INDIA SCHOOL LIBRARIES
EDUCATION ENRICHMENT FOR SCHOOLS OF SOUTH INDIA
Library sponsorship, an LPGM initiative, was coordinated by Doug and Jane Koons. There are 105 library sponsors in the form of congregations, small groups, extended families and individuals. Here’s the latest bit of information about the very successful venture …
UPDATE August 17, 2011
Libraries vs. Curriculum: When the state of Tamil Nadu elected a new government right before the start of the school year on June 1, 2011, delivery of new books and curriculum resources was delayed by 2-1/2 months. For schools with no extra enrichment materials, days were cut in half, short-changing students of their education and the critical noontime meals that are provided. For ALC schools, their librarires and book-related activities helped fill in for missing curriculum. Reading, grammar and writing – both in Tamil and English – geography, and science were taught through the library resources. Teachers especially highlighted the bilingual Tamil-English books and were delighted to see reading improvement in English. This supported existing resources like the Word Wheel.
Scores of book activities, like creating thumbprint characters from the Thumb Thumb Thambi series, captured the imagination of students. Teachers read aloud more than ever and students were enthralled by the stories and characters. During the morning assembly at a village school, a teacher read a story “about treating all the students equally” in class. That same day, letter writing was taught on how to invite friends to a birthday party. One popular student, Jagadesh, invited the less popular Manikandan. Jagadesh’s friend Kamali did not accept this. But Jagadesh reminded him of the story they heard that morning. The teachers were so happy that the stories really change the life and character of the students.
ALC Library Programme Reaching out into the World: Because the Niruvanam Rights organization had heard positive things about the ALC Library Programme, they requested training for their staff. Since Niruvanam focuses on keeping girls in school past the fifth grade, the staff believed that active, vibrant library programs would be a point of encouragement. Three ALC Library Core teachers traveled with quantities of materials nine hours each way by bus through the night to conduct the two-day weekend training. Monday they arrived back home at 7:30 am and were at their schools by 9:30 am. In sharing Library Programme training with others, these special and gifted teachers earned a Capital D for dedication. The Niruvanam staff said that “they have never attended such lively training; and they as teachers left their shyness behind and are going out with boldness to work with children in innovative ways.”
Reading up a Storm: With all of these opportunities, ALC students are reading and re-reading their books. Reports continue to come in on how reading levels are improving and how a growing number of ALC students are reading above grade level. This is huge! Results from a recent nationwide educational survey in India indicates that a the majority of 5th grade students from poorer communities read at 2nd grade level. It is difficult for this gap to be closed and students more often than not drop out of school. What a difference a library can make!
