What are we teaching in the classroom

There were endless moments where the question 'What are we teaching in the classroom?' hung above my head. Travelling from Delhi to Bandarjhund was a change in environment, food, and the general pace of life. Are our classrooms teaching only the spelling of 'responsibility' rather than its essence? A visit to Arthur Foot Academy (GSA Special Project) is set in a beautiful village under a blue sky. It might have fewer computers, but clean air to breathe. This visit to AFA was to set up the library, attend their Founder's Day, and meet the teachers we see online for the teacher training sessions. 

The training sessions (Learning Forward Saturday) have become an interesting space. Teachers are warming up to us, adapting to this form of communication, and sharing their classroom stories. We dwelled on the theme: How does the teacher take care of oneself in the classroom? We brainstormed lesson plan ideas that are collaborative, creative, and artistic, so the teacher can have a moment of silence without interrupting the learning. This is essential for the classroom space: we are humans in front of our students who need rest on days, and we are modelling that to them. 

This brings me to another conundrum that Brewing Knowledge Friday brought to our group. We have been reading about moral development. It brought to our attention the hypocrisy we adults exhibit toward our children about humility, yet we punish them if they help their classmates. An eighth-grade student shared a real-life example from her class about how her teacher discouraged her from sharing stationery with her friends in the classroom. This is important and pertinent to our group and readers since it sheds light on the hypocrisy of being an active part of our school environment. Are we walking the talk for our young minds? Are we just teaching them the word, not the ways of the world, which require more compassion, consciousness, and responsibility at the moment? Ending the week on a note that we can reflect on in these spaces together, share gently what can be done at an individual level, what we can do as educators, and what is essential right now. 

Neelashi Mangal

Editor and Host Brewing Knowledge Friday