On insistence of a friend of mine, I visited his friend's house in Pozhichalur, Chennai to have a look at the tuition proceedings in the house. It was a humble house in the suburbs of Chennai. The area, I was told, is surrounded with granite quarry and brick factory. The parents of these ~25 students work as daily wages laborers in the quarries. The students study in the government schools in the locality.
The teacher has created a very conducive learning environment for the children of the locality. Students' school end at 4 pm and they fresh themselves up and reach the tuition center at 5:30 pm. As soon as they enter, they offer flowers to Goddess Saraswathi Devi, do a namaskar, do 10 sit-ups holding their ears (this exercise is called as thopikaranam and is said to activate the brain) and they sit on the mat for studies. There were students starting from 2nd standard to 10th standard. The students start studying their lessons themselves. The teacher monitors each student personally. She had good idea of what each one was studying, which is commendable.
Students memorize poems, question and answer and recite to her. She calls out words for children to write (dictation words). She correct English spelling mistakes, she corrects maths calculation errors, she looked like jack of all trades. I had thought to ask about the students' scores, but that was not needed. All students studied with as much focus as they can give for their age. The students did seem to have the realization that they have to grow above their present living standards.
The pic didn't come out well due to lighting, but one can see many kids helping each other and studying their lessons. At 7:30 pm, they pause their studies and they all gather in a circular pattern and they cheerfully sing some bhajans with music instruments like jalra, dolkis etc. The teacher has taught these bhajans to the kids. She says learning bhajan and singing them motivates the students. Truth in her works can be felt from the kids' enthusiasm. Before they leave to their homes, they are served prasadam by the members of the teacher's house.
The reason for my writing about this teacher is, there are many good things happening in this world. Some people are elevating the lives of people around them. We must feel happy for all the good things like this happening in our own city's suburbs and we must draw inspiration from good people and good things and try to do similar things.
My thanks to the friend who asked me to visit this place.
My thanks also to the teacher who teaches the kids and the whole ecosystem that's supporting her.
Best wishes!
The teacher has created a very conducive learning environment for the children of the locality. Students' school end at 4 pm and they fresh themselves up and reach the tuition center at 5:30 pm. As soon as they enter, they offer flowers to Goddess Saraswathi Devi, do a namaskar, do 10 sit-ups holding their ears (this exercise is called as thopikaranam and is said to activate the brain) and they sit on the mat for studies. There were students starting from 2nd standard to 10th standard. The students start studying their lessons themselves. The teacher monitors each student personally. She had good idea of what each one was studying, which is commendable.
Students memorize poems, question and answer and recite to her. She calls out words for children to write (dictation words). She correct English spelling mistakes, she corrects maths calculation errors, she looked like jack of all trades. I had thought to ask about the students' scores, but that was not needed. All students studied with as much focus as they can give for their age. The students did seem to have the realization that they have to grow above their present living standards.
The pic didn't come out well due to lighting, but one can see many kids helping each other and studying their lessons. At 7:30 pm, they pause their studies and they all gather in a circular pattern and they cheerfully sing some bhajans with music instruments like jalra, dolkis etc. The teacher has taught these bhajans to the kids. She says learning bhajan and singing them motivates the students. Truth in her works can be felt from the kids' enthusiasm. Before they leave to their homes, they are served prasadam by the members of the teacher's house.
The reason for my writing about this teacher is, there are many good things happening in this world. Some people are elevating the lives of people around them. We must feel happy for all the good things like this happening in our own city's suburbs and we must draw inspiration from good people and good things and try to do similar things.
My thanks to the friend who asked me to visit this place.
My thanks also to the teacher who teaches the kids and the whole ecosystem that's supporting her.
Best wishes!
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