Educators That Rock!: Geeta Rajan
Geeta Rajan always knew she wanted to be a teacher. As an English teacher at St. Mark’s Public School, Meera Bagh in New Delhi for the last 16 years, Rajan has focused on making her instruction relevant to current issues while reaching out in a global environment. Through ePals, she’s involved in the Global Coalition Project, started by Bill Reilly in 2001. Right now, her students are working on a low carbon diet project with a school in Singapore. Last year, her students attended a Climate Camp in Copenhagen through an organization called Bright Green Youth.
“For me, my students are my inspiration,” she told findingEducation. “My organizing committee is designing a poster for Earth Day, and they won’t let me sleep until I approve of the changes, additions and deletions. We will have a good end product and that makes me happy, being part of kids’ excitement. I love their energy. And when I see them charged up, I get charged up too!”
fE: What inspired you to teach?
GR: I have always loved teaching. I spent a lot of my time with a neighbor’s family, which had three sisters who were older, and all were teachers. I also used to play teacher to the smaller ones in the neighborhood. I liked the writing on the blackboard, the use of chalk and then making lines to walk kids to their music classes. And if they weren’t around, I used to just act all by myself. Height of passion it was!!
fE: Why did you want to teach English?
GR: The three sisters—Shyamala, Kamal and Jaya—always used to get nice English books and magazines for me, hence I fancied English
fE: Describe some of the projects your students are involved in right now.
GR: Right now we are doing projects on climate change and sustainable development. We are planning eco cities for the future. The students will be ready with their presentations by April 23, when they will finally be judged by noted scientists. The purpose of the project is to encourage youthful ideas on preparing a more livable city. No pollution, more comfort, less diseases.
And we are sharing our information (with other schools) on a low carbon diet that focuses on how students can eat more nutritious food. No junk food. The students are doing this project with a Singaporean school.
fE: Both of those projects sound incredible! What are some of the benefits of developing joint projects with other countries?
GR: They have made great friends. They have their community on Facebook, and now some of them are going to meet their friends when they visit Finland and Estonia.
fE: What are some of the things your students have learned from working with schools in other countries?
GR: They have learnt to be more professional. When they went to Sonderborg [Denmark] they observed students from other countries and many were so very disciplined. All projects have a time frame, from their overseas counterparts. They have learnt to manage things within the time frame.
fE: What are some of the differences and similarities between schools in the U.S. and schools in India?
GR: With the economy booming and money flow being surplus, students in general have become boisterous. When I started off as a teacher, I had students who were so obedient; now I have restless students. But I love that. They are so full of energy. Earlier students were boring. I don’t know how many teachers would agree with that! Most of the Indian teachers lament a lack of values and parents having less time. So I make it mandatory to sit with my students and I often take them out. We call it a date.
fE: What about the schools themselves? How are the schools in India different from those in the U.S.? For example, I noticed in your slideshow that there seems to be more emphasis on rituals. Would you agree?
GR: We still believe in a very formal way of education, though our Minister is trying hard to bring the reforms. We as a school do certain things very formally while certain things we do as fun process. I like kids dressing up as whatever they want to, going to the music room and singing songs, performing dances which give them happiness, and coloring, sketching and drawing. But schools in the U.S. are more liberal.
fE: Tell me more about the student dates you mentioned earlier.
GR: Every child wants to feel special. Just one word of appreciation does the trick. When I took my students to Denmark, I had so much time to be with them. When we came back, I took them to the nearest McDonald’s and over a cup of cold coffee, felt we are a big family.
They keep me on my toes. For me, my students are my inspiration. My organizing committee is designing a poster for Earth Day, and they won’t let me sleep until I approve of the changes, additions and deletions. We will have a good end product and that makes me happy, being part of kids’ excitement. I love their energy. And when I see them charged up, I get charged up too!
fE: Tell me a little more about your visits to Denmark. Do you think it was hard for your students to be the minority in a different country?
GR: Not at all. The kids came back and made a movie where they paid a tribute to Danish hospitality. They were awesome!! They served the kids with vegetarian food, they stuffed the kids with chocolates and ice creams. They gave them milk and juice. They have no problems in Copenhagen. Kids are even now in touch with them.
fE: What is one thing that you think would surprise others about New Delhi?
GR: The population explosion! You can’t live in noisy areas, we can’t live in peaceful ones.
fE: Do you enjoy reading?
GR: Yes.
fE: If you could put one book into all of the schools in India, what would it be?
GR: That’s a tricky one. You know, after my attending the climate camp, I have become very environmentally conscious. I wish to write a book. My students will write each chapter. I hope that it gets published and everyone follows it. And if you want a literary answer, I love Erich Segal.
fE: Who was your favorite teacher as a child and why?
GR: Mrs. Calender, because she was elegant and graceful, very disciplined. She was strict but she was very dignified. She taught English. Maybe she inspired me to teach English!
fE: And as a teacher, who inspires you now?
GR: Through ePals, I met Bill Reilly and Michael Casey. We were such good friends. Michael and I were on the advisory committee of ePals along with six more teachers. We used to share and discuss everything that our students would do.
We lost Michael a few months ago, [in a plane crash] and I have not been able to overcome it. Who inspires me? As a teacher, Bill definitely. For being understanding, I feel it is Michael, and for giving me 200 percent, my principal, Mrs. Anjali Aggarwal.
fE: What do you do when you’re not teaching?
GR: I love watching the Hollywood films. Especially with Will Smith. I love him and I find George Clooney too handsome.
Geeta Rajan’s Favorite Sites:
Ning: Geeta Rajan’s Page
Wetpaint: Liveable Cities for Generation Next
YouTube: BGY India
Young Diplomats: India: Folk dance in the St. Mark’s Public School, New Delhi
Ning: The Low Carbon Diet
Ning: Whazzupp? 2009-2010
HiSBulPics
