Hey people
Please read the following news that talks about the right to education bill. the articles have appeared in The Indian Express, Hindustan Times and Times of India newspapers. please read and comment.
The Times of India coverage:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Education_to_be_a_fundamental_right/articleshow/3659677.cms
Also read the comments given in the end, thay are very interesting and debatable.
The Indian Express coverage:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/right-to-education-bill-cleared-by-the-cabine.../380176/
The Hindustan Times coverage:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=610b1773-6f2b-4a0e-ada1-eb3bad05f93e&MatchID1=4815&TeamID1=6&TeamID2=1&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1212&PrimaryID=4815&Headline=Education-for-all+Bill+to+be+tabled+in+winter+session
Friday, October 31, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Opinion
In the present times, education is seen as a means of propogation of one's ideology.
Therefore, education becomes a political issue in which everyone wants to intervene with their own agendas. Like to name a few the hindu nationalists would se it as an opportunity to spread their belief systems, whereas the marxists would like to influence it with their perspective of how the world functions.
Nobody wants the learner to equip herself and have a choice of her own instead they want to make a choice for all of them.
Therefore, education becomes a political issue in which everyone wants to intervene with their own agendas. Like to name a few the hindu nationalists would se it as an opportunity to spread their belief systems, whereas the marxists would like to influence it with their perspective of how the world functions.
Nobody wants the learner to equip herself and have a choice of her own instead they want to make a choice for all of them.
What is your take on this issue? Do you think it has an impact on curriculum and teaching-leraning practices? Please feel free to express yourself and put forward your argument for or against this statement.
Monday, October 20, 2008
EPTAF Meeting
Hi friends
You all are invited for the upcoming EPTAF meeting scheduled on 13th December,2008 from 11:00 A.M. onwards at Coffee Home, CP, opp Hanuman Mandir.
The agenda of this meeting is as follows:
1) Discussion on the topics chosen for our individual action researches. Preparing a broad outline of our research.
Drafting next month's plan, objectives and activities.
2) Sharing of our school experiences. Some issues that came up and what did we do and any other experience that we would like to share.
3) Presentation by MCD school teacher on a research on reading that she did in her own school followed by a discussion based on her research work.
4) Sharing on a book called The Indians: Portrait of a people by Sudhir and Katharina Kakar, Penguin Viking, India 2007.
Post your comments and suggestions whatsoever about the meetings agenda, we will try to incorporate your ideas in the plan.
Please be there and enrich the discussions through your participation. You can bring other interested teachers as well.
And please come on time.
Hoping to meet you on 13th December.
You all are invited for the upcoming EPTAF meeting scheduled on 13th December,2008 from 11:00 A.M. onwards at Coffee Home, CP, opp Hanuman Mandir.
The agenda of this meeting is as follows:
1) Discussion on the topics chosen for our individual action researches. Preparing a broad outline of our research.
Drafting next month's plan, objectives and activities.
2) Sharing of our school experiences. Some issues that came up and what did we do and any other experience that we would like to share.
3) Presentation by MCD school teacher on a research on reading that she did in her own school followed by a discussion based on her research work.
4) Sharing on a book called The Indians: Portrait of a people by Sudhir and Katharina Kakar, Penguin Viking, India 2007.
Post your comments and suggestions whatsoever about the meetings agenda, we will try to incorporate your ideas in the plan.
Please be there and enrich the discussions through your participation. You can bring other interested teachers as well.
And please come on time.
Hoping to meet you on 13th December.
For the Spirit of EPTAF
jahan dharti aasman mil jayen,
chalo aesa kshitij banyen.
jahan khuli hava mein saan le saken,
jahan kaam kar sakein bina thake.
jahan chehre par muskaan rahe,
har kaam mein sab ki lagan lage.
jahan aazadi ho khoj ki,
jahan baat ho har roz ki.
jahan seekhne mein khel ho,
aur khel mein seekhna.
jahan sawaal hon bahut saare,
un ke jawabon ko khojana.
jahan bandhan naa koi baandhe,
aazad khyaalon ko pehechane.
bandh jaayen hum ik rishte mein,
har ek se kuchh na kuchh seekhen.
jahan jeevan ho unmukt gagan sa,
chalo ik aesa sansaar banayen.
