It was extremely REFRESHING to read your post here – to put it mildly!

I have been researching and associating with ‘alternative’ education for a while now – and have become quite fed-up with the huge pile of worthless, intellectual jabber that usually does the rounds.

So, your post, from the ‘horses mouth’, with a well thought-out body, and more importantly, a lucid and DIRECT narrative, was quite invigorating.

While you have amply elaborated on quite a few of the important and recurrent questions around ‘alternative education’, one point that I would have really liked to hear more about from you, having been a STUDENT in an alternative school yourself, is -

HOW ‘ALTERNATIVE’ DO YOU THINK ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS REALY ARE?

I have myself studied in a quasi-alternative school in Kolkata, back in the ’80s. Then I went to a so-called alternative college (probably the only one in India).
Finally, I began my 6-year long teaching career at a KFI school. Which I quite in total frustration after about a year.

My experience with these so-called ‘alternative’ institutions have been rather dire!

In my opinion, most of these organisations suffer from a mix of a deep-rooted, almost subconscious conformity to status-quo, a lack of courage, spirit and creative innovation in the present-day ‘leaders’ of the organisations who try in vain to live up to the ideas of the original founder, and the ever-increasing lure of ‘good-business’ that the Education-Market promises today, especially when it comes with a ‘different’ tag!

Of course, this is strictly my PERSONAL opinion – most people will probably say I am over-generalising.

I have tried working in various schools, over a 6-year period – alternative as well as main-stream. And I have finally given up! I have realised that I have to start my OWN school, if I am to pursue my passion of working with children ever again.

I have actually drawn out a detailed plan for such a school – and the project is now awaiting the arrival of like-minded people… whoever and where ever they maybe!

I would be very eager to hear you and your alternative-school friends’ take on the school I am planning – so, if you are interested, do visit the (interim) website I have put up, delineating the ideas behind my school and the overall plan for launching it.

The URL:

Cheers!
Aaditto.

I stumbled upon your blog today and must admit I am soooooooooo impressed. I liked your forthright frankness in the writeup – ‘A Bit of Pain’. Esp that bit on not touching pickles and the caravan of taboos. So familiar! I loved your ‘Creature of Habit’ because I share a similar predicament. And that one on ‘Chandi Path’ was beautiful. And I can’t just wait to get my copy of the book, never mind that Navarathri is now a year away!

I can only say – you have earned for yourself an ardent fan! Keep up the good job.

Love,
Priya