On the outskirts of Kodaikanal town sits a little school by the name of Kombai. This school provides education for kids from around the community who are locally known as ‘tribal peoples’. These children do not qualify for education from the Tamil Nadu government because they come from families who are outrunning the law as vagrants, thieves, murderers, and gypsies.
About a week ago, I had the opportunity to take a group of our sixth graders to this little school in the middle of nowhere to set up a carnival for the 160 students at the school. At one point I snuck into the 1st-3rd grade classroom of 60 kids. As a teacher myself, they immediately sat me at the front of the room so that each student could proudly show me his or her chalkboard with the English alphabet neatly printed on it. After I saw all their lettering they sang me a number of English songs. None of them spoke English, yet the lyrics of "black sheep black sheep..." seemed to roll off their tongues fluently. Then, later while the little kids happily won prizes of notebooks, pencils, and little toys from the various stations, I sat and clipped and painted each and every child’s fingernails. Seeing the smiles on their faces after receiving a pain-free rainbow-colored manicure, I couldn’t help smiling while telling them, “nee rumba na la irikya” (you are beautiful).
About a week ago, I had the opportunity to take a group of our sixth graders to this little school in the middle of nowhere to set up a carnival for the 160 students at the school. At one point I snuck into the 1st-3rd grade classroom of 60 kids. As a teacher myself, they immediately sat me at the front of the room so that each student could proudly show me his or her chalkboard with the English alphabet neatly printed on it. After I saw all their lettering they sang me a number of English songs. None of them spoke English, yet the lyrics of "black sheep black sheep..." seemed to roll off their tongues fluently. Then, later while the little kids happily won prizes of notebooks, pencils, and little toys from the various stations, I sat and clipped and painted each and every child’s fingernails. Seeing the smiles on their faces after receiving a pain-free rainbow-colored manicure, I couldn’t help smiling while telling them, “nee rumba na la irikya” (you are beautiful).
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