from them<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I would like to get back to the subject of bird songs. The facts which arise from a research on their processes is of course, very interesting ,as they are well researched by doyens like Howard Gardner. Earlier , we have discussed the process of making and now , we will discuss the process of <b> perceiving.</b><br />
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Many have accused the human being to suffer from a lack of perception. As we sit enshrined on our couches we tend to trap ourselves in the alternate reality offered by the all important television. Roaming the world of make believe we miss the fight between the crows.Which bloodbath is only seen to be believed. We have missed the sea of humanity which passed our windows ,each a novel in itself.<br />
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The perceiving system concerns those things in the environment to which the organism is sensitive. How sensitive are we to our environment? This blog is about education and how man has put his all in a system which in modern parlance he calls the knowledge world. Perception or perceiving is an important part of educating the human mind.<br />
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Birds sing.They sing very sweetly ,but so do we. Why do we sing? If we don't ,for some of us can't or won't , we listen to others sing. Singing is also a way of communication for us.Like the birds we like to convey. What do we convey? Our feelings.This is the third part of the process. So making, perceiving, feeling are the three processes which Gardner calls the three systems.<br />
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How about feelings? i hope it will be interesting when i delve into the world of feelings to surface again with the pearls which will convince us that memory, the key of application benefits if we consider the world of<b> feelings.</b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-66566153610981101582015-04-20T09:50:00.003-07:002015-07-01T22:37:16.401-07:00blowing in the wind<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Raindrops on roses and</b>whiskers on kittens...... my heart hummed in the weekend as i tripped off to kolkata nee calcutta, city of my childhood. Does it really matter where you were educated? which is the way to school? Is it through a meadow or a dark frightening street? Everyday as you dragged yourself to school what exactly did you see? On the way?<br />
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Do we even consider these questions when we think about educating children or people? This blog is about education and i am trying to bridge the gap between reality and theory. Theoreticians are accused of missing reality , so i feel that i must write in a way that all of us can think about. Those of us who are thinking can really now have more to think about.<br />
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I went to school in kolkata. Being a boarder, my life was confined to the ancient school building which is a heritage building. Those days La Martiniere for girls boasted a green lawn. On the other side was busy Lansdowne.In the midst of Mary Poppins and Mariah's antics we managed to hang on to our very Indian roots.<br />
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I still dont know how they did it. Calcutta is a maverick city so i guess, it came rather naturally. So we played the piano and fought over football and gorged on flury's cakes and rum balls. Those were the flavors of my education. The indulgence of a life rich with music, songs ,poetry mingled with the guilt of poverty which hid itself in every corner of my poor country. I have retained the enthusiasm for art.<br />
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Sensory stimulation is an integral part of the process of education. We tend to retain that knowledge which we can apply easily. application and understanding is helped by memory to a large extent. Which is why, it is so important to know the sensory world around you and within you.<br />
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Kolkata to me is the universe that lies within me. As i sat in the airport , toying with filter coffee fellow Bihari Dr Ranjit came along. He added sleep as an important stimulus. Sleep tends to help us recover difficult facts. I quipped," Are you talking about active sleep? I thought that was possible only when we are 6 feet under."<br />
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Dr.Ranjit smiled his enigmatic smile.Inching towards the security check for his connecting flight to chennai , he quipped," sleep is the only essential.' I have decided to incorporate various conversations about this phenomenon affecting education between us. It will be an absolute eye -opener for all.<br />
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On the way back i bumped into Shashi Tharoor. I simply gawked at him . He is , for me at least one of the best writers in Indian English writing and being an ardent fan of his the rest is irrelevant. This chance encounter was certainly a stimulant for an adult ,such as me. I am glad that i can and sometimes will, be an ardent fan of someone. Shashi Tharoor looked every bit the dapper gentleman that he appears like in print.Coupled with that is the gamine charm. I looked and felt every bit like the prize idiotic fan. I wallowed in my admiration, literally.<br />
