Education for All - Falling through the Cracks

Eleven year old Kalimuddin's family migrated to the city of Kanpur to escape griding poverty in their village in North East India. Though they were willing to work hard, ragpicking was the only job which his parents could find. The family lives in makeshift housing near the garbage dumping grounds, and spends their entire day sifting through the garbage to find things that can be re-cycled. Kalimuddin's day begins at 5 am, when he is at the dumping ground going through the garbage to find anything that can be re-used, re-cycled or re-sold. At ten, Kalimuddin had never stepped into a school- there were no schools in his locality, and even if there were, he was too busy working to think of an education.

Kalimuddin was only mildly interested when an informal education center was opened in his community. What convinced him to enroll in the "Apna Skool" was the fact that the classes were being conducted in the afternoon after he ended his working day. He is now so passionate about going to school, that even after his family was forced to relocate to a different locality, he continues to cycle 4.5 miles to get to school, and even ferries other younger kids to school and back.

Nine year old Arthi is enrolled in grade 5 in the local government school in her village of Amirthapuram in Tamil Nadu. Though she is a regular student, who wants to learn, a year back, she was struggling with her classes because of the poor quality of teaching in her school. She could barely read simple words, and struggled to subtract double digit numbers. Arthi is the name behind the statistics thrown up in an independent study conducted on the state of learning in India - "While 99.5% children between 6-10 years of age attend primary school in the state of Tamil Nadu, more than 50% of them cannot read a simple story or subtract 2-digit numbers."

Arthi was one of the lucky ones. Her problem was spotted and she was enrolled in a remedial learning program. Today, not only has she mastered her numbers and letters, she helps other students learn the 247 syllables of the challenging Tamil-language alphabet.

Nine year old Anuj belongs to the Musahar (rat-eating) community, which has been officially notified as a "criminal community" by the Government. Though enrolled in a local school, he was discriminated against, and not allowed to attend classes with the 'higher caste' children. His widowed mother was contemplating pulling him, and this three siblings, out of school because she could not think beyond the squalid conditions in which the family had lived for centuries.

Anuj was lucky enough to be noticed by a school that offered him free education in their residential school in Patna. Anuj is now doing extremely well in school, and dreams of studying engineering in one of the top institutions in the country.

In theory, the Government of India guarantees the 'Right to Education' of every child. In reality, millions of children like Kalimuddin, Arthi and Anju manage to slip through the cracks for a host of reasons.

Drive through rural India, and the largest building in almost every village is the government primary school. Unfortunately, almost all these buildings are deserted, because few teachers, if any, choose to show up, and parents see no point in sending their children to schools where there are no teachers. In the evening, in the same villages, you find dozens of children crowded into tiny sheds which double up as private 'coaching classes'. Parents who can afford to do so send their children to these classes, often conducted by the teachers who employed to teach in the government schools, the rest of the children end up dropping out of the system.

Though it is illegal to do so, in both rural and urban schools, teachers discriminate on the basis of caste, creed, religion and gender. Students belonging to the lower castes are often forced to sit so far away from the teacher that they cannot hear what is being taught in class. Once these children drop out of school, it is almost impossible to get them back into the system.

The education system in India is stacked against girls. Many girls, especially in larger families, are often forced to drop out of school so they can tend to younger siblings while the mother goes out to work. Girls who escape that fate, are often forced to drop out of school after they attain puberty because most government schools lack proper sanitation facilities. Across the country, non-profits have found that the immediate effect of constructing toilet blocks is a drastic increase in female attendance, yet school buildings continue to be built without adequate facilities.

There is a large population of migrant laborers which spends six to nine months in the cities, and returns to their villages during the harvest season. Since there is little or no standardization in curriculum across schools, the children of these families are never enrolled in any school.

Is there a solution? Organizations working in the field will say there are. Is the Government listening?

Why You Under No Circumstances Should Buy Books As Christmas Presents

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Christmas is drawing near. I’ve noticed. How could I not. As some of you know, I work part time in a bookstore. Since I finished my thesis (which explains my recent absence, and my even recenter return), the “part time” has become full time. Or rather, all time, at least until all Christmas presents are neatly tucked away under plastic and pine trees all across the country. You see, until I start “real” work in Tokyo, Japan, early 2011, I am trying to save up money so that I won’t have to live on nothing but rice and ramen noodles during my stay in Japan. Consequently, I work a lot.

