Day 5- Sita school, state primary school, art in education and scrap science class

We divided into two groups for the sessions in the local primary schools as they are quite small. Half of us first visited Sita school and half first visited Parkenpallia state primary school. It was an extraordinary contrast to spend time in both schools. Sita school is a school which Jane Sahi began in 1980 in order to provide an alternative to the formal education system. The school teaches using art and craft, story telling and play as a way of teaching and learning. We arrived in time for the morning prayer during which the whole school of 35 sat silently for a few minutes of meditation, around an oil lamp surrounded by a circular pattern of flowers. It was a calm and gentle start to the school day, and very inspiring.


Peter had brought some sets of puppets with him, and so he told the story of the three little pigs, involving the children in the use of the puppets to tell the story. The children were transfixed!

The state school was an example of very many state primary schools in India. A small one roomed building with the Indian flag painted on the outside, and about 70 children of all ages. When we arrived there was no teacher- he arrived about half an hour later. We decided to carry on as planned and we spent some time singing number songs and playing some number games with some bean bags we had brought. Another group went outside with Julie and Claire and they taught a series of ball games, including rugby! Which they had never seen before.

We had a lot to talk about when we all came back together again about the two different contexts and types of schooling!

At 4.00 in the afternoon some of us spent some time with Roshan doing a creative arts activity based on his art in education project, and some of us went with Imo to another state primary school to attend one of her scrap science classes.

Day 1- SATURDAY- Arrival, orientation and artefacts.

Day 2- SUNDAY- Sensory mapping, rangoli patterns and folk dance.

Day 3- MONDAY- Rural locality study.

Day 4- TUESDAY- Urban Locality study.

Day 5- WEDNESDAY- Sita school, State primary school and scrap science class.

Day 6- THURSDAY- Convent school and private school.

Day 7- FRIDAY- Artefact gathering at a rural market.

Day 8- SATURDAY- Mysore trip.

Day 9- SUNDAY- Shopping.

Day 10- MONDAY- Reflection, cookery, and organising.