Student Concert
This evening we enjoyed a student concert at Deepalaya School – a K-12 residential school for students who live in the slums. The mission works with the community in identifying students and get permission from parents for them to attend. They gradually introduce them to school. India is committed to building more schools for more students to be able to attend, The rate of building is a new school every six days. The students lined the path to greet us and reflected true Indian hospitality. I was surprised when a group said they were in the eighth grade. In fact, I asked the age to confirm that it was eighth grade and it matched. They were petite and appeared younger. They sang and danced for us in their various costumes. They warmed my heart as I saw evidence of changed lives – hope in the midst of their origins. They treated us to dinner after the concert at 9:00. The dishes were tasty and not too spicy for me. The dessert was halwa – warm lentils with sugar.
November 10, 2010
Sanskriti School
The public Sanskriti School is a private school on seven acres with 2700 students, age three to grade 12, and 210 teachers. (Our term of public schools is their term of government schools.) Fifty percent of students are from families of civil servants, thirty percent are from professional fields and 20 to 25 percent are economically disadvantaged students. The government is requiring public (private) schools to take at least 20 percent of these students, grades K to 8. India is trying to require that all students receive an education up to eighth grade. The government funds the private schools for the students at the cost of education in the government school, which does not fully cover the cost.
When the school began the government paid for the initial cost of the campus. Now the school is responsible for their ongoing costs. The government does not allow charitable giving unless it is approved. The teacher to student ratio is 1:11. They have 15-16 special educators for students with learning differences as well as activities teachers. Students who learn differently are mainstreamed. Students do take examinations, but they take them on their own timing.
The school day is similar to that in the U.S. They are in school for six hours and take 5 core courses and an activity such as music, art or dance. Primary students have 4 ½ to 5 hours of classes. Maths education is specialized beginning in third grade. They have six weeks off in the summer. Two educators are in the classroom up through grade 2. They have six periods of math a week, but periods are only 35 minutes long. They use technologies such as ITC, Smart Boards, ITC, Open Source, Online Presentations.
All students learn to read and write in Hindu and English. In fourth grade they choose from one of three additional languages to study. French and German are options.
Students were preparing for Lion King in their amphitheater, centrally located in the school, and were finishing projects for maths day. The whole school participates and presents their project on maths day in November.
The school is very particular about math. The department chair oversees all math education from K-12 and provides professional development for teachers. Most teachers are female. There was one male teacher. Teachers move from room to room rather than the students. We see a relaxed atmosphere in the school with children using the open spaces to work on projects and play outside. Shivani shares with me that the students are good, but recently the students in her daughters’ class were punished by having one week where the teachers did not teach. A couple of students in the class did something wrong and no students reported it. Thus, the class was punished as a whole. It was effective.
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