Friday, July 18th
The first school we visit in Bengaluru is absolutely amazing. While my westernized eyes are first struck by the simplicity of its setting and comparatively simple resources, I come to realize that these educators are immersed in an experiment of epic proportion.
When we arrive, we are first welcomed by athletes playing a most challenging game of "kho kho," a fast paced test of speed, agility, and pure grit. To learn more about it, follow this link:
Kho Kho (கோ கோ)
Upon our arrival and greetings, the coach informs us that kho kho is better than any other for increasing a person's agility and speed. Fresh off of the World Cup games, I am skeptical but determined to keep an open mind.
The children were amazing players and after a while (and with substantial help from Jesse) I began to understand the nuances of the game. The kids were delighted when Jesse, Laura, Anastasia, and Emily decide to join them in a round.
Kho kho not only demands the skills of other sports - it demands that you display them while playing barefoot on a rocky field! Despite our teachers' substantial athletic abilities and valiant efforts, they are summarily tagged out by their young opponents. It is eye-opening and I am thinking that our U.S. PE teachers and coaches might want to consider kho kho as a spectacular conditioning exercise for their charges....
And the school's approach to academics is an eye opener, as well. Their web page can be found at this link: The Purnapramati School, Centre for Integrated Learning
We enter the school with little understanding of India's educational structures - that program will be occurring the following day. But we are immediately struck by the warmth and caring exhibited between faculty and students, and the fact that these classes are phenomenally student-driven. The first class I observe is one where students are being taught Sanskrit. Notice that he sits on the floor with the students, as they engage in their learning.
My understanding of the philosophy that was shared with us by faculty members is probably oversimplified, but here it is: At the Purnapramati School, teachers facilitate in the process of students pursuing learning. And the platform for their learning is a tapestry of three strands:
Every year brings a new theme around which student learning is built - this year's theme was the rivers of India. We are impressed by a video of a traditional dance choreographed collaboratively, and danced by the students, that illustrates the conflicts inherent in industrialization and the desire to preserve the rivers.
My big takeaway for today? We are struggling with many of the same educational issues that our colleagues in India are. We recognize that a student-driven, collaborative classroom has more meaning and relevance then one that is dominated by a "sage on the stage," where the teacher acts as a dispenser of knowledge. But an authentic student-driven classroom requires robust staffing and more material resources - something that is clearly a universal need in education...
The first school we visit in Bengaluru is absolutely amazing. While my westernized eyes are first struck by the simplicity of its setting and comparatively simple resources, I come to realize that these educators are immersed in an experiment of epic proportion.
When we arrive, we are first welcomed by athletes playing a most challenging game of "kho kho," a fast paced test of speed, agility, and pure grit. To learn more about it, follow this link:
Kho Kho (கோ கோ)
Upon our arrival and greetings, the coach informs us that kho kho is better than any other for increasing a person's agility and speed. Fresh off of the World Cup games, I am skeptical but determined to keep an open mind.
The children were amazing players and after a while (and with substantial help from Jesse) I began to understand the nuances of the game. The kids were delighted when Jesse, Laura, Anastasia, and Emily decide to join them in a round.
And the school's approach to academics is an eye opener, as well. Their web page can be found at this link: The Purnapramati School, Centre for Integrated Learning
We enter the school with little understanding of India's educational structures - that program will be occurring the following day. But we are immediately struck by the warmth and caring exhibited between faculty and students, and the fact that these classes are phenomenally student-driven. The first class I observe is one where students are being taught Sanskrit. Notice that he sits on the floor with the students, as they engage in their learning.
My understanding of the philosophy that was shared with us by faculty members is probably oversimplified, but here it is: At the Purnapramati School, teachers facilitate in the process of students pursuing learning. And the platform for their learning is a tapestry of three strands:
- the traditional culture
- the natural world
- the spiritual
Every year brings a new theme around which student learning is built - this year's theme was the rivers of India. We are impressed by a video of a traditional dance choreographed collaboratively, and danced by the students, that illustrates the conflicts inherent in industrialization and the desire to preserve the rivers.
My big takeaway for today? We are struggling with many of the same educational issues that our colleagues in India are. We recognize that a student-driven, collaborative classroom has more meaning and relevance then one that is dominated by a "sage on the stage," where the teacher acts as a dispenser of knowledge. But an authentic student-driven classroom requires robust staffing and more material resources - something that is clearly a universal need in education...
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