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Very few people look exactly like their posters ,so i guess, that's another thing to admire in him.Trying to fit in my bulk in my seat i muttered one of his famous phrases. Cattle class. That's what economy travel is all about. Thanks Shashi. You have given me a word stimulus which will help me cope.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-34366687075639493882015-04-14T23:59:00.000-07:002015-07-01T22:37:45.505-07:00Making a little nest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The male sparrow has not come back since. It has been some days since i last saw him and i am missing his trills. Experts say that the calls of birds have a narrow message content.So Twitter is rather an apt name for an extremely limited social forum. getting back to the topic of birds. Their songs, say experts lack the varied reference of individual moods. The bird songs are discussed in relation to artistic development by Gardner because they are intricate.<br />
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Artistic development is also rather intricate.Gardner points out that there are three systems that mark development and are common to human and animal life.These systems are: making, perceiving and feeling. The first system, termed the making system is all about the "schemes" the animal can perform. This word used by Gardner is rather intriguing.The schematic planning in animals seems of interest for to create something we need to have a plan, a scheme. This schematic planning is evident in nature.<br />
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Sometimes, i wonder, whether an aberration or, moving away from the scheme is creativity. Is art an expression of the inherent scheme or is it a moving away? Watching little children and animals give us an answer. I am still searching for the answer.<br />
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Surely, the warblers are creative. Maybe they are simply conveying something mundane to their kin , but to human ears the bird song is music. That is , sensory stimulation , an all important ingredient for development is available to us.Meanwhile it almost noon and i can hear the deafening sounds of vehicles crossing my street.<br />
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In India, traffic rules are bureaucratic and no one worries about sound pollution brought about by vehicles.Except when one has to pay the price. Children may turn deaf, the old may get disturbed but the long line of raucous vehicles will wend their way through the city. Will this kind of sensory stimulus help? Oxygen joined the Patna traffic police bid to curb horn honks. We should all think of joining in.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-63170447896437411802015-04-14T02:24:00.001-07:002015-07-01T22:38:18.447-07:00Bird songs and what they teach us<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My next post would be about the warblers and the educational implications of bird songs. I am taking a leaf from Gardner's famous book. But i have shelved this discussion on reading the news.In yesterday's newspaper, there was another report on the current government's stand on the issue of child labor.<br />
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This time the news item did not make it to the front pages.It was tucked away in the middle pages somewhere. From the report it was clear that the amendments to the child labor laws are in the offing.They are going to be enforced even though activists are apprehensive.<br />
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It's not as though the laws against child labor are very old and archaic. They had just become a reality after a long hard struggle. The present government's stance seems really strange.Their proposal is that the parents should not be jailed if found guilty of not sending their children to school.<br />
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This looks more like self preservation than anything else.After all, there aren't many primary schools, in India. Transport facilities for those going to government schools is non existent. Parents would be amazed if they are jailed under these circumstances. Chances are the major blame would be on the Government.<br />
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Many would argue that laws and their enforcement should depend on the facilities provided. That is first children should be provided with schools then labor law can be put in force.This sort of argument is self defeating. For laws clear the way for change. They are supreme catalysts which can help realise dreams.<br />
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Just like the songs of birds. You may love the warblings, the soft sounds. They will warm up your hearts. However, if you understand the reasons behind the songs, the mechanics of the process, you know that the birds have a purpose to achieve. Legislation in child labor is very similar.My wish is that the songs should be allowed to be written, to be sung and the curtains may raise on a new dawn.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-74094951034092338402015-04-11T22:25:00.001-07:002015-07-01T22:39:03.808-07:00Tra la la la<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Going back to the sparrows, one loves to hear chirps. Bird songs are loved by all of us. The deafening din of the traffic outside does drown out their voices though. Every morning a male sparrow hops in to inspect the balconies. Mine is bereft of a garden.<br />
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My small herb garden is on a landing space just outside the door. The sparrows are not keen on this space. Every morning i await their chirps and hide to take a snap. Alas! every morning i fail to take a snapshot.<br />
