Learn the fun way
PREMA MANMADHAN
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Having won an international recognition, The Gurukul is an exemplary school for more reasons than one.
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Sing a song, sing along... where every child has a role to play.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
Here is a school where children can run around barefoot, where they don't have to sit with ties around their necks. The Gurukul, started a year and a half ago, has got an enviable ranking, given by Fielding Nair, a U.S. based body that is promoting innovative schools worldwide.
Prakash Nair of Fielding Nair, in a communiqué to the school director, Asha Panickar, says, "I would score your school seven on my rating scale. Needless to say, this is one of the highest scores I have given to any school in India."
Says Asha Panickar, director, who set up the school, "The syllabus we are following is the same as other schools (ICSE); what is different is the way that it is delivered. Our emphasis is on `learning to learn' and not rote learning. Children are encouraged to think for themselves. They learn about plants and animal life not only through books but by actually observing and interacting with the outdoors. We understand that students learn at different pace. Comparisons between students and schools in terms of progress of the curriculum also is not realistic; the final test of this is whether students know how to learn and are able to write standardised tests as set out by the various examination boards."
The principal of the school, Pendharkar, has over 30 years work experience in Canada as a teacher. He was the first person of Indian origin to be elected the chairman of a School Board in Canada. "I joined the school because I was instantly impressed with the school's logo: a child reading under a coconut palm," he says.
Tuitions are not allowed. Slow learners are given extra classes at school.
What to wear
The uniform is designed, keeping the weather in mind. As there is a lot of physical activity as part of the curriculum, the girls wear a kurti with loose pants. No close collars or ties for boys. Children wear sandals or canvas shoes and most of the time, they run barefoot.
Classes are from Pre-KG to Std VIII.
"I felt that if schools did a good job, kids wouldn't need tuitions. There is enough time in the school day to get an education and that doesn't mean only books, books and more books. There should be other activities built into the curriculum, like yoga, dance, music, swimming, arts and crafts. We try and accommodate as many such classes as possible."
The homely atmosphere, the activity-based learning, the connection with nature and the non-institutional look and feel of the entire school is what makes The Gurukul different and a happy place for students to learn.
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