Text book culture in schools

I have sharing my learning experience in visited Karnataka government school. In that school there was a primary and high school section in one campus. When I reached there all the children were standing, talking and playing with their groups before started assembly, by 9:30 assembly started, I observe that there was same pattern of assembly, like any other school, children standing in a queue when they doing prayer. I saw there was a separate queue, for those children who coming late, we understood they were punished for late coming.

I talked to principal about the school; she told us the 1 acre land for school donated by a person. She said, in high school 612 students are enrolled, and mostly 60% children came from SC and ST caste background and they have low socio economic background. She told about classrooms, she said that each class is having three sections (8th, 9th and 10th). The school is Kannada medium, 180 rupees annual fee only for boys and girls do not pay any kind of money, they are getting free education, also school provide them free uniform, free textbook, mid-day meal and scholarships. If Students from SC-ST background getting more than 60% marks then they are eligible for scholarship of 5000 rupees annum. This school is following state curriculum.

Setting of school:  This school has small compound, there is three building, two old buildings and one building is newly constructed, which is used for primary classes. During our visit we observe, the school has lack of space for playground and classes. There is a small ground where assembly goes on and children using that open space for playing. There were 1200 students studying including both primary and high school classes. I realise that there is huge difference between teacher students ratio. one teacher behind 75 students.  

We observe two classes of ninth standard first was Hindi class and second was English class.

 class observation- 

I observe a ninth standard Hindi class, first three things observe in beginning, there was huge strength of 75 students in class, it was very congested class, girls and boys sitting in separate places, ratio of girls and boys were equal but girls were more shy compare with boys. Teacher has played a role of Ringmaster. She was not trying to build constructive atmosphere for students. She teaches only those things which was written in their text book, not tried to use children knowledge and experience about particular subject. In our curriculum class we had learnt about Textbook culture, I directly connected and saw that culture in this classroom. Teacher fully depend on textbook, she read lesson without expressions and randomly asked some students for reading text after her reading. One interesting thing we observe that, Hindi teacher was not familiar with Hindi language she has Kannada language background, so that’s why she was told false and wrong meaning of some words to children. I felt during our observation, she asked only those four or five students who can read and speak better. 

After the class I talked  with teacher about her lesson plan and what difficulties she facing in everyday teaching. She said big problem is strength of class, she not able to concentrate ever students. She makes lesson plan of every lesson before each class. 

English class observation- 

That was interesting class, teacher tried to make the class interesting with use of some activities. The chapter she taught that was Secret of Happiness, so she not started with only textbook, rather ask to students when you are feel happy, students given many answers about happiness. During the open discussion some students said about joint and single family issue.  Then she makes two groups one group was said about in favour of joint family and other one was with single family, both groups were discussed about the topic. That was interesting debate and technique used by her. After that she started to teach lesson from textbook.

These activities make connection students with chapter and topic, students knows lot of things about that topic by their home environment. During that class observation we felt that English teacher for has used better techniques and activities for teach students. After the activities she asks students for reading text randomly, and she tried to give opportunity to every students. After the reading she said to students underline the words which were they do not understand, and then said their meanings and make sentences of those words. 

That class was interesting and in our view teacher was semi constructivist. She has good knowledge of her subject.

After that I talked to school principal and some teacher of school, they told lot of things. Teachers said that they have no space to teach outside from textbook, they have pressure to complete course.

Remember.........

Remember, 
you are the students.
you should read well,
you should write well,
you should behave well,
you should only speak, 
when i ask for it.
you should do, 
when i ask you to do
you should think, 
when i ask you to think,
Don't ask questions,
Don't ask reasons.
only follow my instructions.
you are the students, 
and you are here for learning.
Remember,
I am your teacher, 
I have rights to punish you,
I have rights to reward you,
I have rights to indoctrinate you,
I have reasons, I have knowledge.
Remember, 
Only I have rights to ask questions,
I am your teacher,
and, you are the students, 
you learn only those things 
which is written in your textbook,
remember, only those things,
which I teach you.
( remember, this is only for those teachers, who forget the meaning of their job)

"A School Without Doors and Windows………"

Last week we went to a beautiful place with my learning group, that was not a picnic spot or not a hill station but I felt it like heaven in earth. Do you know what was that place? That was a beautiful school; you might be wondering how a school can be so beautiful. I am also wondering how did it happen when I was there, I saw what a decent place that was where all kinds of children studying and learning through environment, through their own knowledge or experience with the help of their friends of friends, you know who were their friends? They were their teachers. In a sociological view I found there teacher as a romantic and entertainer guide of students.

We know that school is one of the places where child grow up his/her knowledge and learning ability. The main aim of education is improve child critical thinking ability, use their own knowledge and experience. School should create better homely environment for students learning and overall development. Unfortunately our school system not clearly follows this aims. But some people invent a new way of learning, learning by doing. 

