17.Review of Course Book

 

Review of the Std X and XI English Course book (SCERT) focusing on activities related to  Critical Pedagogy.

 Critical Pedagogy is a teaching approach which attempts to help students question and challenge domination and the beliefs and practices that dominate them. In 1968, Freire published his most famous book Pedagogy of the Oppressed where he outlined the characteristics of what he called Critical Pedagogy.

 Activities of Class X  related to critical pedagogy

 1.The story Vanka makes a powerful statement against the terrible consequences of the denial of child rights-child labour. The United Nations General Assembly established 20 November as International Child Right Day. Do you want to become a ‘Change Maker’ in the society to save children from child labour, child trafficking and other child abuses? How will you organise campaigns for child rights? You can think of publishing a magazine to create awareness among the people of your locality.

 This was the 9th activity of the chapter Vanka, written by Anton Chekov, belongs to the unit ‘Ray of Hope’. Through this unit, learners will be able to understand the problems of parentless children, know about the child rights, and get the values imparted by the family. The chapter Vanka is a short story that highlights the idea that family ties are the most important fabric of our lives. The family keeps us rooted to what we believe in. Depicted also the innocence, the longing for a family and unrealistic promises made by the desperate. The protagonist Vanka is an unhappy nine year old orphan who is apprenticed to a shoemaker. The boy has only one wish, just gets back to his home land where his granddad lives.

According to the critical pedagogy, this activity imparted the students to gain the necessary social skills on how to interact and how to maintain healthy relationships with one another in the society. In this story the protagonist is from another land and misses his homeland terribly. The other objective of critical pedagogy gets nurtured through this activity is those who have been excluded from power the right and ability to have an input into civic life. Through this one emancipation and intellectual growth get promoted.

 Participation of the whole class gets nourished through this activity. Because there are processes like selection of editorial board, informing the class through notice, collection of materials, editing, compilation and binding, publishing there are multiple students with multiple talents, each are well equipped in some areas. Some are efficient in collecting details, some are best in creating awareness inside the classroom about the programme etc. After completing this activity, the learner came to know about child rights, values get through the family and understanding the problems of parentless children. They have the ability to think from their own perspective and also the other one’s perspective in an empathetic way. In the story Vanka we see the pathetic plight of a little boy and feel sympathy towards him.

  2.From a state of loss and despair, John came to alife of success and joy. He intervened wholeheartedly to bring about a change in the miserable life of many young men. What helped him do so? What lesson do we learn from the eventful life of John? Discuss. In the light of discussion, prepare a speech on the topic, ‘Self help is the best help’

 This is the 4th activity from the chapter ‘The Best Investment I ever made’ by Archibald Cronin, belongs to the unit Lore of Values.This story inculcate the concepts of ‘values’, ‘reality of life’, ‘selfless service’, ‘unity in diversity’ etc. In the story we’ve seen the choices and decisions that you make will have an impact on your life and others. Here the word investment is not merely in terms of money. It indicates the values that we imbibe in our lives, that would remain the best investment for ever. The narrator wanted to rest and he wished to avoid the boredom and annoyance of other people, this attitude just changed with the help of a young man. The change of vicious life to virtuous life we can see that.

According to the critical pedagogy, this activity helps to allow students to gain the necessary social skills, through promoting those interpersonal ones that can evolve from a corrupt or lazy person to good one.

 3.Critically analyze the speech of Chimmanda Ngozi Adichie and discuss the dangers of a single story in perceiving people and events in the world. Prepare a write up based on the points of your discussion.

This is the 3rd activity of the chapter The Danger of a Single Story by Chimmanda Adichie and this belongs to the unit Lore of Values. Our lives are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country. The story creates stereotypes and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but they are incomplete. Through this story the learner needs to understand and accept cultural differences and realize the real facts of the life and surroundings in which they live. Through this activity and chapter, the learner gets an exposure to another culture, nation and person.

 According to the critical pedagogy this chapter shows the inclusion of the excluded people into the society, to actively participate in a transformed and inclusive  democratic society and gives those who have been excluded from power the right and ability to have an input into civic life. Issues of race, class, gender, sexuality, religion and physical ability are all important domains of oppression also included in this chapter. And one who knows the chapter with its sap, has the eye to view in a different perspective or Adichie’s perspective. Education often reflects the interests and needs of new modes of colonialism and empire. Such dynamics must be exposed, understood and acted upon as a part of critical transformative praxis Through this one learner has the empathetic and critical thinking towards the narrator and this leads the critical pedagogy itself must be problematized and questioned.

4.Joann was recommended by Mr.Boone for the Scholarship Jacket. Eventually it was Martha who won the jacket. Narrate the events that led to Martha’s winning the Scholarship Jacket.

This is the second activity from the chapter The Scholarship Jacket by Marta Salinas and belongs to the unit Flights of Fancy. Through this story the narrator stresses on the value of knowledge and integrity of education. This story speaks about the obstacles the narrator had to encounter in her school days to possess the covetous scholarship jacket meant for the student who maintains the highest grades for eight years. The major aim of this activity is to revisit the story and get the importance and values of education in our life.

 In accordance with critical pedagogy this lesson content is rich with the emancipation related changes and cultivation of the intellect. These goals should never be in conflict, it should be synergistic. A social and educational vision of justice and equality should ground all education. This lesson is highly anti colonial in nature, because the jacket reaches into the deserved one!. Through the indigenous knowledge of Martha she reached her success. This lesson gives an awareness on the political nature of education, because Mr.Boone is highly superior to the society and his son Joann may get that jacket, but in a very just way Martha got that. Martha’s sufferings and hard work finally pays off, but there is the principal’s and her grandfather’s role is so inevitable.” Then if you pay for it, Martha it's not a scholarship jacket is it?. Those simple words convey the message of the story, told by Martha’s grandfather.

