Show the Aunties!

Today we visited the Government Kannada and Tamil Higher Primary School in Bangalore. From the outside, it looked like almost any other building on the busy street. Since I can't read Kannada and I can't read Tamil, the sign would have just blended in with the other street signs had we not been part of the IREX group.

Teachers were gracious and allowed us to see the opening assembly of the day--where all students stood in class lines outside in the courtyard to do brief exercises and recite a few poems and prayers. One student leader led the group while teacher walked around to make sure the students were doing their part to keep up. At the end of the assembly, the boy was handed a newspaper and he read various headlines while the students repeated them aloud. We found out later that this was because so many students are the poorest of the poor. They have no access to newspapers or televisions. Their parents are illiterate. They have no way of knowing what is happening in their city, their country or the world. At least with a few headlines each day, they are able to bring home some news to their families so they know what's going on in this world of ours.

After the assembly, we could choose an English class or a Math class. Well, you know me. . .I just had to see what the kids were doing to learn English! The teacher was very engaging and, despite the lackluster government text, used repetition in small and large groups and had students come up to participate. There was even some TPR in there. The students were engaged in the lesson (about an Indian man who loved animals and could talk with them) and the teacher was expanding the lesson to show students the different categories of animals we consider pets and those that are wild.

She went beyond recall and memorization, which are found in many Indian schools, to expanding their learning. "What would happen if you took a lion home?" she asked and they giggled and murmured about their families being scared. "No, ma'am!" they chuckled.

As she was working with them, I asked a boy sitting near me if I could see his book. The texts for the enitire year are in a small workbook and the kids repeat the lessons and texts until the teacher moves on. It was very unlike what we do or have available in the states. Children sat up straight in long benches, used one notebook each and, in many cases, shared a book.

When she asked students how things would be for their families if they brought home a cat, they all smiled and said that, yes, they did like them for pets. When she asked them how things would be at home if they brought home a tiger, she told them "Show the aunties over there your face if you brought a tiger home." They all turned to us with expressions of shock and fear.

I know it's completely cultural, but to be called "aunties" of these precious kids really touched my heart.