In our visit of that alternative school was amazing and inspired me a lot. This school has hundred students capacity up to tenth standard, beautiful environment, beautiful building, beautiful children and beautiful teaching method. There was a common platform and opportunity for all kind of diverse and different socio economic background children. You can't imagine any building without door, window and electricity but in this school no need of these things. All classrooms were opened you can see one classroom to another easily. All children were freely walking anywhere in school. 

When I entered in school I saw some children playing cricket, some were playing basketball, some were playing volley ball and some children were doing craft and other creative work. Principal told us Tuesday they have extracurricular-activity like sports and outdoor visiting day so higher class students went to visit a museum with their one teacher, all junior class students were there in school and were involved in different kinds of activities. She also told about history of school and how they were able to run this school through alternative teaching method. She said in our school children are independent to do all kinds of learning activities; we have diversity among students and we try to focus all children equally and giving them opportunity to learn different things. During our conversation it is also know that there were not any competition between students in any field like music, singing, exams and sports also. They focused to student’s participation in all school activities; here students learn cooking and farming also.

When we asked her about curriculum of schools, she said our school following a similar curriculum as mention in NCF 2005. There was no any academic class running in school so we went in art class where students doing clay modelling with art teacher. I observe child frankly ask questions with teacher, teacher looks like their guardian and facilitator, some time she gave some instructions for making clay model. But child used their own thought to shaping their model.

We talked her about their class and art, she told lot of earlier experience of her life. She said I have long years’ experience to work with different aged children, I understand how child learn. She said when a child come to school there are different kind of knowledge and capacity. They know lot of thing, but after entering the school they have no space to express their earlier knowledge and experience in classroom. In art class she tries to make a curriculum to consider child psychology. Child has capacity to know what is wrong and what is right, he or she also knows about colours. She said in her class she using different alternative and innovative methods for teaching art and craft. She has some guideline frame work child follows these guide line and use their own thoughts for making drawing and craft work.

During the visit I also interact some students and talked them about their school. How they feel at there? They all said we are happily learn all the things both academic and creative activities in our school. One interesting thing happened there, when I was entered in a library of school some students were jumping and playing at there, I asked this is your library, they said no this is our circus room. It shows how child freely feel in their school.  

It was great experience for me as an education practitioner I learnt lot of new things, thanks to all school staff and all students.

Our Hand & Mind is our tutor.............

I saw, I forget.....

I heard, I forget......

I did, I remember & learnt........

The understanding and practical knowledge is more important for learning, rather than theoretical knowledge. In our curriculum studies practicum, I decided to work in group and talked some people who has did  their professional work for livelihood with hand, as for this I selected three different type of work holder of konappan agrahara market area. One of them was mobile repairer and running his own mobile shop in market, another one was welder cum blacksmith, third one was carpenter. They all have good experience of their work. It was interesting and amazing interaction with them.

I really learnt a lot of new things to them, they cooperate enthusiastically with us. In our course we learnt in curriculum subject, what Gandhi talking about importance of vocational education in his book Nai Taleem and also in NCF. Gandhi was heartily supporter of vocational training in our school system.

First we were talked mobile shop owner, he is 27 years old. When we ask him why he chooses this business and from where he learnt mobile repairing? He told us he was worked in different field in earlier, after that he joined 6 months mobile repairing training workshop and learnt to repair all kind of mobile phones. He said he is happy to accept this business, he told us he has earning monthly rupees 40000 approx. When we ask him is it your school education is useful in your daily business? He said not all subject, but English and some basic mathematics is useful in his work.

After that we went to a welder shop, he has a 28 years’ experience in his work field. We ask him where he learnt this work and how he came in this business. He told us it is his family business. One interesting thing we found during the interaction with him he was completed SSLC exam with first rank and his father was head master of Urdu government school. He said I was brilliant in all subject. After completed SSLC I decided to drop the education and started to learn technical work. My father wanted that I continue my study but I want to learn some technical work.

He has a lot of confident about his work area; he confidently said I am expert in all kind of iron and welding work. Sometimes some engineers and ITI students also came to our shop and ask about designing and learn some technical work. It was amazing interaction between us.

We also talk two other type of technical work holder. One was carpenter and another was cycle repairing shop owner. We ask same questions to them, they also given similar answer like earlier peoples.

All these type of technical work person’s argued that practical knowledge is important. They told every day they did some new innovation in their work. Lot of new things they learnt day by day. Tools, instruments and objects are also helpful for them to learn new things. They strongly said that in our school system there is no place for this type of vocational work. Some people thought that these work are low category work, but in our work we every time use our mind and hand both, we fully depend to our mind and both hands.  

They all are happy in their business, we understood that in their everyday life they facing lot of problems during work time but they are happy, and honestly doing their job.

We are happy to meet and talk to them and also learnt some new things.