6 -Teaching at the Government sponsored school in Kalwar village

This was our first day with our children !!  We doubt there is a more adorable group of students to be found  !!  Each day begins with the students gathered in their courtyard in exact lines — even the smallest children.  The Principal of the school then comes forward to give them the “Lecture of the Day” (often about what appropriate behavior should be). The children sit on the ground and truly pay attention for the entire lecture.  After that is complete, the children all join in with a prayer which is said by all of the students, Hindu, Christian, and Muslim.  Finally, the reward comes!  Fresh milk for everyone !  Hooray !  The children are then on their way to class.

We took no photos on this day of our particular students.  The class we teach is one and a half hours and begins BEFORE the children assemble in the courtyard.  It is amazing to us the number of children who are willing to attend our class, which is totally voluntary. Because it is conversational English, the students believe (as do the teachers with whom we interacted) that it will aid all of these students from this very rural area in getting a job.  They only have one class of English in the school and we spent quite a bit of time with the English teacher.  She stated that she is required to focus on grammar and vocabulary and has almost no time for conversational English.  Thus she appreciates the Service Learning volunteers and feels as if they contribute to her ability to provide English skills to her students.  By the way,  this is the first year at this school for this English teacher (who we think is delightful).  It was made clear to us that the previous English teacher for this school could not speak English at all…….

We thought you might enjoy seeing our view as we walk to school in the morning to teach.  As we walk out of our gate, we are always greeted by several kind-faced cows and at least one working camel.  This particular one is being used to bring handmade bricks up a hill to an individual who is hand-building his own home in the village of Kalwar right next to where we are staying.  He almost always greets us each morning!