Few days back I went to my mothers workplace (she is working as a teacher), Ethipothala, Near Nagarjuna Sagar. It is well known as Ethipothala Jalapatham (waterfalls). It's good to visit that place but not to stay there. My point is it's not impossible to stay there but you should have some energy to stay. This summer is quite horrible and I faced the real heat and I am totally sick within one day.
I had visited this place quite few times before. But after a long period, more than 3 years I went to see how the things are changed. To my expectations nothing is changed much.
This place (Ethipothala) is located 7miles from the nearest town Macherla and around 14-15 kms from Nagarjuna Sagar. Most people call it as 7th mile.
People used to come to this place for visiting water falls otherwise they wouldn't even halt for water also because of its scarcity. Only 500-600 people are living around here and out of this 250-350 are children and staying there for primary education (0-7th). Not stricly for education; especially for food. Since their daily earnings couldn't compensate for children needs, most people leave their children at these schools. Those who are under severe poverty line they are not interested to welcome their children during vacation period or after school period. So some times few children are not happy with the summer holidays. It's very very sad. I can relate the same thing of mine as how I used to react for summer holidays.
Coming back to the point, the school I mentioned is a Tribal welfare school; a school for tribals. State government is spending Rs.18 per day for each student including every thing. Most of the appointed teachers will run away from this kind of places. Anyway, I would like to mention one situation.
During my stay at school I came to know that one student studying 7th standard is getting married. The warden has taken a written letter from the student mentioning that she is not interested in getting married and wants to study further. I am not aware of the after effects as I had to come back to my work place. But I felt terribly bad about it. I can do something on it. Strictly I can stop it. But after that the situation will not be in my hands. Because, the student may not study further as there are no nearby schools after 7th standard. So, some how they could manage and they will do what they wish for. I can go crazy about this. But not able to do it. Because still marriage is treated as a big burden for women. This is not a rare event. The society and strictly I can say dowry created all this kind of nonsense. "Make hay while the sun shines".
Another important point is in my childhood I always tell to my mother that you should teach well and some one in your teaching period should be in high profile. Even though I was taught by my mother I could not reach high profile. That's a separate thing.
Now I realized. It's not easy to become a teacher especially for primary education. If I wanted to become a teacher I hardly can stay and teach for couple of months. Not more than that. I had taught some elementary maths with realistic examples and asked them work out the same kind of problems. I forced them work out within seconds. But didn't work. Even though the problems are of same kind, it is not worth to expect the result immediately. A lot of patience is required to educate children.
BTW, fresh and good lemons will be available here.