chalo aesa kshitij banyen.
jahan khuli hava mein saan le saken,
jahan kaam kar sakein bina thake.
jahan chehre par muskaan rahe,
har kaam mein sab ki lagan lage.
jahan aazadi ho khoj ki,
jahan baat ho har roz ki.
jahan seekhne mein khel ho,
aur khel mein seekhna.
jahan sawaal hon bahut saare,
un ke jawabon ko khojana.
jahan bandhan naa koi baandhe,
aazad khyaalon ko pehechane.
bandh jaayen hum ik rishte mein,
har ek se kuchh na kuchh seekhen.
jahan jeevan ho unmukt gagan sa,
chalo ik aesa sansaar banayen.
For the Spirit of EPTAF
जहाँ धरती आसमां मिल जाएँ ,
चलो ऐसा क्षितिज बनायें।
जहाँ खुली हवा में सांस ले सहें
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Themes covered in EPTAF so far
Classroom Management: Theory and Practice
This was our first action research in our own classrooms. the varied kinds of classrooms were used for this research, MCD school class I, Private school class KG, I, II, III. This informed us about how and what kinds of rules can help us in managing our classes. We also felt the importance of regular follow up of the rules that were democratically created with the learners. We spent around five months on this theme.
Understanding children's art
We wanted to know how can we understand art from a child's perspective and how should we respond to it. this was an interesting exercise. we first of all read Deviprasad's book, "Art: the basis of education". Then we got samples of our learners art and anlaysed them. We spent around two-three months on this them.
Emergent literacy
Sonce most of us are in teaching in the primary school and also taking language classes so we felt it is important to understand how children learn language. For this we have used readings by Frank Smith, Teale and Sulzby and few others. We are still working on this theme.
During this we also had a screening of the film "Kairee".
This was our first action research in our own classrooms. the varied kinds of classrooms were used for this research, MCD school class I, Private school class KG, I, II, III. This informed us about how and what kinds of rules can help us in managing our classes. We also felt the importance of regular follow up of the rules that were democratically created with the learners. We spent around five months on this theme.
Understanding children's art
We wanted to know how can we understand art from a child's perspective and how should we respond to it. this was an interesting exercise. we first of all read Deviprasad's book, "Art: the basis of education". Then we got samples of our learners art and anlaysed them. We spent around two-three months on this them.
Emergent literacy
Sonce most of us are in teaching in the primary school and also taking language classes so we felt it is important to understand how children learn language. For this we have used readings by Frank Smith, Teale and Sulzby and few others. We are still working on this theme.
During this we also had a screening of the film "Kairee".
Friday, October 17, 2008
In my books I learned that only men
are kings and soldiers.
Till I read a book in which famous,
queens ruled and fought against enemies.
In my textbooks I learned that only men
are doctors.
When I went to a doctor I saw that
she was a woman.
In my textbook I learne that only men
do farming in my country,
until, on a train journey I saw women
working in the fields.
I have learned that I have a lot to learn by seeing.
- Pooja, Ramya, Anuj, Utkarsh
students of class VII, Baroda
are kings and soldiers.
Till I read a book in which famous,
queens ruled and fought against enemies.
In my textbooks I learned that only men
are doctors.
When I went to a doctor I saw that
she was a woman.
In my textbook I learne that only men
do farming in my country,
until, on a train journey I saw women
working in the fields.
I have learned that I have a lot to learn by seeing.
- Pooja, Ramya, Anuj, Utkarsh
students of class VII, Baroda
Thursday, October 16, 2008
ghettoes of education
{This poem is based on my experience of block teaching in M.C.D. School Andrews ganj.on this day temperature suddenly fell down and I saw a new side of, obviously a sad one of the education system.}
It was a very cold day
Sun I think was on holiday.
Wind was at its best,
As if taking our endurance test.
Gathering my shawl I entered the room,
Saw Renu with the broom.
Wondering what the sweeper does
I stepped out to avoid the dust
While teaching about different places
I noticed various listless faces
There were some open windows
And no means to close
I was all loaded up with clothes
Still cribbed the weather was cold
But there were students with just one sweater
And no one to complain against the weather.