Now, why am I telling you this today, on a Reading Monday? Well, the key word in the previous paragraph was “bookstore”. As Christmas is nearing, people are climbing out from every hidey-hole to purchase Christmas presents. Books make excellent Christmas presents. As an employee in a bookstore, I am obliged to say so. But in reality, I secretly wish people wouldn’t listen. You see, pre-Christmas in a bookstore (in fact, in most retail businesses, I would imagine) is CRAZY. Bonkers, absolutely nuts. And not the good kind that requires a nutcracker. Gone are such trifle things as courtesy, politeness and common sense. (If you don’t believe me, you should read what a very wise person wrote on this very subject almost exactly a year ago. She even wrote about it more than once!)

Now, I don’t have a problem with people buying books, in general. It’s people buying books as gifts. You see, this constitutes a problem because a)this often means they ask for recommendations beyond the stage “if you liked X, you will like Y” (in fact, many want me to tell them what to buy for people they know next to nothing about, and they expect me to come up with brilliant suggestions); b)this almost always means they want the books gift wrapped.

I don’t know how common this is other places in the world, but in Norway, at least, most bookstores offer gift wrapping as part of the service. Usually this is something I don’t mind, as I actually enjoy it, and books are easy to wrap anyway. The problem is that during December we usually have several times as many customers as usual, and they each buy more books per head than normal. And most of those books are gifts.

Let’s do some math (because, as a historian, that is what I most capable of...). The previous Saturday was the third to last Saturday before Christmas. This, in all likelihood, makes it the third most busy day this year. We were open from 10 am to 7 pm, 9 hours total. Judging by the total amounts of earnings that day, and a broad guess of the approximate average total spending per customer, I think it is fair to assume that we had about 400 customers in the store that day. When it’s a busy day like that, I spend between 30 seconds and 1 minute per customer, if the exchange consists of nothing else than the normal polite phrases, paying for the purchase and putting it in a bag. That even includes writing a gift receipt and giving out a pre-rolled roll of wrapping paper.

Now, after having worked in the business for some eight years, I am a speedy wrapper. However, even at my pace, it’ll still take 30 seconds to 1 minute extra per book per customer if they insist on gift wrapping. That means that the time spent per customer is at least doubled, possibly tripled (and so on, depending on the amount of books they purchase).

If we assume that we had 400 customers (and remember I am only counting paying customers. Thus, anyone [and this is a considerable number too] asking a question but not actually buying anything, is not accounted for in this example) this Saturday. That means that the total amount of time spent on customers without gift wrapping is 400 x 1 minute = 400 minutes = 6 hours and 40 minutes. If you add one gift per customer, that doubles the time, hence we’re up in 13 hours and 20 minutes. Of course, I’m not alone in the store, so our 9 opening hours are multiplied by the number of employees. On Saturday we were five (but none of us work the entire shift – so in total we had about 35 hours of total employed time). You might say that out of 35 hours, a little over 13 hours in handling customers is not so much. True, but remember that this does not account for the non-sale exchanges with customers. We all easily spend between two and three hours answering questions, recommending books and giving directions to the exact location of books. This means another 15 hours. In addition we spend time on unpacking things we’ve ordered, contacting customers that have ordered books and tidying up the store (Christmas shoppers are also messy!).

Our hours simply don’t cover it all. All through December there are things left undone, and as a consequence, we try to limit the activities we can save time on. Like gift wrapping. We ask, politely, if each customer kindly would accept a complimentary roll of wrapping paper, which will save us some time, and limit the waiting line. Most people understand this, as most people know how annoying it is to wait in line. However, some people just don’t accept these terms. “I don’t have the time to do it” (Really? I’ve just told you, it literally takes a minute – perhaps two since you don’t have my training); “It looks prettier when you do it” (Perhaps, but honestly, how much of a difference does it make when I give you the same paper, and I am also willing to give you the same ribbon I would have used?); and my personal favourite: “I don’t know how.” Seriously. You don’t know how to gift wrap a book? It is flat, rectangular, and it doesn’t move around. If you don’t have the physiology to put wrapping paper around a book, I highly doubt you are capable of functioning in the modern society. You can navigate an iPhone, but you can’t wrap a book? Right...

