The Link #25 - Proposal for a Centre for Teacher Learning

The following is a brief overview of a proposal for the development of a Centre for Teacher Learning that would build on the Teacher Resource Centre being established at the Bangalore Education Centre. For further information, please write to kfitlc@gmail.com.

This proposal responds to a long-standing need to focus on the development and growth of teachers. Whereas each of our schools has had its own experiences of inducting and developing teachers on-the-job, the time seems right for establishing a common forum for pooling resources and experiences, and for conceptualising a variety of programmes for quickening and deepening the learning of teachers, both prospective (pre-service) teachers and current, in-service teachers. Having thought through various aspects of this idea for about a year, Alok and Chandrika Mathur, together with Kabir Jaithirtha and Stephen Smith, propose the following kinds of activities to be developed at this centre:

A high-quality, one-year teacher education programme to draw young people with a good mind and a feeling for education into the teaching vocation. The programme would begin small, with a minimum acceptable programme content as well as faculty, and grow organically over several years. Teachers emerging from this programme would receive a certificate of the Krishnamurti Foundation India
Self-study courses for practising teachers to help them deepen their feeling for the subjects they teach, as well as for the teaching-learning process
Workshops and seminars on a variety of themes for practising teachers from our schools as well as other schools
A library of resources for teachers to include books on education, subject-related books, audio-visual material, and listings of valuable websites
A curriculum bank of high-quality curricular material developed in our schools and elsewhere
A documentation cell for gathering and organizing material produced at the KFI schools workshops; write-ups on new initiatives in our schools as well as good teaching practices; case-studies from the lives of teachers and students

Currently the work of the Centre for Teacher Learning is being housed and supported by the Bangalore Education Centre, using its existing facilities. However, in order to develop the proposed activities and meet our broad long-term objectives, we will need to raise significant funds and build up an independent infrastructure, as well as a financial structure.

The ‘minimum acceptable’ one-year programme would include the following kinds of learning for prospective teachers:

a. Observation (with guided reflection) of a variety of school processes
b. A range of experiences for deepening self-understanding and fostering a deeper contact with nature and people
c. three extended courses on various aspects of education and learning, with readings, discussions, assignments and seminar presentations
d. a critical engagement with Krishnamurti’s insights and outlook on educatio
e. a self-study course in deepening one’s understanding in at least one area of the curriculum at the junior or middle school level
f. practical experience working with children in small groups, and teaching a series of lessons in a classroom
g. and finally, since the programme is intended to be residential, campus life would be organized to foster learning about living in a community

An open application process should bring in a number of applicants, who would be asked to submit basic information as well as a reflective ‘statement of purpose’. A screening process would look closely at the candidate’s:

a. educational background
b. motivation for joining the programme
c. attitude to life, to others and to him- or herself
d. evidence of clear thinking and deeper questioning of the current educational scenario

An in-depth personal interview, where the human qualities, overall aptitude for the teaching vocation and tenacity of purpose would be gauged, would serve as the final criteria for granting admission.