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The sparrows are here also because of our family friend who has a huge garden. The old mango trees in his extensive garden hides the black koel. It's spring here in Patna and the koel sings as the mangoes ripen. In the middle of such claustrophobic traffic, we have created glimpses of heaven.<br />
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Since compromise is a way of life i am thrilled with the trills that my neighborhood has to oHffer. The noted psychologist Howard Gradner differs though in his opinion of bird songs. He agrees that we equate these songs with music. It is also a popular thought that the songs are love calls. But gardner points out that they are, in fact, an announcement<br />
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Through the songs the birds declare that a certain territory is occupied. Talk about charisma! According to Gardner ," Bird song is at most communication of a set of predetermined messages, and the song itself is rather narrowly fixed." However, it's intricacy qualifies it for consideration of artistic expression and Gardner agrees that they should get due attention.<br />
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What do we learn from bird songs? According to contemporary psychology studies an immense lot.Meanwhile the bull sparrow is back and i think he may want to confer with me as i am his new landlady.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-52198775752420667812015-04-11T06:51:00.001-07:002015-07-01T22:39:31.868-07:00Those who help us<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I would like to talk about some people or groups who are carrying on the work in education quietly.One such organisation is Oxygen a students' movement.It has a branch in Delhi and Ranchi. I was introduced to them by default.<br />
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However, i am really glad to have been there and i consider myself an integral part of this movement. Their door is wide open for anyone to walk in and breathe the air on education.I agree with the motto which they propagate," Let's make education the biggest issue."<br />
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That's my sentiment. Bingo. The debates which the young people conduct themselves are an eye opener. There is a lot to learn for it reflects the true situation of the urban student. For the movement is a little restricted to the students in the city.<br />
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Patna is a strange mix of traditional values and modernity. Mostly, there is a latent cynicism in the air. So oxygen seemed like a little oasis in the midst of all this darkness. I have a lot to learn from them , including typing in Hindi.<br />
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Isn't that liberating? There is no end to training and if i feel a sense of relief that i too can catch up, surely it will benefit the youth so much more.For those of you who are interested the news letter is available on their website:<br />
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www.oxygen4students.com.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801354611129652495.post-21862880616665484392015-04-11T02:56:00.002-07:002015-07-01T22:39:59.415-07:00Freud and us<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Although developmental scientists have diverse theories, the artistic developmental theory proposed by Howard Gardner has it's foundations in the psychoanalytical traditions. Freud's psychoanalysis is linked to the emotional and affective in the human psyche.<br />
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However, as Howard Gardner points out Freud totally disregarded children.To him they were just miniature adults. Gardner has taken child development seriously and his theory on artistic development, shared by many psychologists, takes the whole issue of development and developmental delays to the next level.<br />
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Although there has been psychological studies in aesthetics ,psychoanalysis offers the correct perspective in this.By arts we mean visual arts , music , dance creative writing. For sometime, however, i would like to discuss the visual arts only.<br />
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The visual arts or fine arts as people call it is especially helpful in mapping both artistic achievement an developmental issues.As Goethe famously said " growth is not development." a simple fact which all of us, parents, teachers ,policy makers all seem to forget.<br />
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It is heartening to know, though, that a few of us have not forgotten. The oxygen movement in Patna is staying true to education by enabling children to learn art. Their doors are open to anyone who might walk in. Volunteers facilitate the learning process The children as well as their art teachers make wonderful gifts. I bought a few last time i was there.<br />
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The Oxygen movement is a reminder that inspiration is the true light of wisdom. There is a basic instinct that tells us that the expression of creativity is so crucial to the human imagination.Deep down, we know how important it is. Yet, like most of our lives the natural takes a back seat and that which is superficial gains in importance.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07277891346255535210noreply@blogger.com0