Chennai Professional Development Program

On Tuesday, January 22nd we began the first Professional Development Program with state level leaders in Chennai.  Our hosts were the Tamil Nadu Elementary Teachers' Federation.  We had the opportunity to meet their leadership and work in their new building.

We worked with 20 participants from 7 states.  Many of the participants travelled between 10-20 hours by train or bus to attend the program.  The participants were excellent – it quickly became apparent that  they were there to learn and it took us very little time to build a connection with them and engage in many professional conversations.

This is the first time either Laurel or I have had the opportunity to facilitate in our bare feet!  No one wore shoes in the board room and it didn't take long for Laurel and I to follow suit!!  We enjoyed the cool marble floors on our very warm feet!  When in Chennai . . .

On day one we discussed the role of teachers as leaders of change.  The participants gave many examples of the work they are doing to bring about change in their professional organization, their communities and in the lives of their students.  In the afternoon, Dr. Singh presented a session on constructivism and we worked together to help bring the concept to life for the participants.  Constructivism is a foundational element in their curriculum and the participants, just like teachers in Saskatchewan, are working to understand and implement this philosophy of learning into their practice.

On day two, we spent the entire day discussing differentiated instruction.  Like all teachers, our participants work with a broad range of students and expressed a strong desire to consider ways to improve the learning of all students.  This was a heavy day with discussions covering learning styles, multiple intelligences (faciliated by Dr. Singh), and opportunities for practical applications of the concepts.  The teachers worked very hard and made significant strides in their understanding and creative applications of differentiated instructional strategies.

Somewhere between the night of day two and the start of day three, Laurel managed to kill the laptop.  It was alive when it went into her room and very dead when it came out.  Lord only knows the suffering it must have endured!!

So, day three started with many, many discussions of how to solve our problem.  While Laurel was trying to float the facilitation boat, Ian was on a trip to the market to either repair our laptop or purchase a new one.  Of course, in my absence, Laurel was coaching the group to believe I had either gone shopping or to the beach.  Many people were looking for sand on my toes when I returned.  Also during my absence, a crew of men showed up with a rented laptop and data projector.  At one point, there were 5 men trying to connect the equipment, which wasn't working.  The ladies had a good chuckle . . .

How many men does it take to . . . ?

Computer shopping India style.  In Canada, we need approximately two acres of space to sell computers.  You get no help, you self serve, you pay, you leave – 15 minutes.  In Chennai, we auto-rickshawed to a tiny street crammed with electronics stores.  We entered a large building with a dark hallway, also crammed with electronics stores, and entered a shop about the size of a bedroom.  It was overflowing with gear, people and staff.  We first tried to resurrect the computer – no luck – but we did discover the data was safe – Kerri will be happy!!  After that it was time to pick a new computer.  After I settled on a model and a price, some staff person disappeared to go find it.  I have no idea where they went.  About 15 minutes later (we'd already been there 20 minutes) the laptop appeared.  Then it was payment time – copying of my driver's licence, going behind the counter to enter my pin, multiple copies of paperwork, papers to stamp and the initial setup of the computer.  So, all told about an hour and a half.

It was then back to the the hall to load some software and rejoin Laurel.  I left at 11:00 and rejoined her at 2:30 – yikes!!

We finished the day and then dragged our tails back to the hotel.

Our final day was spent discussing action research and their leadership roles when they return to their states.

The minister for elementary education came to bring greetings to the participants and to express his support for the work of AIPTF and the Professional Development Program.

Eswaran, the Minister, Dr. Singh

We had many engaging professional discussions with the teachers ranging from assessment and accountability to the status of the teaching profession in India and Canada.  It is interesting to see that they are facing the same issues and having the same professional discussions as teachers in Saskatchewan.  The participants were wonderful, generous people and fine teachers!!  Following closing ceremonies we headed back to our hotel and enjoyed a fine dinner of local fish to celebrate the end of our time in Chennai.

Today, we returned to Delhi to prepared for our second week of PDP training.

School visits in Chennai.

Great day in Chennai!