5.Even though Nilkanta escaped from the storm he failed to get the acceptance of the people who were kind to him. Kiran’s family could have utilised his theatrical skills to create better artists out of him. As a well wisher of Nilkanta, what can you do to support in grooming the boy into a successful man? Discus. On the basis of discussion prepare a write up on ‘The role of society in moulding a person’.

This is the second activity of the chapter The Castaway by Rabindranath Tagore, belonging to the unit ‘Ray of Hope’.In this chapter mainly deals with the life led at the instincts and impulses. It is the emotional journey of young boy Nilkanta.Nilkanta is isolated among the Zamindar family of Kiran, and the inclusive feature of the excluded one in critical pedagogy we can see there. This has the human sufferings but critical pedagogically it lessen the human sufferings. The alleviation of oppression and human suffering is a key dimension of the educational process

Activities of class XI related to Critical Pedagogy  

6.Imagine that you get the opportunity to address class X students before their public examination. On the basis of Dr.Kalam’s message, prepare a speech to motivate and prepare them for the examination.  

This is the activity from the lesson I Will Fly by APJ Abdul Kalam, belongs to the unit Glimpses of Greatness. It talks about the uniqueness of each individual. Each and every individual has the indigenous knowledge in various aspects. Each one is different from one another. Learner has to identify that each companion has different calibre and attitudes. Motivation is also enriched through the activity. Through this critical thinking of the learner enhanced. This leads to emancipation and intellectual growth. Students earn the qualities needed for an ideal personality. And they've the courage to face the challenges and emerge successful even against limitations and hardships. They develop the potential to overcome hardships. They present their views to others.  

7.How did Gandhiji enlighten the freedom fighters? What kind of leadership did Gandhiji take? What was the effect of his leadership? Answer in a paragraph about 100 words.  

This is the activity from the lesson And Then Gandhi Came by Jawaharlal Nehru, belongs to the unit Words and Deeds. This excerpt is from Nehru's book "The Discovery of India". It is about Gandhiji, a leader of his people, unsupported by any outside authority. It explains how Gandhiji enlightened the freedom fighters, and brought about a vast psychological revolution. The importance of culture, values and attitudes in life are important themes of this chapter. Relevance of Gandhian values is also in this lesson. Through critical pedagogy, learners used to get exposure from other cultures and other attitudes through different experiences. Through this lesson learners maintain the unity between words and deeds and uphold the importance of values in life. Each one realizes the role of culture in India and develops an empathetic attitude towards one another. 

8.In the story gooseberries represent whatever indigenous things should be preserved to retain the culture of the countryside. Do you think that it is our responsibility to preserve our indigenous culture? Conduct a seminar based on this topic. 

Gooseberries, written by  Anton Chekhov is a story of two brothers who pursue happiness in their own ways. The story provides ample opportunities to examine critically the ways they have chosen. The extent to which they attain their goals is also worth considering. The story is titled 'Gooseberries' because life is very much like gooseberries. Gooseberries are sour and sweet. Similarly life too is sour (bitter) and sweet. Through this activity the learner gets emancipated and leads to intellectual growth about life. Human sufferings are there in everyone’s life, but the way we face that is the greatest challenge. Based on this, this story also signifies the crucial aspects  of life, learners can choose Ivan or Bourkin that's completely up to their attitudes towards their life. Critical pedagogy lessens the human sufferings and gets that concept of pursuing happiness in an easier way. Through this lesson the learner understands the importance of preserving the indigenous culture and holistic concept of wellness. They've realized the need for holistic health and to lead an orderly life.  

9. Read the last paragraph of the story again and see how the author has touched the reader's mind with his powerful and careful use of words. If you were author of the story, how would you end the story? Write an alternative ending to the story. 

This activity is from the lesson Conceptual fruit by Thaisa Frank in the unit Leaps and Bounds. This chapter talks about how differently-abled children are an integral part of our society. Often the daily charms of a regular life are denied to them. Technology extends a helping hand and acts as a leveller in such cases . This story reveals the human face of technology in helping a young girl shape the world around her. Through this lesson, including the excluded section of the people happens. And the excluded people also need the social interpersonal skills to participate in an inclusive society. Justice and equality in education is also flowing through this lesson. There was no marginalization among children, everyone is equal and everyone gets judicial education. A social and educational vision of justice and equality should ground all education. Through this lesson the learner realise the disadvantages of the over informed society and recognize the responsible ways of using cyberspace. 

10. The director of the company receives the letter from AJ cronin. He is pleased with the service rendered by Hasan throughout the voyage. Imagine that you're Hasan. What would be your reaction and feeling at this moment? Draft a speech that you would deliver on the occasion. 

 This activity belongs to the chapter The Serang of Ranaganji in the unit Braving the Hazards. This story is about the voyage from Liverpool to Calcutta during British rule in India. It tells how the author and the hero of the story manage a potential calamity, silently and bravely. Through this students demonstrate their ability to respond at the time of a disaster. They assume leadership in disaster management activities. Work individually and as the member of a team at the time of disaster and crisis. Through this chapter's  we can imbibe  the importance and value of sacrifice we can see it.

-Submitted by Ms.Adithya M S.