A Tale of Two Schools
My time in Bangalore granted me the opportunity to visit two very different Indian Schools. The first, the Purnapramati School, is an experiential education school that focuses on analytical skills while also teaching the traditional Sanskrit language. The second school, the Muslim Orphanage School, is a state funded school that provides primary and secondary education to girls at the associated Muslim orphanage, as well as students in the surrounding community. Both schools, in their own right, demonstrated remarkable initiatives, while at the same time demonstrating the major challenges facing Indian education.
A small school of only 60 primary students, the Purnapramati School aims to provide students with an appreciation for traditional knowledge while at the same time equipping their students with the autonomy and analytical skills to succeed in the modern world. While observing the teachers and students, I was amazed by the students' independence and control over their own learning. The Purnapramati School, starting this year, shirks traditional grade levels and quantitative grades, in favor of a focus upon skill mastery at the student's own pace. Teachers were mere facilitators of knowledge and skills, and more often than not, other students were guiding and helping others learn and practice their skills, as you can see in this photo of a young student in the 5th Standard (equivalent to 5th Grade) guiding younger students in a Sanskrit lesson. Naturally, not all students could stay on track (as you can see below) but overwhelmingly, students were consistently engaged. More importantly, students were able to explain WHY they were learning and WHY they wanted to learn. One group of students expressed interest in math because "it's the only logical subject that lets you play with numbers," while Vishnu, my young friend in the photo below, expressed interest in English so he could read Harry Potter novels. This doesn't mean, however, that the school is without its challenges. In order to maintain its vision, it must turn down state funding; in turn, tuition is high, and the program must remain small in order to maintain the integrity of the school's mission.
The Muslim Orphanage School provided a stark contrast to the Purnampramati School. Here, students were not engaged in the same way; in fact, many seemed disengaged with the rather traditional "sit and get" style of education. As is demonstrated by the photos, the facilities at the Orphanage School prove challenging as the students were sitting in tables that looked like they were from the 18th century and there were none of the amenities most teachers in the US are used to. What this school lacked in resources though, it more than made up for with the dedication of the staff, many of whom did not take a salary and all of whom were eager to hear observations and suggestions from the US teachers.
The successes and challenges of these two Indian schools aren't exclusive to India. It's no secret that American schools face challenges ranging from a lack of funding to a lack of community, and everything in between. The American education system demonstrates much of the same - a conflict between traditional and cutting edge educational styles and knowledge, as well as the struggle of a lack of resources, all framed by a dedicated teacher corps seeking a better educational experience for its students. Students succeed when they have advocates in their corner, whether those advocates are parents willing to pay tuition to send their students to a school that preserves their traditional culture or teachers who take on a position without pay and much recognition.
My time in Bangalore granted me the opportunity to visit two very different Indian Schools. The first, the Purnapramati School, is an experiential education school that focuses on analytical skills while also teaching the traditional Sanskrit language. The second school, the Muslim Orphanage School, is a state funded school that provides primary and secondary education to girls at the associated Muslim orphanage, as well as students in the surrounding community. Both schools, in their own right, demonstrated remarkable initiatives, while at the same time demonstrating the major challenges facing Indian education.
A small school of only 60 primary students, the Purnapramati School aims to provide students with an appreciation for traditional knowledge while at the same time equipping their students with the autonomy and analytical skills to succeed in the modern world. While observing the teachers and students, I was amazed by the students' independence and control over their own learning. The Purnapramati School, starting this year, shirks traditional grade levels and quantitative grades, in favor of a focus upon skill mastery at the student's own pace. Teachers were mere facilitators of knowledge and skills, and more often than not, other students were guiding and helping others learn and practice their skills, as you can see in this photo of a young student in the 5th Standard (equivalent to 5th Grade) guiding younger students in a Sanskrit lesson. Naturally, not all students could stay on track (as you can see below) but overwhelmingly, students were consistently engaged. More importantly, students were able to explain WHY they were learning and WHY they wanted to learn. One group of students expressed interest in math because "it's the only logical subject that lets you play with numbers," while Vishnu, my young friend in the photo below, expressed interest in English so he could read Harry Potter novels. This doesn't mean, however, that the school is without its challenges. In order to maintain its vision, it must turn down state funding; in turn, tuition is high, and the program must remain small in order to maintain the integrity of the school's mission.
The Muslim Orphanage School provided a stark contrast to the Purnampramati School. Here, students were not engaged in the same way; in fact, many seemed disengaged with the rather traditional "sit and get" style of education. As is demonstrated by the photos, the facilities at the Orphanage School prove challenging as the students were sitting in tables that looked like they were from the 18th century and there were none of the amenities most teachers in the US are used to. What this school lacked in resources though, it more than made up for with the dedication of the staff, many of whom did not take a salary and all of whom were eager to hear observations and suggestions from the US teachers.
The successes and challenges of these two Indian schools aren't exclusive to India. It's no secret that American schools face challenges ranging from a lack of funding to a lack of community, and everything in between. The American education system demonstrates much of the same - a conflict between traditional and cutting edge educational styles and knowledge, as well as the struggle of a lack of resources, all framed by a dedicated teacher corps seeking a better educational experience for its students. Students succeed when they have advocates in their corner, whether those advocates are parents willing to pay tuition to send their students to a school that preserves their traditional culture or teachers who take on a position without pay and much recognition.