A Tribute To Our Guiding Light-Government School Kethmarnahalli
As we
moved on to the Government School, Kethmaranahalli, a spacious classroom
splashed in bright blue was slowly filled to capacity by students in uniforms
of a matching indigo. With charts of
animals, vegetables, and a whole lot of other artwork that adorned the walls,
students totaling about a hundred waited for their teachers to arrive. In the
interim, as Maitreyee (Founding Member of D.S.F), engaged students in
conversation, to one question, with firm conviction, a student said that
Teacher’s Day is celebrated as this was the day that all teachers were born.
Head-Mistress,
Miss Parimala, and associate teachers, Miss Pankaja and Miss Vishalakshiwere
again praised to the skies by students. A small skit imitating their teachers
had the audience in splits. In a bid to engage the teachers in a competition,
each teacher was asked to blow a balloon which was to be burst only by sitting
on it. At the end of two minutes the teacher with the highest count would be
the winner. As the event began, with each bursting balloon, the children
cheered on and celebrated just as they would during Diwali. Each balloon that
burst saw a roar from kids who found it hard to contain their excitement. As
the teachers cut a cake in celebration of this day, students sang Happy Birthday
at the top of their lungs. A quick correction and in the same tone and rhythm,
they sang Happy Teachers Day and sunk their teeth into the cupcakes that were
distributed.
Miss Vishalakshi told us of
the complex matters that they deal with on a daily basis at school. Grossly
understaffed, teachers find it difficult to handle these many students at a
time. Parents who are drunks, drug addicts or imprisoned seem uninterested in
the education of their wards, thereby making it harder for the teachers who are
expected to don additional responsibility.
-- Karun Gopinath
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