Dr. Montessori's Time in India Part 1

There is not much information about Dr. Montessori's time in India.  Recently, I stumbled upon an article on the web written by Dr. Gardner.  The article is in two parts and I have read them both.  It made me recall my experience of visiting a school that was founded by Leena Sarabhai under the guidance of Dr. Montessori who stayed with her for many years.

Leena Sarabhai and Myself

In 2008 when Stephen and I were in India, we made several phone calls to find out if there were any Montessori Institutes or schools in the area where we were staying.  Fortunately someone from Bangalore gave us the name of a Montessori school in Ahmedabad.  Stephen and I decided to go there for an observation.  It is called the Shreyas Foundation.  We were taken by surprise to see a beautiful wooded campus in the middle of the daily hub of Ahmedabad.  We were greeted by a pair of peacocks as we walked towards the sparingly visible building. 

"I have been here before!" I said to Stephen and he laughed saying, "In your dreams."  No, I really had been here in 1996 with a classmate of mine, Deepali, who had attended this school.  She took me there to show me her school and in particular meet her teacher who still teaches here.

Leena Sarabhai and Stephen

We received a very warm welcome by the office staff and were told that 'Madam'(Dr. Montessori), herself had designed the school building and the campus.  We were given the opportunity to visit two classrooms that were set up by Dr. Montessori.  Observations from these two classrooms are recorded in her books, The Absorbent Mind and The Discovery of The Child. It was an amazing experience and we were eager to meet the founder of the school,  Leena Sarabhai.  We took an auto ricksha to her residence and were fortunate to spend some time with her.  We sat by Leena Sarabhai and listened to fabulous stories of Dr. Montessori and her venture of starting  the Shreyas Foundation.   She held our hands and told us to come to India and that there was much to be done.  

Leena Sarabhai invited us to join her at the school the next week for a cultural program.  Stephen and I took a seat with little students in one of the open air auditoriums where young students won our hearts by their performance.  Stephen has a recording of our conversations with Leena Sarabhai. 

Leena Sarabhai's Garden

It has been four years since we visited Shreyas and hope we will have another chance to visit again.  I am confident that we will be able to respond to this invitation towards serving little people who need us the most and truly there is much to be done.

Dr. Montessori's time in India.... to be continued in Part 2

The Black Outlines

Teen Board Box with a black outlined lid

We have found that all of the boxes containing Montessori materials have black outlines.  I find it very interesting and assume that it is for tracing the box before presentation, giving the child a visual parameter of the shape and size of the box.  I remember when Sr. Anita told us the secret behind using mats in the classroom.  It is to give the child a visual sense of his work area and research has proved that the young child does not have the ability to use peripheral vision until much later.  I doubt if any manufacturers still make these boxes with black outlines.

Unusual Things and a Quick Trip to Chicago Part 2

Treasure in the Garage

Complete set of long and short chains

 You have to look with the child's eyes to call these materials "Treasures."  Montessori materials help the child develop coordination, concentration, order and independence and above all they are the tools for transferring ideas from the teacher to the student while  assisting the development other higher faculties.

My eyes lit up when I saw a full set of long and short chains, Moveable Alphabets and Sensorial materials.  When I saw a clear plastic circle for tracing the hemispheres I exclaimed, "Found it!!!" Everyone else other than myself and Dr. Sarada were rolling their eyes. 

I have to say it was all meant to be.  I have such love for my motherland and at last I am able to give back some.  And so many people have become either a cause or the means for us to get there.  I am truly grateful.  There is still much to be done from finding an ideal building to making sure that there is a sandbox and some outdoor play equipment, a garden,  some furniture and more puzzles and more books.  

Stephen loading the truck

We have the certitude that everything will work out as we have a good cause to work towards.

 

Unusual Things and a Quick Trip to Chicago Part 1

Jaya Auntie

Dr. Jaya and Myself

Sometimes things just happen to us and we are left with many "Why?" thoughts.  It has just happened to me.  I was as usual taking a walk with my little daughter on a beautiful morning in May, I knew someone was walking behind me.  I am so used to stopping and letting people go ahead of me pretending that I am fixing my baby's blanket and this morning I did the same.  I let this slender evenly paced woman overtake me. 

As I resumed my walking I noticed that she had a very long beautiful braid almost coming down to her waist.  Immediately so many guesses ran through my mind,  "She could be Indian...wait, let me walk faster and overtake her to see if she is really Indian!"    And so I did, huffed and puffed hurriedly.  I overtook her and looked at her and spotted a beautiful red dot(bindi) on her forehead, I knew she was from India but as I looked at her she looked right back at me.  When I got nervous I started talking.  I asked her if she was from India and the answer was, "Take three guesses, the answer is yes, yes and yes!" and we burst out laughing.  We had a nice introduction and found we carried India with us.  It was a very joyous meeting.  This wonderful person is 'Jaya Auntie'...

 

Dr. Sarada and Montessori Materials

Dr. Sarada and Myself

...Now as we talked I mentioned to her that I was moving back to India to start a Montessori school,  she was very happy and wanted me to get in touch with her friend in Chicago who is a Montessori Teacher.  And this wonderful person in Chicago is 'Sarada Auntie.'   