A girl was nauseatic
And another had headache
A boy had fever
Another stomachache
I cursed the God
Coz government couldn’t be
I cursed the weather
Coz the management couldn’t be
How can there be any education
In these ghettoes of education
Which are created just to fool the people
To create an illusion of teaching the pupil.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Educate me please!
I need it sure.
But don’t teach me things
That I don’t care for.
Learning you think
Is knowing more and more
But how come I feel
That view is only yours.
May be its not for me to say all this
Pardon me if am too boastful or wrong.
But without the cramming
I can clearly think
My eyes are sharp my memory is strong
Spectacles which are thick
Scare me a lot
And bags which are heavy
Hinder my growth.
Educate me please,
As I need it for sure.
But stopping me from being me
Is too much of a cost.
I need it sure.
But don’t teach me things
That I don’t care for.
Learning you think
Is knowing more and more
But how come I feel
That view is only yours.
May be its not for me to say all this
Pardon me if am too boastful or wrong.
But without the cramming
I can clearly think
My eyes are sharp my memory is strong
Spectacles which are thick
Scare me a lot
And bags which are heavy
Hinder my growth.
Educate me please,
As I need it for sure.
But stopping me from being me
Is too much of a cost.
Exploring Possibilities: Teacher Academic Forum (EPTAF)
About EPTAF
Most of us are working teachers and have faced issues and problems in our classrooms. Sometimes we are able to solve them successfully and at other times we have to let them go without really having found a solution. Here we need external support but we are unable to find it in our school settings. Here we are not ignoring the support that we are able to get from our colleagues. But most often a teacher in a classroom is an isolated being. His/her major pool is the theory learnt during the pre-service training.
EPTAF has been envisioned to answer these questions. Through EPTAF we want to explore the vast arena of possibilities and ideas which are otherwise out of our imagination because we are working alone. Here we are trying to create synergy amongst the work that we single-handedly do in our classrooms. Because we believe that one plus one is more than two. For each meeting we will have a pre- decided theme (through group consensus). The teachers are expected to look up relevant literature, observe their own and other's teaching and reflect on their classroom experiences.
EPTAF is a platform for innovative, dynamic teachers who are ready to experiment and explore novel ways of teaching and learning. We welcome teachers who are eager learners and are enthusiastic to explore the unleashed potentials and resources in the existing set up.
The objective of EPTAF is to provide support in the form of ideas, discussions, reading sessions, film screenings and a lot more.
This will be a place where teachers can share their experiences, frustrations, problems, learnings, ideas and thoughts. This is a platform that is meant for the teachers to be themselves and explore their own potential. Here in EPTAF learning leads to self discovery and helps teachers to grow.
The focus of our meetings will be on two activities:
Reflection: based on the theme of the meeting we would have special activities planned to facilitate the process of reflection.
Critical Analysis: whatever literature would be selected for the meeting would then be put under critical analysis amongst the participants.
About EPTAF
Most of us are working teachers and have faced issues and problems in our classrooms. Sometimes we are able to solve them successfully and at other times we have to let them go without really having found a solution. Here we need external support but we are unable to find it in our school settings. Here we are not ignoring the support that we are able to get from our colleagues. But most often a teacher in a classroom is an isolated being. His/her major pool is the theory learnt during the pre-service training.
EPTAF has been envisioned to answer these questions. Through EPTAF we want to explore the vast arena of possibilities and ideas which are otherwise out of our imagination because we are working alone. Here we are trying to create synergy amongst the work that we single-handedly do in our classrooms. Because we believe that one plus one is more than two. For each meeting we will have a pre- decided theme (through group consensus). The teachers are expected to look up relevant literature, observe their own and other's teaching and reflect on their classroom experiences.
EPTAF is a platform for innovative, dynamic teachers who are ready to experiment and explore novel ways of teaching and learning. We welcome teachers who are eager learners and are enthusiastic to explore the unleashed potentials and resources in the existing set up.
The objective of EPTAF is to provide support in the form of ideas, discussions, reading sessions, film screenings and a lot more.
This will be a place where teachers can share their experiences, frustrations, problems, learnings, ideas and thoughts. This is a platform that is meant for the teachers to be themselves and explore their own potential. Here in EPTAF learning leads to self discovery and helps teachers to grow.
