The First Day of School

Day 2:  The kids start school today.  I spoke with the administrator via email and confirmed that we would be starting today.  We made the 45 minute journey with our driver, who frightens me, and Baru, our kind caretaker whom I’d asked along just for comfort.  We arrived at the school during breakfast, so there was NO one in the administration building.  I called Anju to alert her to our presence and she told us to meet her at the cafeteria, which is about an 800 meter walk.  Luckily we got lost and she found us, put us in a car and took us to the cafeteria.  The day begins in the cafeteria, where 700 students plus all the staff gather to have breakfast.  It is so loud and chaotic that George and Grace freaked out.  Grace hid under the table, complaining “it’s too loud!”  George tried not to cry.  Alex did all right and ate watermelon and pancakes.

I’m afraid lunch will be the same.  Alex is adjusting better than Grace, my little social butterfly, who is lost and scared and just wants to play.

George was willing to go with his teacher from the cafeteria to class, so I sent him on and went with Grace and Alexander to their class. 

So we entered the preschool.  I was overwhelmed by the classroom.  It was chaos.  We were in the classroom for 2 hours and they read one story, had each of the 24 students wait a turn to make one colored hand print, (each student came to the teacher, the teacher dipped the child’s hand in paint and pressed it onto paper, the child was told to wash his/her hands.  Their reactions made it clear that these children have never had paint on their hands.  And there was no chance they were going to be able to use the paint themselves), sat in a circle and had to sit Indian style with eyes closed without wiggling for 10 minutes listening to music.  Then they danced a small bit.  There doesn’t seem to be any structure.  I cannot figure out what they do, and it would be so much better if they just let them play.  They did have a snack of cookies and watermelon.  It seems clear that the children never get unstructured play, and never even get to do artwork on their own.  I’m not sure what they are trying to teach them other than sit still, stand up straight, and wait your turn (with 23 other kids going first).  There are 3 teachers and 2 didis (nannies/assistants) for 24 children ages 2.5 to 5.  They have ample help to have numerous activities.  But one teacher guides an activity at a painstaking pace (because the children are wiggling and squirming and the teacher waits), while the other three sit and watch, or drink tea.  They don’t interact with the children unless it was to scold them. 

A child was screaming his head off and there was no loving response whatsoever.  Just restraint.

I’m do not like this.  I’m praying George has fared better.