SHIKSHAMITRA is a process for learning to live better. It is a space where one

learns to keep well and to help others keep well too. Shikshamitra has an address.

However, it goes beyond this – permeating into the lives of many, influencing

one’s choices in life and ways of life. To be associated with Shikshamitra is to assume

the responsibility of trying to live better. It is a continuous attempt to search for

activities that inspire life and build trust, or, it is an attempt to keep away from

anything to the contrary. Shikshamitra is a means toward becoming aware of

how much one can be and knowing exactly what one’s limitations are.


September 29, 2008

WALL NEWSPAPER

Every once in a while after there has been a flurry of activity at our school, it becomes time to create a wall newspaper. Children write reports on different "happenings" going on in their daily lives and these are decorated and glued onto one large chart paper which is put up on the wall for everyone to read and comment on.

To give you an example of the kinds of things that our students write about we have translated some of the wall newspaper articles into English:



Long Hair or School?
by Shantanu Naskar

One day I decided to leave school. The first thing I did was to grow my hair out. A few days later, I was passing by school. I saw Auntie standing outside. I thought Auntie would say something to me. She did not. I felt so down. I went off to have my hair cut. The next day, I went back to school.



Ranna Pujo
By Anita Sardar

I entered the room and found everyone cleaning utensils, with color all over the room. I asked an aunt, “What’s going on? Why is there color all over the room?” She replied, “We are going to celebrate Ranna Pujo, that is why there is color all over.”
I went to my room and fell back to sleep. It was already 7:00 when I woke up. Outside my room, I found everybody had started to cook. I wanted to stay awake all night. I asked my mother’s permission and she said, “No.” I asked my father, and he said, “Yes.”




Children Get Rowdy at Shikshamitra
By Rohit Naskar

For the past two weeks children have been out of hand at Shikshamitra. Who are the troublemakers? It has been the Juniors VS. the Seniors all along. It's like India VS. Pakistan. Boro Auntie is the umpire. When Juniors say something, the Seniors have some comment. When Seniors say something, the Juniors are ready with a snide reply...at least they try to. Sometimes they are unable to. It was like a game of cricket going on until Boro Auntie, the Head Umpire, called, "OUT!" on Saturday. The umpire called a meeting with the Seniors to say, "You are cooking up so much trouble. Don't you know that the Junior students are looking and learning from you?" The Seniors admitted their mistakes and promised to stop the fighting. The Head Umpire said I am going to watch you closely this coming week, now..."Go play ball!"