I try not to argue too much with the customers who insist on gift wrapping even if it does mean longer waiting lines for everyone. Not because the customer is always right (that is a truth of moderation, if you ask me), but because it takes longer (approx. 2-4 minutes) arguing with a riled-up Christmas shopper than it does to wrap the darned book. But I sometimes make a point of picking a ribbon that doesn’t go with the paper. It’s just my way of spitting in their food.

Anyway, since I’m tired of having this argument, I thought it was time to settle it once and for all. Thus, here is a quick tutorial for how to wrap a book (feel free to go “duh” any moment now...):

Step 1: place book on an appropriately size of wrapping paper (the piece in the picture is slightly big, because I was too lazy to cut it properly). Warning! Beware of paper cuts! 

Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa is incidentally an excellent choice if you do insist on buying books for Christmas this year. Or for any other occasion for that matter. 

Step 2: Fold the paper around the book.

Step 3: Fold the other end in, and then around the book. Secure with tape.

Step 4: Fold and tuck in the right edge, secure with tape. Repeat on left side.

Step 5: Turn around. Voila! Wrapped book! If you want ribbon on the book, proceed to step 6.

Step 6: Pull ribbon around the book. Secure with knot. 

Step 7: Curl edges with sharp object, such as scissors. Warning! Don't cut yourself!  

Step 8: Curl up curled ribbon ends into ball. Tuck it under the knot. And you're done. Finito. It's that simple. I swear. You can do it! 

I may have bored you with my numbers and my mock tutorial, but the message is clear: please, please, continue buying books. BUT do you have to buy them as presents? And even if you do, reconsider asking the store personnel to gift wrap it, at least this close to Christmas... 

Delusional Thursday: Partnerships

A couple of days back, Chary and I got into this rather public debate over an issue I admit I know nothing about. She questioned the rather controversial appointment of a professional manager as the chancellor of the New York public school system, and predicted a grim future for the 1.1 million kids who come under the system. Chary had a point- how can someone who's experience is limited to running magazine businesses head an education system?

As a professional manager who had been brought into an organization to set up systems, and who ultimately quit in disgust because of the resistance she had to face at every stage, I naturally questioned the question she raised. You don't need to know anything about education to manage an education system- you need to know about managing businesses, and you need to be willing to listen to the experts so you can build your systems around the real needs. The way I see it, the best person to manage any system is a professional manager, and the more diverse their prior experience, the better for the cross-pollination they bring to the job.

Our views are mutually incompatible, you may say. But I disagree.

Chary is an outstanding teacher, and any system that has people like her can consider itself blessed. And when I say she is outstanding, I am not talking about her qualifications (which are brilliant). I am taking about her compassion, her generosity, and her drive to ensure the best for every single one of her students, all of which shines through in every interaction you have with her. She is the kind of teacher every mother wishes was teaching her children, and who every student remembers long after they graduate from her class. In the classroom (and in the staffroom preparing and grading lessons), you cannot have anyone better than a Chary.

But does that mean Chary (or someone like her) is the best person to manage an education system? I would think not. Managing an enterprise requires a box of tools which years of teaching doesn't give you. Managing an enterprise means motivating everyone to give their best. Managing an enterprise means optimizing the utility of every dollar. Managing an enterprise means prioritizing expenditure, so funds are available for running the core business the way they should be run. Managing an enterprise is best left to someone like me who has done nothing else for 15 years- someone who has known so many enterprises, she can intuitively "get" what needs to be changed and how.

In an ideal world, Chary and I would be partners in running the NY public schools system. She is the teacher who knows what is needed in the classroom. She is the person who knows exactly how the rewards and recognition system should work, so teachers are inspired and incentivized to put in their best effort. I am the manager who knows how to recognize and cut dead wood. I am the person who can take inputs from Chary and put in place a system which rewards teachers for the effort they put into teaching and mentoring. In an ideal world, Chary and I both realise that together we can put in place a system that provides quality education to 1.1 million children and youth.

The world, however, is far from ideal.

