Elementary Education

Earlier post had my notion of "not learning much " in elementary school. Let me put things straight by bringing up some facts.

Our Maths class right from II standard till V standard ( in fact all subjects) was held with one slate and a writing material called "kuchi " which used to come in multiple shapes and colours and of varied materials. We got the one which was easy to hold between our tiny fingers and had one colour - white. Our Maths teacher used to teach a concept and then give mental test to gauge our understanding, speed and neatness in execution. For example, an addition sum like 48 + 85 will be written on the board by the teacher. All of us do the calculation and write the answer in the slate and put up our hands once completed. Teacher will come to the ones whose hands are up and see the answer and mark a tick mark. We were hardly 20 to 25 students in a class and hence teacher knew each one of us by name and also our strengths and weakness. I think the teacher’s knowledge on each student extended to personal matters as well.

If it is a test / exam, even final exam, the answers are corrected then and there and the result marked in the bottom of the slate. As the test proceeds, there will be multiple 1 and 0 indicating the right and wrong answers. End of the session, she will come around totalling the 1s and give the result then and there on the slate. A 10 out of 10 would get a V.Good or a V.Good and V.Neat if the execution is neat; or V.Good with a rose drawn near that if the speed in completion was good. I do not know how she remembered – but her memory used to be always correct.

This made all of us get quick on mathematics – even now I add or subtract using Tamil numbers as that is the most comfortable and faster way to get the right answer for me.

By IV standard we could do 3 digit multiplication, division with decimals etc. We learnt all multiplication tables by heart. We learnt the decimal multiplication tables also by heart. Amongst the students we used to exchange the short-cuts to learn a new table and short-cuts to remember an answer.

Hence we got some real education. We learnt new skills every day! I am sure no parent "watched" what the child learnt. Parents were sure that teachers are doing their job well and teachers never expected parents to supplement the teaching at home!

We had so many lessons in each and every subject based on Great men and women of the world. I think that is something which made me think that I am supposed to become great one day. It never occurred to me that there were million more good people who did not enter the history books – I thought it is by default that a person born should become great. I was very sure that by being truthful, sincere and hardworking I can become great one day. So, I think I got some good education!

Besides all this, there used to be those dictation and reading sessions every day just after lunch time. Our pronounciations used to be corrected and spelling skills improved. We started using pencil and paper sometime in IV standard. Only from VI standard full-fledged use of note books, pencil and pen started. Fountain pens, which used to bring a lot of misery to me very often... I will write about it some other time!

We had some home work – like writing the tables 3 times or some difficult spelling 5 times etc. But the total homework could fit into the two sides of the slate. I think we had one teacher handling all subjects for a particular standard and hence she knew the total work that should be done at home. We never had to slog to complete homework or school work.

Morning and evening we had school assembly – we used to sing 12 songs – one per day per session on the country, our School, on Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, on Vivekananda and on other such spiritual leaders. A lot of songs of Subramanya Bharathiyar and Suddhananda Bharathiyar were taught. All of us used to sing and somehow the patriotic fervour got into us – with or without full understanding. We knew that we should love our country and we were very proud of our country though country was really till the borders of our little place only then!

All children participated in cleaning of the class and school. Flag was respected. Decorations meant beautiful rangoli on floors and flower arrangement using what is available free. Nothing was bought – everything was recycled. Every annual day saw us using recycled paper for our crowns, swords, and sometime even costumes.

We were set of poor children ( the whole school) with very rich imagination and absolutely wealthy ideas to be happy! Thanks to each and every teacher of the school and thanks to Ramakrishna Vidyalaya, Sivaganga !