Our delegation of Dr. Singh, PDP India Co-ordinator, Tamil Nadu State Federation President, Treasurer and Administrator, Ian and Laurel were welcomed at Singaram Pillay Primary School  with flower leis, shawls, tea and an apple presented by a student .  

What followed was a magical tour of classrooms with beautiful children wanting to read stories in English, sing songs in Tamil, and demonstrate their math skills at the chalkboard.  In one class we were offered the opportunity to look into one student’s notebook  followed quickly by 39 other little notebooks and handshakes for all. 

The girls' side of the classroom.

The boys' side of the classroom.

Demonstrating her three digit subtraction skills.

An art display was set up for our enjoyment.  Some great artists!!

We had the opportunity to see dedicated teachers doing all the things we do back home – differentiation, creating materials, integrating curriculum and creating classroom culture that is supportive and engaging.  Both schools are state funded and in lower socio-economic areas of Chennai.  It was stated that many of their parents have not had schooling and are not able to help with school work at home.  As one teacher commented, “We do it all”.  Attendance is near 100%.  Class size is approximately 40.

At our next stop, Corporation Primary School, we were showered with rose petals as we were greeted by six students who presented us each with a rose.  

Rose petal throwers.

Rose petal throwers.

Classroom visits and conversations with teachers about teaching conditions were followed by a meeting with the entire staff, Ian and Laurel bringing greetings from Canada, and a group photo – kind of like school picture day!

Dr. Singh having students demonstrate their math skills.

The school makes many things out of recycled objects.
This fish is made of pencil sharpener shavings - incredibly creative!

The school pincipal is sitting to Ian's left.

The day confirmed the dedication of teachers and their passion for their students.  At Corporation Primary School they indicated that the water for the students was filtered and purified.  The comment from the teacher was that everything is important because they are precious gifts.

This picture is the view from our hotel.  We’re in a rainforest in the a quieter part of town.  Yes, Tish and Murray - we moved hotels.

Tomorrow, we start the Professional Development Program with state level leaders from Southern India.

Chennai!

Laurel is the guest author of today's post!

Chennai , a coastal city of 8 million located on the Indian Ocean, is famous for textiles (notably silk) and information technology.  It is a beautiful, vibrant, fun city.

Dr. Singh, Ian and I arrived in the early afternoon of January 19 and were greeted by Tamil Nadu state association leaders.  We were welcomed with huge, fragrant, and very wet leis of pink roses and treated to a special lunch of South Indian food.

The afternoon and evening were spent shopping in the fabric and jewelry stores.  Thank you to Ian and the treasurer of the state teachers’ association (our guide and interpreter) for helping to find blue/red silk and for carrying the bags!

Silk and fabric as far as the eye can see!!

A woman on a mission - and yes, we lost her a few times!!

An uneventful trip to the ATM on Sunday turned into a day of great fun and sight-seeing.  As we walked into the gas station/ATM site, we were politely followed by a tuk-tuk (auto ricksaw) driver who welcomed us to Chennai and asked where we were from.  Suresh became our guide for the day and new-best-friend.  Tucked in his “Ferrari” and promised that “anything is possible”, we motored off to the fish market and beach-side area being rebuilt after the tsunami, the 12 kilometre long Marina Beach where we dipped our toes in the Bay of Bengal, and the historic sites of Chennai – Fort St. George, St. Mary’s Churchy, Shrine of St. Thomas, two Hindu Temples and the Church of Our Lady of Light built in 1516 by the Portugese.    A trumpet with man in full uniform caught Ian’s eye and we followed the man to the front of the Church of St. Thomas.  A band played as a flower-decked car pulled up and a bride and full bridal party emerged.  As the band played the bride entered the church, was blessed by two priests, and as family and friends watched surrounded by a bunch of sweaty tourists taking pictures, she began her procession down the aisle.  As we were leaving we noticed the next flower-decked SUV pull up.  It is wedding season in India!

On the left are the new apartments being built by the government  to replace the ones damaged by the tsunami, which are on the right.  We think people are still living in the ones on the right.

In Suresh's Ferrari!!

