I know I am getting ahead of myself and I apologize for that but the last two days had a tremendous impact.<\/p>\n
I went from the slums to the ritz in less than 24 hours. \u00a0There is a beauty to both.<\/p>\n
Muktangan schools are located in the slums. \u00a0They are the equivalent of charter schools in America. \u00a0The model is genius. \u00a0The founders, Liz and Sunil Mehta, highly experience educators, decided that one can not only education children from the slums in a quality manner, but also lift their parents out of poverty at the same time on a shoe string budget. \u00a0How? \u00a0Have the kids go to school where they live. \u00a0That is not as easy as it sounds since real estate in Mumbai is sky rocketing. \u00a0(It is the NYC of India.) \u00a0But OK, they accomplished this feat. \u00a0Next. \u00a0Attract the children to attend the school. \u00a0Check. \u00a0Teachers….<\/p>\n
Well, they could hire teachers educated at the teacher training programs from universities or they could look at the school’s doorstep, educate the child’s mother where the mother begins work teaching kindergarten and learning 1st grade work at the same time going all the way through 12th grade. \u00a0This also accomplishes something else: the children tend to have more respect for their teachers because they are their friend’s mother who may happen to live next door or down the street. \u00a0No room to show off here unless it is something positive because she is good friends with your parents.<\/p>\n
The teachers are trained in English and in Hindi. \u00a0Whoa! \u00a0Bilingual teachers? \u00a0Every single one? \u00a0In reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension? \u00a0There is a dream education for me come true. \u00a0(There are so magnet schools in the US that have this by the way.)<\/p>\n
Children’s and teachers’ artwork dot the school walls. \u00a0Toys are everywhere. \u00a0It reminds me of Reggio Emilia that I studied back in 2002 at The University of Tampa. \u00a0It is very child oriented and I got to observe the small ones learning about life through self-directed play (playing house for example.)<\/p>\n
It so happens that the first class to take the 10th standard exams did exceedingly well. \u00a0However, college is costly. \u00a0There are not studies as of now as to who will finish their degree or what will become of the students of Muktangan. \u00a0There can’t be. \u00a0They are not of age yet. \u00a0The jury is still out but I have great hope for them after what I have seen and I can’t wait to post the videos for you to decide.<\/p>\n
However, the program’s real “pat on the back” is taking women out of poverty (and a few men) and educating them. \u00a0Hopefully, they will be able to climb the caste ladder.<\/p>\n
Oh, and last thing, before I go on about the other school, music is a compulsory subject for every teacher to master, not just the 8 music teachers! \u00a0They can really sing and use song quite a bit for classroom management and teaching.<\/p>\n
The guaranteed leaders of India, if they so choose to stay, is relatively close to the Muktangan schools in milage but as far away as Mars in terms of the possibilities that lay before them. \u00a0These are the children of The Cathedral & John Connon School. \u00a0This school is the alma mater of Andre de Quadros (my former professor of music research techniques at Boston University.) \u00a0If these students are anything like him, India is going to boom like the Industrial Revolution of the west!<\/p>\n
I was very impressed at what I saw. \u00a0With no air-conditioning and sometimes 40:1 teacher\/student ratios (or at least what I observed today), these students were learning. \u00a0They are from the upper to extreme upper classes of Mumbai, perhaps middle class if a parent is willing to mortgage everything. \u00a0Already, they have the advantage just for being born to the right person at the right time at the right place. \u00a0Mumbai has a booming economy and if kept on the right path, could exceed China in the next 10 – 20 years.<\/p>\n
I bet you are thinking Harvard bound, throat slicing, anti-social children? \u00a0Far from it. \u00a0They were tweens and teenagers who were trying to express themselves through accessories away from the school uniforms (the average school uniform in a hot climate.) \u00a0The girls were gossipy and the boys were talking of cricket.<\/p>\n
Recess, yes recess, aloud the kids to socialize and eat and organize games of all sorts in the outdoor courtyard in 100+ heat. \u00a0Some read books in the shade. \u00a0They were all left to their devices.<\/p>\n
I am not going to go on about what i observed in the classrooms as I will save that for later. \u00a0But, as I looked around and the large chocolate eyes met mine, all I could think was: “I am surrounded by India’s future. \u00a0They have no idea what impact they will make on Mumbai, India, and the world.” \u00a0I was humbled by this presence. \u00a0I hope that these students will meet the students of Muktangan and make great changes for the better. \u00a0What will they be? \u00a0Only time will tell.<\/p>\n
The headmistress, Mrs. Isaacs, is one of the most brilliant school administrators I have ever met. \u00a0She is well-spoken and dressed immaculately in a saree. \u00a0Her insights were amazing and I am kicking myself for having to work and miss tonight’s play about women’s rights in India. \u00a0I did ask for a copy of the video. \u00a0She was very passionate about this subject. \u00a0She is also passionate about a child’s life\/work balance. \u00a0To be successful, it is not enough to be good at maths and sciences, you must also be able to communicate.<\/p>\n
Off to create a presentation about the clarinet to 500+ students who have never seen or heard one. \u00a0My limitations or immense and this is much more difficult than other presentations I have made.<\/p>\n
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