Week 4 - Teaching, a new experience

 


The huge iron separators at the concrete mix area is used as a blackboard in the absence of the conventional blackboard. At times, the pillars/walls in the building under construction are also deployed. Improvision is the name of the game. (Dimple at work).


If there were any doubts in my mind about how tough the teaching job is, it vamoosed over the past three weeks. 

I am not a certified teacher. Yes, I am. Had I been a B.Ed would it have helped? I don't know.

Plus, I don't teach at a school. Because there is no classroom per se. For 10 days, we used an open first floor unfinished skyscraper in Greater Noida for   the class of a dozen with kids below 14 years. They are the offshoot of migrant construction workers from remote villages of Chattisgarh, one of the most backward states in India.

Some had been to pucca school back home. But their ability to read and write is challenging. Even 13-14 year old, the senior-most Pushparaj is found wanting. Sure he must have been to one of the govt schools in remote corners with very little supervision of the district education department.


However, some kids 5-6 years are smart, intelligent and show enthusiasm. Yes, enthusiasm is a key ingredient to get educated.There must be fire in their bellies to learn. Otherwise, it is tough.

The 90 minute session is a mixture of reading, writing, simple maths, shapes, games, shapes and some general knowledge. Songs too. They grasp songs faster. The Madhuri Dixit chartbuster Ek, Do,Teen song comes handy to remind them of basic numerals. 

English rhymes, they learnt in two consecutive classes.  They sing effortlessly today and they know the meaning of the songs. 

A for APPLE

B for BOTTLE

C for CAT

D for DOG

E for EGG

F for FISH

They are familiar with these items and they teach me the Hindi equivalent: Sev, Seesha, Billi, Kutta, Anda and Machli. (It is fun to they jump into singling, Machli jal ki raani hai ditti... making me recall my daughter singing that rhyme a quarter century ago when she was elementary school. 

Barring one bright Ekeeswari, rest of them can't identity the English alphabets, So how to make them recognize the alphabets. The A to Z words are written on the cement pillar at their eye level. I help them write these words first. Then ask each of them to identify the letter A in each word on the wall. It is tough for Pushparaj. But Dimple does it effortlessly. She's the smartest dressed child too. 

That brings me to remind them about personal hygiene. Now these kids are sent back home to change dirty clothes they wear. Now they wear better. Unoiled and uncombed girls are asked to return home and come back properly combed. They do. No chappal, sent back. They return with chappal or canvas shoes. Unbuttoned shirts. Go home. 

Education is just not teaching the three Rs. Make them better human beings. Presentable. None protested. ON the contrary, parents of these kids occasionally visit and thank me for the parivartan. It is a long road. But they show signs of change for the better. 

Fridays are dedicated sports day. Sack race. Marbles on a spoon race. Simple running race. Ball throwing. Bucketing the ball. Skipping. They chill out.

On Fridays, after sports they ride with me packed in my car for a short ride. The finale for the week. They come better dressed.

Plus, daily chillled Glucon D water and Glucose biscuit at the end of classes. 

At times, they write on the sand. Some times on a piece of paper.

Honestly, I never my daughter. My wife did because I lacked patience. My daughter preferred mother over me for lessons. 

Today, I am more mature. More patient. Not that I don't box kids' ears. Make them do 10 rounds of baski.  

Education and entertainment happening together. 

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