Student art examples at MVM School
Assamese dance performed in the music classroom-permission to use photo granted
The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it. Michelangelo
The students at Maharishi Vidya Mandir School are reaching for the stars each day. The work load is considerable during the school day and extra demands are frequently placed upon students. This private school is selective in admission and the students know the academic bar is set high.
The academic school day is roughly the same in length as the United States school day with one notable difference. Students attend school six days a week. The students study a core curriculum through grade ten that includes meditation and Assamese language classes. Class is conducted in English and students are expected to have adequate English verbal skills to stand and address their peers or conduct an assembly. Tests scores are the name of the game in India and the top scores are posted with the students’ names prominently in the schools. The newspapers publish individual and school scores on exams so the pressure is really on students to study and perform.
The students of grades 1-10 at Maharishi put on a school exhibition June 3rd for parents and the visiting international teachers. Some selected students were holding the ribbon to open the exhibition and we were asked to cut the ribbon and start the room tours. There were hundreds of projects to view and the students were standing by the projects ready to explain and orally defend their work. All school age groups were represented in the rooms and the crush of interested viewers plus students made the temperature rise. The regional director of the local Maharishi schools in Guwahati and the school principal toured the exhibits along with us and really questioned some of the older students on project design and outcomes. This dialogue was conducted in English and so were the abstracts students displayed along with their projects.
Most impressive to me as I toured the exhibition was the creative use of easily obtainable and inexpensive or free materials to produce the projects. Great artistry was shown and cultural aspects of Assamese Indian life were selected by the students to create their projects along with math and science based projects. Many students chose environmental science projects to highlight the need to preserve and protect the natural environment of India and the world. Some students chose current event topics to present in poster or graphic displays so the variety of projects was wide and very interesting. The students were all so eager to explain and show their projects.
Students gave the international teachers a farewell celebration the night of June 7th before we left Guwahati. We were treated to Assamese songs and dances with exceptional performances by students. These performing students were beautifully costumed in regional attire and well rehearsed. The vocals and drums were truly exceptional. I do not know how long they spent in after school rehearsals to produce this cultural extravaganza, but one student told me they really only rehearsed about two weeks to produce this program. AMAZING! Hold on America- India’s got talent!
The students I met on this trip are highly motivated and value education. The love and pursuit of knowledge and excellence is obvious. I know these students will lead India into the future with creativity and pride. India’s hope and future is in the excellence of their students. India is in good hands!
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