Today was an action packed day with three main points. In the morning we visited another private school following the CVSC guidelines called the Arsha Vidya Mandir school. Next we headed to the US consulate of which we were invited to after meeting with the US secretary general of the Consulate for Chennai at Raavena Mat. School nearly 2 weeks ago. Following this we dropped our blouses off at the tailors and then headed back for to Niketana for some Curry paneer and Aloo curry dinner.
The day began at the school, which first impressions left it to be a very well off school with a steep tuition. This school catered to one class per grade, like the TVS school we visited, from kindergarden to 12th grade. The school had an auditorium, projectors, white boards instead of chalkboards (the first we've seen yet) and even smart boards in some of the classrooms. Tuition ranged form 35,000 to 50,000 rp which is about 1,123 US dollars per year. Therefore many of these kids have traveled and have more luxurious lives that the rest of India. The principal seemed caring and open to discuss topics, yet was very pleased to show off their technology at the school by emphasizing the school being completely electronic with everything from grades to textbooks on the computer. The classrooms were great to be in again and the students worked hard in the classes I sat in on. I watch at physics class, english class, geography class, 2nd grade class, 7th grade lab technology, 7th grade math probability class and finally the kindergardeners. All the students demonstrated respect for their teachers and in many respects reminded me of my own educational experience in only the best ways. With enthusiastic teachers and creative topics, the school attempted to harvest creativity as well as structure. By far this school was the most well off infrastructure and resource wise. Talking with a few students, I learned of kids that wanted to be environmental engineers, astronauts, Dr.s, robotics, and even a few that had no idea. Although so of the kids had no idea, I was proud of them, because having no idea means that they are thinking for themselves about what they want to do in their future rather than what their parents want or what they see receives the best pay for going beyond their circumstances. Much of this is because of their circumstances now... they can't reach much higher and better, therefore they have to option to be creative with their ambitions.
After the school we headed to the US Consulate. After an intense security screening.... ( I hope the woman whom gave the pat downs enjoyed herself)... we all ventured into the consulate to be greeted by an extremely uppity newbie to the consulate whom had just graduated from Columbia. She proceeded to treat us like we were 5th graders and toured us around until we saw the secretary general in the stairwell, whom said hi and left after inviting us. Then we met the public affairs department head whom proceeded to describe himself, his opinions and his views on India..... very rarely letting us talk and for the first time in my higher education career, almost made me feel bad about my choice of educational facility. He stated that he wants to open the Indian children's' eyes to other educational opportunities in the USA other than the IVYs and stated that he was sure PLU gave a good education. Our whole group was appalled by a lot of what we heard and the disrespect he gave to not only us as students but to our professor and to the Indian culture. Being in India for only 2 and 1/2 weeks, I feel as if we have been more culturally emerged than he would ever become. He described how he received his post in the foreign services and how they only remain for 2-3 yrs at the most. I couldn't believe that this was a field that I wanted to pursue and I was appalled at the attempt for the argument that they make lasting connections to the community.... how can you make lasting connections in 2-3 yrs when there is always new people cycling through? We attempted to talk about food but he also lacked knowledge on what to eat and where, this guy needed a pocket Vidya like we have, helping him realize all his cultural mistakes and teaching him along the way. After bolting out of there fairly quickly we dropped our shirts off at the tailor and headed back to Niketana.
At Niketana we met with Vidya's sister Brinda whom described to us the Indian situations of arranged vs love marriages as well as In-law complications and dowery.
All in all it was an immensely busy and draining day, it was nice to have our very own Kelsey read us a small bedtime story from a book she bought about the mythology of the Hindu religion.
(probability math class)
( Kindergarden class)
(tech and invention lab)
( the few books in social studies, while the math took 3 book cases)
(career books for reference, most careers listed involve the IT industry, bio industry, agricultural industry or government industry)
(books on poets in their library, a thing many schools don't have)
(5th english)
(5th english)
(5th grade english)
(if you look really hard, the poster on the right is about the story of the man from good ole BOCO who wrote the book between a rock and a hard place and what the film 127hrs was based off of!)
more posts to come!! night!
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