Yesterday was an extremely challenging day. My teaching went very well and the kids are really starting to understand my English. They are also superstars with greetings and getting to know you questions!! While I was in the fourth standard however, the teacher thought that several of the boys were misbehaving. Her method for getting them to calm down is so repulsive and in most countries would be considered child abuse. The Indian Supreme Court did pass a law saying that corporal punishment in schools is illegal-however not all states adopted this law. It also appears from my research that it is not enforced as it should be. In the United States not all states have passed laws that make it illegal to use corporal punishment on school grounds. However, child abuse cases are given great attention-which does not appear to be the case here and our ideas of what defines child abuse are very different.
Most of the teachers I have witness usually swat at a kid or threaten to hit them with body language that looks much like an empty threat of violence. The fourth standard teacher hits the children with a wooden stick rather hard on the arms, back, and stomach-she leaves welts. When it all happened I wasn't even sure how to respond. I did have to fight back tears as I was standing in front of the whole class when it happened. I instantly felt so sick to my stomach hearing those boys cry and beg her not to hit them. I know that as a teacher with rowdy and energetic boys in the classroom it can be difficult to have them sit and listen. I know the frustration all too well from working with youth at-risk. Especially when they are that little and they have so much energy. I also while working at the Academy had been pushed to my limits by behavioral issues within the classroom-but never had physical violence ever crossed my mind. I guess that is why I am struggling so much to fathom what I saw. I struggle with how I will react in the future if it happens. The teacher speaks only a few words in English so it seems like it would be very difficult to have a conversation with her about others ways to manage behaviors and preventative ways for these young boys to burn off some energy so that they may focus while asked to do a task in the classroom. Perhaps I could offer to run a physical education class which would show the teachers how important physical activity is in the lives of young children. Any other suggestions or recommendations would be of great use and appreciated so much.
Well, on to happier things. Last night my headmistress came over and we practiced English together. She has her master's in English literature, has a massive vocabulary, and knows all there is to know about grammar-she just needs help with the pronunciation and a little work on her confidence and she will be good to go! She told me a little about herself. She has two sons, one in fifth standard and one in ninth standard. Last night her son was studying for an exam which she was supposed to be helping him study for so she had to ask him for permission to come over. He gave her one hour-her stay was short. The headmistress really is a beautiful woman. The school which she runs is seriously underfunded. She acts as the headmistress and the fifth standard teacher. It is also her job to make sure that the grounds which the school are on are maintained. She does this on her own once a week with a small group of boys and girls. I think its kind of nice-it definitely helps them take ownership of their school and harnesses a sense of pride. But it is such hard work-she puts a lot into that school and those kids.
A random little side note: This week I have also made a pact with myself to get off my butt and do some physical activity! Mostly for my mental health since a lot of what I see and experience is kind of exhausting emotionally. But also because eating rice and rice products with little to no veggies is starting to make me feel all lethargic!! I was also on facebook and saw how awesome Alwyn has been doing and it truly inspired me! Alwyn-your hard work and dedication is truly beautiful.
Most of the teachers I have witness usually swat at a kid or threaten to hit them with body language that looks much like an empty threat of violence. The fourth standard teacher hits the children with a wooden stick rather hard on the arms, back, and stomach-she leaves welts. When it all happened I wasn't even sure how to respond. I did have to fight back tears as I was standing in front of the whole class when it happened. I instantly felt so sick to my stomach hearing those boys cry and beg her not to hit them. I know that as a teacher with rowdy and energetic boys in the classroom it can be difficult to have them sit and listen. I know the frustration all too well from working with youth at-risk. Especially when they are that little and they have so much energy. I also while working at the Academy had been pushed to my limits by behavioral issues within the classroom-but never had physical violence ever crossed my mind. I guess that is why I am struggling so much to fathom what I saw. I struggle with how I will react in the future if it happens. The teacher speaks only a few words in English so it seems like it would be very difficult to have a conversation with her about others ways to manage behaviors and preventative ways for these young boys to burn off some energy so that they may focus while asked to do a task in the classroom. Perhaps I could offer to run a physical education class which would show the teachers how important physical activity is in the lives of young children. Any other suggestions or recommendations would be of great use and appreciated so much.
Well, on to happier things. Last night my headmistress came over and we practiced English together. She has her master's in English literature, has a massive vocabulary, and knows all there is to know about grammar-she just needs help with the pronunciation and a little work on her confidence and she will be good to go! She told me a little about herself. She has two sons, one in fifth standard and one in ninth standard. Last night her son was studying for an exam which she was supposed to be helping him study for so she had to ask him for permission to come over. He gave her one hour-her stay was short. The headmistress really is a beautiful woman. The school which she runs is seriously underfunded. She acts as the headmistress and the fifth standard teacher. It is also her job to make sure that the grounds which the school are on are maintained. She does this on her own once a week with a small group of boys and girls. I think its kind of nice-it definitely helps them take ownership of their school and harnesses a sense of pride. But it is such hard work-she puts a lot into that school and those kids.
A random little side note: This week I have also made a pact with myself to get off my butt and do some physical activity! Mostly for my mental health since a lot of what I see and experience is kind of exhausting emotionally. But also because eating rice and rice products with little to no veggies is starting to make me feel all lethargic!! I was also on facebook and saw how awesome Alwyn has been doing and it truly inspired me! Alwyn-your hard work and dedication is truly beautiful.
Your heart is big, Kylie, and it is one of the major gifts you will bestow upon your students this year; that is the Grace in you. But it also means it will break all the harder hundreds of times this year as your western perspectives and assumptions collide with eastern. And, yes, evil is still evil and wrong is wrong, but our emotional reactions to things are colored by what we automatically expect. It will always be hard to know when to speak up and when not to say anything … or how to say/indicate things without making a scene. Chances are the students' expectations here (even the beaten ones) were/are different than your own … but I don't know that for your situation. If the headmistress' English is as good as you say, maybe she's the one to talk to about this a bit … not as an indictment of your "colleague" but in seeking to help you understand what seems like abuse to you and finding out what is allowable and what is expected of Indian teachers? As always, appreciating your blog so much! Ron
ReplyDeleteNice to hear that you are becoming physically active. It has always helped me focus and relieve stress. I imagine that it is difficult to run in the heat. Do you ever see runners or walkers out for exercise?
ReplyDeleteYou should ask the headmistress to clarify what type of punishment is considered acceptable, so that you are better prepared in the future.
Proud of you Kylie,
Bob
Dear Sister,
ReplyDeleteI think that trying to help build a physical education class or just a short period of time each day would really help the children. I know from when I was a camp counselor (and I'm sure you know) that when the kids started misbehaving we would break for a physical game of dodge ball or kickball, something that would allow them to use their energy. Maybe you could teach them a game or two like that, they may not even know about the great game of kickball :)
I'll keep asking you about your sprints to ensure you are doing them!
Love you lots,
Erie
xoxo