The Hindu 17.11.2009
Corporation school teachers get diploma in Montessori
Staff Reporter
— Photo: K.V. Srinivasan
NEW LESSONS: Mayor M. Subramanian (second from right), distributes certificates to Corporation teachers on Monday. (From right) Rotary Club of Madras East president J. Balaraman, Indian Montessori Centre President Meenakshi Sivaramakrishna and managing trustee of Kalvi Trust for Research and Education Uma Shankar are in the picture.
CHENNAI: Sixty-one kindergarten teachers of Corporation schools have armed themselves with a new degree — Diploma in Montessori Education. Thanks to the training organised by the Rotary Club of Madras East, Corporation of Chennai and Centre for Montessori Training, they now have more lessons on how to make the classroom vibrant.
At an event here on Monday, Mayor M. Subramanian gave away certificates to the teachers from the 10 Corporation zones. He said that kindergarten sections in Corporation schools were started during his tenure.
It was a joyous occasion for everyone in the auditorium.
For the teachers, all with seven to 12 years of experience, it was an achievement as they juggled school and attended this course for around 11 months to develop new skills, knowledge and attitude towards the teaching process.
For the team from the Centre for Montessori Training, a unit of Kalvi Trust for Research and Education, it was the first time they prepared Montessori content in Tamil. “Montessori thoughts are different but when you have teachers who are ready to accept them as part of learning programme, it’s great,” said Meenakshi Sivaramakrishna, president, Indian Montessori Centre.
“Our emphasis was on equipping teachers with life skills and hygiene practices such that they look at the child as someone who is learning and that they have to be guides rather than teachers,” said Uma Shankar, managing trustee, Kalvi Trust for Research and Education.
