Here at last is a down-to-earth, written with humour and largeness of spirit, about the day-to-day practices of schools, which if reinvented, could make them into dynamic learning environments rather than what they are today. The book looks at how every aspect of school life can be made meaningful for a child's education in a brave, new world. With a practical and inquisitive approach, the book explores aspects of school life, including experiments, practicals, examinations, civil society, teacher's training, the library, the art room, the Principal's office, school administration and so on. The reader is taken on an eye-opening and irresistable tour of the school... to places and spaces we all take for granted... but which, perhaps, need to be reinvented for a modern era. The author looks at the small yet important things in schools and their impact on the modern child. How can we reinvent these things bearing in mind that children clearly question their merit and value in their contemporary lives? Do the singing of patriotic songs and flag hoisting mean anything to the child in the audience? Does it connect him/her in any way to the concept of individual and collective freedom and Indian sovreignity? What should schools do? Shankir Musafir brings his extensive experience as an educationist to put together ideas, solutions and suggestions to create a meaningful educational experience for every teacher, administrator and school child.
About the Author: Shankar Musafir graduated from H.P. University, Shimla, and then went on to do his Masters in History, and M.Phil (IR), from J.N.U, New Delhi. He presently works in the domain of school education with Indus World Schools. Shankar originated the Millennium Education for Sustainable Development Programme (MESDP), which creates unique learning projects for children on developmental issues. He also created the internationally acclaimed Kabadiwala project which saw a kabadiwala as chief guest in a school. He continues to be an innovative teachers' trainer, having trained more than 5000 teachers across India and internationally. He is a keen writer on educational and environmental issues, an avid blogger, as well as an amateur film maker, trekker and cook. This is Shankar's first book. He strongly believes that he does not remember even five percent of what he read in school, college and university and that, apart from linguistic communication, formal education has not helped him in delivering his professional and other commitments. Whatever he has learnt has been through personal interest and experience. This realization has been the foundation of his work in the area of creative and practical education methodologies and content, for modern children and teachers alike. Shankar Musafir can be reached at: smusafir@gmail.co