How Cow, NOW I’m in India

Have I seen it all? After driving through the streets of Delhi, it was easy to realize this land “opposites.” Large upper-middle class colonies (apartment complexes and gated communities) bordered by make-shift tents with cots and laundry lines. A McDonalds guarded by armed services next to a rundown building used as a public urinal. Rusty auto rickshaws (green open “buggies”) driving next to a shiny, red BMW. One minute you smell an open sewage line, the next minute, a blooming jasmine tree. You get my point? Everywhere I’ve been so far, I’ve seen, smelled and touched the disparity. It’s all around you.

If you’re not a teacher nor interested in the education system in India, then stop reading here!

Today, I had the pleasure of visiting my partner teacher’s school, Kendriya Vidyalaya in AGCR Colony. It’s a typical government-run public school with 2500 students per shift; 2 shifts (7-noon & 1-6pm). There is 1 principal for both shifts, but 2 of everything else 2 vice principals, 2 main office clerks, 2 sets of teachers, etc.). All grades (1-12) are taught at this school and it was really quite remarkable. They have this crazy morning assembly where the students are in lines by class. Attendance is done by someone yelling “1”, and student #1 from each class raises his/her hand and steps to the left of their class line. “2” is yelled, each student #2 from class 1-12 does the same. All numbers up to “65” were called. 65! There is one class with 65 students. An optimal class size is 40 for class 1-12, but an average class size is closer to 55. The classrooms are about 1/3 the size of my classroom at Gunn. The morning assembly wasn’t over after attendance. There was a prayer to their god(s), the pledge of India, student announcements about international and national news, student poems and editorials, a school song, and ended with the national anthem. This is all to drums, various wind instruments and 2 bagpipes. Of course, they introduce me and I had to go up on stage (this was not expected or explained to me when I got there!), was given a gift of a ginormous flower arrangement and a bindi, shook hands with everyone on stage, and was asked to comment about America and America’s education compared to India on the spot. Yikes! I don’t quite remember what I said, but everyone clapped and I was marched off stage and into the principal’s office for tea and treats while 1^st period started. This was only the 1^st 30 minutes of my visit, so you can imagine what the rest of the day was like. I could write pages and pages of everything that happened and the thoughts running in my head. Instead, just ask me later. My mind is spinning.

Some thoughts I wrote in my notes:

- cameras in all classrooms and televised in principal’s office TV

- swimming pool, squash court, roller-skating rink, basketball courts, many sports teams

- parent meetings for every parent/family conducted all year round. 98% of parents come to discuss issues about home/school

- Biology class: students bring in a water sample for somewhere near their home and look for microorganisms in microscopes

- Chemistry class: “wait time” doesn’t exist in a 35 minute teaching period. Teacher writes on board and recites: “Rate = K[A]¹ is a 1^st order reaction. Is this clear? [No pause. Students take notes, head down.] Rate = K[A]² is a 2^nd order reaction. Is this clear? [No pause. Students take notes; head down.]” etc., etc.

- Class 1 (1^st grade) Teacher: “Class, what type of house did the first pig build? A house made of?” All students: “straw.” Teacher: “Yes, a house made of?” All students: “straw.” Teacher: “Yes, a house made of?” All students: “straw.” Teacher: “Class, what type of house did the second pig build? A house made of?” You get the deal. Fascinating!

- Students from India (outside of class) act just like students in America. Giggly girls and boys in hallways.

- Students love (not like, LOVE) their teachers. Like respected mentors, second parents.

- Two computer rooms with 20-25 computers each.

- “What’s your favorite music?” Student: “Avryl Lavine” Student: “TuPac” Student: some Indian singer that I tried to write the name of, but the passing bell rang.

- Most students wanted to shake my hand and say “good morning, ma’am”. Some were super interested in having discussions about America.

This school visit has been the best part of the trip so far. I’ve never been treated so well as a visitor. The hospitality and curiosity was unexpected. The amount of information I learned about Indian education in just a 4 hour visit was also unexpected. The only thing is I wish I had more time to interact with students individually to ask them about their lives. We have 16 other school that we’ll be visiting as a group, so I hope I can go off by myself and pull some students aside. Super start to getting a glimpse of real Indian life!