Tomorrow, we will spend the day visiting two schools and preparing to meet the teachers on Tuesday.

MJ and boys go home and Laurel Arrives!!

MJ and the boys flew back to Canada on January 16th and Laurel arrived on the 17th in the middle of the night.  Dr. Singh and co. had difficulty spotting her because they thought I said she was 5' 6"- perhaps they think all Canadian women are Tish's size!

After a quick rest, it was time for Laurel to do some power shopping.  We went to the state emporiums and to cottage arts.  Laurel managed to drop a few dollars that day!

Today, we met with Dr. Singh and Eswaran and discussed the upcoming program.  We had a long chat about unions, teacher salaries, and professionalism.  They are facing many of the same issues regarding marginalization of teachers in the collective bargaining process.  Indian teachers are fighting to keep up with inflation rates of approximately 20% - imagine indexing pensions at that rate!

The AIPTF building has a newly renovated board room.  It is much brighter and now has an LCD projector and unique lighting - something we've never seen before.  It has a special feature that Pam would really appreciate!!  More on that when we get home . . .

After our meeting, we were off to buy some cell phone minutes in the market.

Tomorrow, we're off to Chennai to start our first week of programming.

Agra and the Taj Mahal

Yesterday and today were spent in Agra, home of the Taj Mahal.  On our way to Agra, we stopped at an abandoned city called Fatehpur Sikri.  This walled city was built during the second half of the 16th century by Emperor Akbar.  He abandoned the city to fight Afghan tribes then moved his throne to Lahore.

Akbar had three wives - one Christian, one Muslim and one Hindu.  Only his Hindu wife bore him a son, and therefore she received the most magnificent palace within the city.  Because Akbar was Mughal and his three wives were from different religions, the architecture of the site reflects Asian, Islamic and Hindu architecture.  You can see the different types of arches - scalloped is Hindu, smooth is Islamic - as well as the pagoda type structures in these photos.

Notice in the photo of the arch the combination of Hindu and Mughal designs - the elephant trunks turn into dragons.

The highlight of our day, and the entire trip, was our visit to the Taj Mahal.  Shah Jahan built this monument in memory of his wife who died shortly after giving birth to their 14th child in 1563.  While she was pregnant, she asked her husband what he would do to remember her if she died and he promised to build the greatest mausoleum in the world - which should teach us men to hold our tongues when our wives are giving birth!

The Taj Mahal took 20 years to build by 20, 000 workers.  All the marble was shipped in from a site 300km away.  The artwork is all inlay of precious and semi-precious stones.  The Taj glitters both during the day and in the moonlight!  Mumtaz Mahal is buried right in the center of the building.  We were awestruck - all of us could have just stood there and stared all day.  It is absolutely breathtaking.

Yes, here we are on Diana's bench:

The entire compound is symmetrical - all four sides of the building look the same except for the verses from the Koran around the doors.  To the west is a mosque and directly opposite to the east is an exact copy that was used as a guesthouse.

After the Taj, we had our daily "this tour sponsored by" ritual at a marble inlay factory.  We received a lesson on the process and then the sales pitch began.  The pieces were beautiful.  A plate sized piece started around $280 and then prices went up fast!  We saw a fantastic table top for an 8 person table that had just sold for $22, 000!!  The salesman said he had tables that ran into 6 figure territory.  Most of the table tops in the picture below run from $4,000 to $15, 000.

Here's a few shots of our incredible hotel in Agra!

Today, we visited the Agra Fort.  Emperor Akbar build this fort and his sons added to it over time.  Shah Jahan lived and died here.  The workmanship here was the same as the Taj Mahal.

This fountain is one piece of marble:

The screen we're standing in front of is made from one piece of marble.  One mistake and you start all over!

The next photos show the level of detail in the inlay and carving:

The suits arrived this evening and after a final fitting and having them sent back to the tailor, they fit great!

We're doing our final power shop tomorrow and then MJ and the boys will be flying home.  My colleague, Laurel Irving-Piott will be joining me and we'll begin our chapter of the adventure!