Sunday, February 3, 2013

Back to school with Big Bob...

I'm choosing to focus my post on some of the specifics having to do with the daily classes that are conducted  at the Marshall Public School in India...
As you read in an earlier post by Jenny about our flight issues in Mumbai, it wasn't due to language barriers but rather cultural characteristics that caused us such anxiety...English is clearly the secondary language throughout India and spoken very clearly in the bigger cities.  With that being said, this is why it is such a bonus that English is being taught along with the other subjects at Marshall Public School.
After arriving by foot, bike, auto rickshaw (the one pictured below had 16 kids in it) and the MPS van, the children line up for morning assembly.









They have announcements, sing the national anthem, recite the school pledge, and on the particular  day that we were there they handed out awards for academic excellence. 







The children go to school 6 days a week from 8:30 to 4:00.  
There classroom sizes are not even close to what would be considered acceptable in the U.S., not to mention the amount of children crammed into each one.
But Novahu said that Indian people are accustomed to being in tight quarters like the auto rickshaw they arrived in or their small living spaces; it is their culture, their way of life.




We saw a huge difference in the communication skills of the children from the last time we were in India two years ago.  All due to the education that is being provided through Joyful Journeys Ministry.  For that you should all be proud of what your support is doing!



For those of you that know us, you are aware that we have chosen the path to homeschool our own daughters, but we can truly see that this is the best and possibly the only opportunity for these children to have a better life.  
On that same note, the night school for adults which is also sponsored by JJM has given many people a second chance at an education and hope for a better future.


We were all moved by the testimonies given by a couple of the night school students and how grateful they were to be given this opportunity.  In my opinion, this would certainly be an area worth expanding not only for the good of each individual who attends, but the good of their community.
Thank you for your support, it is really making a difference in the world!
BB