The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Making the classroom a window to the world

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Saturday, Aug 30, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Making the classroom a window to the world

S. Harpal Singh

Adilabad’s SSC performance leads to introspection

Change needed: Students of the Government school, Balapur in Jainad mandal of Adilabad district are happy to play inside the classroom

ADILABAD: What steps should be taken to improve the classroom atmosphere so that it becomes the students’ window to the world? This is the question that is exercising the minds of educationists in Adilabad district following last year’s dismal performance in the SSC exams.

The debate generated among members of the teaching community after the SSC results has incorporated development of the overall personality of students. “Adilabad being a backward district, students naturally face a kind of disadvantage in terms information. For the development of a student’s personality he or she needs to be ‘well informed’. Though the daily activity in school is based on scientific research, it still falls short. As students stick to the classroom for most of the working hours, it is the classroom atmosphere that needs to be more dynamic,” explains Swamy Reddy, Adilabad district president of the United Teachers Federation.

No more gurukuls

“During the gurukulam days from the past, classes were conducted directly in the lap of the nature. It provided ample scope for students to learn from nature. The enclosed walls of the modern school will obviously deny students such an advantage and hence the need for further improvement in the atmosphere here", points out author B. Muralidhar.

A typical classroom consists of proverbs and sayings painted on the walls, educational charts, maps, models of fruits and animals and pictures of national leaders among other things. This is intended to keep the student engrossed in ‘learning’ even if the teacher is not present.

“This atmosphere does not change for long periods. Even the proverbs do not change. It is this atmosphere that needs to be more dynamic through student participation,” opines K. Yadagiri, Head Master of Lalgada primary school in Talamadugu mandal.

Elaborating on the theory of the classroom being more dynamic, the UTF president stresses on topicality. He says the classroom walls in schools in agency area should contain pictorial depiction of lifecycle of disease-spreading mosquitoes.

“The ‘writing on the wall’ should be made dynamic and topical in this manner,” he observes.

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