Shimmering and Shiny Shri Ram Schools

So, I am finally home from my five-week training project in The Shri Ram Schools in Delhi. It is a wonderful school and has won lots of important awards. What distinguishes it is that, despite being on four campuses, (I worked with staff from each) its staff all share the same vision – if I had to sum it up it would be “love will carry people forward”.

“Love” as in respect, empathy and kindness.

What they wanted from me was to shine these qualities up through the Quality Circle Time model and ensure that Fun and Joy are everyday strategies for each teacher.

Today, schools worldwide, because of the world we live in, are focussed too strongly on academic success – forgetting that when children are happy they achieve much more. What the world needs is kind, compassionate citizens who are prepared to help it change direction.

In order to ensure that all teachers have support to shine when they are flagging or overwhelmed – I trained 34 teachers over seven days to help them become Master Trainers capable of supporting staff to keep my model going after I have returned home. The previous blog on Delhi gives a picture of these wonderful people. Looking now at their sweet faces – they are definitely shining a lot of love and joy.

I then engaged with hundreds of staff throughout the rest of the time in big training workshops to focus on how to promote:

• Positive Classroom Management
• How to be a Calm and Happy Teacher
• Support for Dysregulated Students
• Lessons which Have Pace and Vibrancy
• The Practical Strategies that Real Inclusion Demands

During these big workshops there was a lot of laughter, movement and conversations – reflecting how lessons should be.

I loved meeting all these adults who were so keen to be the best they can be. Normally, amongst so many, I will spot dissenters or those too fearful to believe in change… but I truly didn’t spot any during this period… no “facial leakage” at all.

What I loved best though was working with the young people themselves (whilst the adults observed). For me, to truly understand the impact of a school’s incentives, consequences and positive relationships policies, I need to run lots of circle sessions with young people of all ages. Once their eyes are inwards in face-to-face contact with me and the others, they don’t care if teachers outside of the circle observe and learn too.

They helped us all to learn what does and doesn’t work in their school and how the school can improve their policies.

I have been working in India on and off now for 25 years and have always been knocked out by how incredibly quick Indian children are to learn, up for fun and how they yearn also to be given more responsibilities. They truly love helping younger, more vulnerable children.

I took with me lots of old-fashioned games. I knew that the schools breaktimes needed more jazzing up and more purposeful play. Do you remember some of these?

Jacks?

Cat’s Cradle?

French Skipping?

Hopscotch?

Double Dutch Skipping?

Human Noughts and Crosses?

A group of volunteer students took them home and found grandparents or ‘didis’ who remembered how to play them and they came back the next day to teach… their teachers! It was priceless viewing. Sweet children saying gently in a range of different ways, “Don’t worry Miss!” “Sir, keep trying it will come to you eventually!” “You’re doing very well, mistakes don’t matter!”

Adults are so much slower than children in learning games. Games seem to be where all children can shine. We were in helpless laughter trying them out whilst the children sailed like whippets through them with grace and dignity.

So yes, these are a few insights into my training project. I have come back invigorated, excited and hopeful. Please UK schools catch some of the magic dust and return to what is really important in schools – fun, happy friendships and shared laughter.

Author’s Note

Before I sign off completely, I need to say a huge thank you to the two wonderful people who comanaged the whole wonderful project with me Amrinder Kaur and Shruti Ananya. It was a massive project. My end I had Maddie McMahon with me who kept me calm and worked beautifully with Amy and Shruti. Really successful projects owe everything to strong, calm organisation. The vision, eye for detail, ability to juggle and keep their eye on the ball are the wonderful qualities the three shared. It took us as many weeks to plan and execute this project as it did to actually run it. I am eternally grateful to Amy, Shruti and Maddie. I get all the lovely acclaim and stage appearances and lots of clapping and kindnesses from everyone but none of this could have happened without the work that went behind it.

Also, behind me and The Indian and English Team is Manika Sharma, the Director of The Shri Ram Schools. It is her vision that made the whole thing happen. Manika attended a conference of mine and decided then and there that she wanted every one of her teachers to also commit themselves to vibrant listening and fun engagement with the children. She is an extraordinary Force Of Nature and can make anything happen. Gentle, perspicacious and firm – a perfect combination. Manika has just won a prestigious award for lifetime achievement. She has two wonderful champions who also share all her beliefs and personally gave me lots of warmth, support and encouragement. Their names are Radhika Bharat Ram and Vasvi Bharat Ram.

I am home now and I miss everyone so much.