Dr. Sarada has taught Montessori for many years and is a celebrated author and a scholar.  Dr. Sarada had run a Montessori program for many years and happened to have some Montessori material in her basement.  She offered to give it to us and..."Lo and behold... we have a significant amount of material to bring back to India with us."  So, we rented a pick up truck and drove to Chicago over the week end with our good friends Paritosh and Sunaina.  It was much fun and of course we had the baby changing, feeding and playing all through the way.

Treasure in the Garage

Now as we pulled in the drive way we saw a few boxes and some materials lying on a sheet in the garage.  We saw Sarada Auntie and Jaya Auntie come out through the door and were surprised to see all of us show up.  A very warm welcome brightened our faces and the fatigue disappeared.  Soon we looked at everything and started packing, we were only expecting a few things but there were many. 

Most of the classic Math and Sensorial materials kept coming out of the boxes.  As we looked through the boxes, Dr. Sarada's eyes were filled with tears, she had kept these materials for such a long time, they were very special to her.  She had always wanted to give them to someone who could use them in an appropriate way.  

I hope these materials will be used appropriately by little hands in our classroom.   Dr. Montessori herself was very apprehensive of anyone using her didactic apparatus without training and understanding the purpose behind it.

Treasure in the garage........to be continued in Part 2

Fond Memories of Barrie School

I have been very fortunate to have spent some time at Barrie school.  It is here that I learned the true meaning of 'the discovery of the child.'  The teachers are advocates of Montessori education and the natural desire for learning.  I believe that the quality of education and time spent at school is usually reflected on the face of the student.  And in my memories are the radiant faces of Barrie students.

When I came to the lower school,  someone told me that the campus looked very beautiful then but it would not nearly be as pleasant during winter.  It stood true; came winter, all pretty leaves disappeared and one could only see tall trees meditating in deep cold.  However the cold days did not feel nearly as difficult because there was the warmth of loving teachers around.  I still remember the International Children's Day,  it was freezing cold but the joy of seeing young friends with so much enthusiasm kept me warm. 

Working with Cathy Carpenter and Ernestine McCoy was a great experience.  Some of my favorite moments spent at Barrie were the Army and Fife Musical Band performance,  International games festival,  playing birds in trees in the woods, study of trees especially the soil erosion study.  

Soil that was covered with tree 

parts like leaves, twigs, flowers remains intact

Soil without trees erodes

Saying Good Bye

It is now time to say "Good Bye."  In the recent past I have enjoyed the wealth of having friends around as great pillars of support.  Hope our friendship will continue across the oceans.  I will be very much interested in knowing what you are up to and how we could do 'New Things.'

Fond Memories 2010

I am certain that each one of us has a unique call in the field of education and for me it is India calling me.  I have always had a sense of that and for various reasons could not respond earlier.  My hopes for starting a Public Charter Montessori School in DC have not diminished; I hope some of you will be able to take on the stand and do it.  

I would like to acknowledge you all as source of inspiration while cherishing all the days spend together, at the Institute and during our gatherings.  I greatly appreciate your dedication and commitment as teachers and colleagues. 

Fond Memories 2011

Some of my favorite moments were when Nick taught us to sing B A Be, B E B, B Bi Biki Bi B O Bo..., I loved to hear roars of laughter, especially Paige's and Jipsy's voices.  I had so much fun making little paper frogs with Sarah during The Science Behind the Genius, multimedia presentation.  I remember the fun we had at Melissa's place at our first gathering.  I enjoyed seeing Guiles everyday early in the morning.  Jackie showed us the best table wash ever.  Shahana's Bhangra and Candice's post it notes are in my memories.  Addie, you didn't notice but I was always watching you eat....hehe..sushi yummm. Thanks for the rides to the metro.  Christie, I loved all the materials you made.  Michele, I loved meeting your family at the museum.  There are many more moments to remember and smile.  

I am looking forward to using this blog as a tool to communicate and share what we do and have in future.  I am still figuring out how to write a blog and manage it.

Miscellaneous

It has been quite a challenge to pack 'home' into boxes.  Packing can be a nightmare with a 9 month old around because Claire, the 9 month old,  has mastered the art of unpacking.  She is able to open any box or carton using her four upper or lower teeth.  She can undo anything for example she will topple over a basket full of socks, toys or little objects, she can pull  clothes out of the suitcase one by one.  You could observe and find that there is some great force driving her to do this as she constructs herself.  My efforts to teach her to put things back into a basket or bag are vain. "She is not there yet!" She is just now beginning to associate signs with actions or feelings.  Yesterday she made the sign for pain when she fell during her attempt to stand up.

I have bought some very small objects from Michael's. You must check out 'Toob' hand painted objects, I was fascinated by their Seven Wonders of The World.  Here is the web address www.safariltd.com.  I hope to find many interesting materials in India but there are some exceptional materials which will be difficult to find there.  I am also looking for sequencing books and small puzzles. 

I am looking forward to bringing some positive contributions in the field of education in India.  There is so much to be done.