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| And that’s Where the Workshop happened |
An experience at Digantar is uncomfortable,
awkward and close to being amongst aliens when you are not a teacher. It’s a
good thing that I didn’t think a lot before going a Children’s Literature
workshop run by Digantar in Jaipur. If I did, I would have been more than just
nervous. An assumption was made that there would be other writers who
interested in writing and children’s literature. Once again, good thing that I
didn’t do in-depth research.
As it turns out, my assumptions was dashed,
battered and broken against the rocks, or if you will – Digantar’s wall.
Turns out that Digantar was training teachers. Teacher’s I scoffed, I laughed, I was afraid – I knew
nothing about teaching. Nothing to do but wade along with the workshop.
The
shock
I heard stories about the educational
world. These stories are more real than those ones I’ve read on a pieces of
paper or online pages. These are stories from the movers and shakers of the
educational world. Teachers and NGO workers all trying to make a difference in
a churning and wheeling machinery that grinds students and teachers alike.
Stories from a Harayan teacher who is
trying to get parents to care about education. Stories about a University professor who
asks students to return the favour not through monetary means, but by getting
more students. An NGO worker who is trying to convince students to just sit and
read. Or the story of an NGO that futilely tries to convince a State Education
head that the latest curriculum is more of a burden than a problem solver.
They are driven by a need to give something
back to society. For some reason, they feel indebted to the goodness of society
and teaching is a way to give back. For others, it is the pure joy of children
that drives them forward.
Humbled
I know a lot. I read a lot. I consume
information of all sorts. Yet, in front of so many teachers I was humbled in a
manner that I never imagined. The stories, the discussions, the ideas, the
thought process – everything was foreign to me.
Imagine being in discussion between
educationalists on why a child is not interested in a particular type of
picture storybook. Ideas and suggestions are flying fast and hard, each as
valid and possible as the other. These are suggestions and assessments based on
experience. It’s all alien. All I could do was listen.
Listening
Even though I consider myself a good
listener, the next three days of the workshop took my listening skills to the
limits, because that’s what all I could do.
The amount of feedback or suggestions I can
give is very limited. A simple story about a children’s story based on a math’s
problem can be turned into a drama for children, while a slow story about a
tribal girl trying to get school can be quite interesting. I had to change my thinking.
What goes in the mind of the teacher is
very different from a normal human.
The
Passion
One thing that you cannot doubt – the
passion. The passion shown by these teachers, these NGOs, these educationalists.
This is a passion that stands the harsh cogs of the educational machine.
“Fresh water pond” that’s what one teacher
called the workshop.
They all face an onslaught.
And even at the end of it all, at the end of the workshop – they are
all excited. They can’t wait to take these new learning, these teachings, these
passions, this creativity back to their children.
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