The focus of our meetings will be on two activities:
Reflection: based on the theme of the meeting we would have special activities planned to facilitate the process of reflection.
Critical Analysis: whatever literature would be selected for the meeting would then be put under critical analysis amongst the participants.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN IN SCHOOL TODAY?
WHAT DID YOU LEARN IN SCHOOL TODAY?
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned that Nehru never told a lie,
I learned that soldiers never die,
I learned that everybody’s free,
That’s what the teacher said to me,
And that’s what I learned in school today,
That’s what I learned in school.
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned that policemen are my friends,
I learned that justice never ends,
I learned that murderers die for their crimes,
Even if we make a mistake sometimes,
And that’s what I learned in school today.
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned our governments must be strong,
It’s always right and never wrong,
Our leaders are the finest men,
And we elect them again and again,
And that’s what I learned in school today.
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned that war is not so bad,
I learned about the great ones we have had,
The ones with Pak and the ones with Cheen
And how it must make me preen,
That’s what I learned in school today.
(An anonymous poem which uses the ingenious device of the child’s voice to show how schools become unquestioning accomplices in the furtherance of political agendas in the classrooms, from ‘patriotism’ to the ‘power of the state').
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned that Nehru never told a lie,
I learned that soldiers never die,
I learned that everybody’s free,
That’s what the teacher said to me,
And that’s what I learned in school today,
That’s what I learned in school.
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned that policemen are my friends,
I learned that justice never ends,
I learned that murderers die for their crimes,
Even if we make a mistake sometimes,
And that’s what I learned in school today.
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned our governments must be strong,
It’s always right and never wrong,
Our leaders are the finest men,
And we elect them again and again,
And that’s what I learned in school today.
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned that war is not so bad,
I learned about the great ones we have had,
The ones with Pak and the ones with Cheen
And how it must make me preen,
That’s what I learned in school today.
(An anonymous poem which uses the ingenious device of the child’s voice to show how schools become unquestioning accomplices in the furtherance of political agendas in the classrooms, from ‘patriotism’ to the ‘power of the state').
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
welcome every one to Exploring possibilities-Teacher Academic Forum (EPTAF)
this space is a forum for in service teachers in which all of us can share our feelings, thoughts, ideas with each other. we hope that this forum will take up various issues that we face in our classes. It will provide us a platform to address issues that affect us and we all will try to look for alternatives or solutions or other possibilities/ ways of dealing.
The first posting is about the spirit of our forum.........
Kuchh kar dikhana hai..
Ek rasta sujhana hai..
Andhakaar se hamen
Chhutkaara paana hai
Main bhaag nikloon yahaan se ye asaan bahut hai…
Par apne saath mujhe ye kal bhi bachaana hai
Raat ko footpath par sota hai jo..
Mere desh ka maasoom sa chehraa hai wo
Us roz jis ko niwala nahi mila..
Mere desh ka bhhookha sa chehraa hai wo
In sooni si aankhon mein sapne nahi hai…
Wo sapne jahan bhi hain lane to hain..
Sookhi ankhon ke kajal hain wo………….
Main bhaag nikloon yahan se ye aasaan bahut hai
Par sote hue kal ko jagaana to hai….
this space is a forum for in service teachers in which all of us can share our feelings, thoughts, ideas with each other. we hope that this forum will take up various issues that we face in our classes. It will provide us a platform to address issues that affect us and we all will try to look for alternatives or solutions or other possibilities/ ways of dealing.
The first posting is about the spirit of our forum.........
Kuchh kar dikhana hai..
Ek rasta sujhana hai..
Andhakaar se hamen
Chhutkaara paana hai
Main bhaag nikloon yahaan se ye asaan bahut hai…
Par apne saath mujhe ye kal bhi bachaana hai
Raat ko footpath par sota hai jo..
Mere desh ka maasoom sa chehraa hai wo
Us roz jis ko niwala nahi mila..
Mere desh ka bhhookha sa chehraa hai wo
In sooni si aankhon mein sapne nahi hai…
Wo sapne jahan bhi hain lane to hain..
Sookhi ankhon ke kajal hain wo………….
Main bhaag nikloon yahan se ye aasaan bahut hai
Par sote hue kal ko jagaana to hai….
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