In the real world, Chary doubts my intentions. She is convinced that I am going to cut salaries and render her redundant. She thinks I am going to divert money meant for blackboard chalk into renovating my office. She resents having me as her 'boss' when she knows she is a much better teacher than I can ever be.

The distrust and antagonism is not just from Chary's side. In the real world, I do not behave as a manager; I preen around as the 'BOSS'. Instead of addressing the concerns of the people in the system, I publicly garner support from high-profile individuals who have no stake in the system. In the real world, I treat the appointment, not as an opportunity to make a system paid for by the public deliver on its promise, but as a personal recognition of my worth.

In the real world, Chary and I fight, and when we fight, the ones who suffer are the various stakeholders in the system.


Chary and I are friends. We have our differences, but we sort them out as adults, and don't let that come in the way either of our friendship or our mutual respect. If Chary and I are asked to work together, we would be able to work to each of our strengths, and create something strong and lasting.

And it is not just the NY public school system. In every almost every area of human activity you see petty egos at work. You see people competing when they should be collaborating. You see mutual distrust where there should be respect. You see people trying to do a job they have no aptitude for only because they feel that the other job is more 'prestigious' than the one they can excel in.

If only people started working together and listening to each other, how much better the world would be.

I like to think I am Realistic- after all, doesn't everyone want the best?.
My friends tell me I am being Idealistic- people are people, and you cannot change them.
But sometimes, just sometimes, I wonder if I am not actually being Delusional. But then I was born on a Thursday, I cannot help being Delusional.

Topical Tuesday: Educational Issues

Public education. Important to all those individuals who cannot afford to go or send their children to private schools. The climate of education in New York City has become quite controversial lately with the nomination of the new chancellor who will head 1.1 million children (the largest school system in the United States), 380,000 employees and 1600 public schools. 

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has nominated Cathie P. Black not because of her extensive background in education but because she is an excellent manager of several magazines. She managed to rise in the ranks of the Hearst media empire and broke several glass ceilings for women in achieving her goals.  In addition, she saved magazines from folding such as Holiday, New York Magazine, Ms., iVillage and USA Today.  Ms. Black was the president of Hearst Magazine.  She has acquired board member status with companies such as Coca Cola and I.B.M. (she holds this position until January 1, 2011 when she takes on the position of NYC school chancellor).  Ms. Black has achieved a great deal and opened many doors for women who were excluded from obtaining top positions in the high-powered industry of media magazines.

However, what puzzles me as an educator is that Ms. Black has never held a position in an educational facility or academic setting.  She does not have a degree in education nor have her children ever attended public schools.  How could Mayor Bloomberg have overlooked this (or did he)?  As a teacher in an urban city public school, it disturbs me that I am held to such a high standard (Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences, Master's degree in Science Education, teaching certification via 5 teaching exams, mentoring for 1 year by an experienced teacher, 3 years probation before awarded tenure, plus annual evaluations from my principal), yet the highest position in the school system is given to someone with a Bachelor's in English and no experience in the classroom.  What stake would she have in an urban city public school? 

As you can imagine, New York City parents, students, teachers and the United Federation of Teachers oppose her nomination.  Mayor Bloomberg appealed to all his supporters to no avail.  The solution: the state stepped in and offered a compromise.  Ms. Black will be appointed the position, if and only if, she accepts as her Deputy Chancellor someone who has moved through the ranks of the school system (from classroom to board room).  Today the state will give a waiver for Ms. Black's lack of educational experience and the city will wait and see what happens.  There will still be one big pitfall to this compromise.  How much power or say will the Deputy Chancellor have when Ms. Black implements all the "necessary" changes to save money. 

So what?  What is important about all this?  What does it mean for our public schools and students?  Well, Ms. Black will surely run the Department of Education using the business model that has proven her so successful in the past with failing magazines.  There will be budget cuts (even though we have suffered already from cuts these last three years).  I foresee a lack of classroom supplies, overcrowded classrooms, layoffs, teachers giving up more time for an insufficient 3% wage increase (that does not contend with the 4% annual inflation rate), and our students suffering from the extraction of the human factor.  I predict that this model, if proven successful in saving money, will be applied to city schools all over the nation, causing more destruction to our already fragile learners.  But, what does it matter.  To "Big Business" supporters, in the end we're only just numbers.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.