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25 Nov 2006 185 smiling children of BAALA BALAGA



Baala Balaga Srujanasheela Shikshana Trust
( just BAALA BALAGA for our children)

Dare to dream and dream to dare goes a saying.Our Baala Balaga is verily such an effort which we dared to dream a decade ago and is now a robust young school with 185 smiling children.

Presently Bala Balaga is situated in Malamaddi, a residential area of Dharwad
in northern Karnataka within a small compound with many tamarind, mango, jackfruit and fig trees and an old low roofed tiled building which was once a cattle shed.Our primary philosophy is provide a homely, interesting and fearfree atmosphere for the children to explore various possibilities and ways of learning; to make learning a natural and living experience for the children; to guide the children to evolve to into well rounded, socially responsible individuals with a passion to excel in whatever they choose to do. In short to disprove the old saying -- Children the world over walk to school and run back home.

A group consisting of all the teachers and few of the trustees takes all the decisions collectively. This group meets every week to discuss and decide about various aspects related to school. We also have a core group of parents who involve themselves in many ways – in decision-making and activities of the school. Ours is a totally unaided school with no government grants at all. And we do not collect any compulsory donation at the time of admission.

We have an open-air stage under the trees – for cultural and other activities. And then we have a sand pond and a small swimming pool which otherwise doubles up as an open air class room. We also have a fairly good library for children as well as parents. Once a year just before the annual children’s festival, all the children and parents draw paintings all over the school campus.

We strongly believe that children should learn in their mother tongue. Hence ours is a Kannada medium school. And we teach English a language from first standard onwards. Eigth standard onwards the medium of instruction is English. Cultural and environment related activities are integral to the learning process.. We organize environment camps for children, which include both educational and adventure aspects. Children learn to sing songs of various languages and their day always starts with songs. Children do not have to compulsorily wear uniform or shoes to the school. Instead they come in their ordinary clothes and footwear.

Presently the teacher student ratio is 1:12. The strength per class is steadily increasing but we intend not to go beyond 20. Children address their teachers affectionately as moushi and mama (e.g.: - Geeta moushi and Ashok mama). Almost always children themselves determine the pace of learning by plenty of questioning, project work and related cultural activities. We try to integrate sports, music, dance and drama in the teaching of various other subjects. Children are regularly taken out to see different places and events. Many parents chip in as resource persons or guest lecturers.

Children are often given extra time if desired to complete their examination. The teachers correct the answer sheets but later each student sits with the teacher and goes through his/her paper to see how he/she has fared. Also after every trimester examination the parents come, see their wards’ answer paper and discuss in detail with the concerned teacher. Children are provided with extra learning sessions with teachers whenever difficulties are encountered.

Our children are from urban background and come from lower middle, middle and upper class of the society; and they come from different faiths and creeds. When we look at the background of parents, gladly enough, it is veritably the cross section of the society – bank employees, autorikshaw drivers, and businesspersons, hoteliers, school and college teachers, doctors, engineers etc.

Yes, ours is a coed institution. And the proportion of boys and girls is almost equal. Every year the social gathering is celebrated as the children’s festival in which every child takes an active part. We also have a parents’ festival every year when the parents show their cultural skills.

We plan to move to a bigger and more picturesque campus next year. For this we have acquired land near Karnataka University,Dharwad. This land is one side of a valley and presently totally barren. We dream to raise a small forest there and come up with child-friendly,eco-friendly, ethnic and low cost buildings. This project is expected to cost about 50 lakhs and our architect friends are already in the process of coming up with a design. One of the imp[ortant features will be a multipurpose hall—about 15 metres wide and 30 metres long which will be used as indoor auditorium, indoor sports room, music and dance classroom ,exhibition hall as well as a dormitory for our students who will stay on the campus by turns and also for visiting theatre artists.



Address
Baala Balaga, Mahishi Road, Malmaddi,
Dharwad – 580007
Karnataka ;India
Tel; 0836-3202928

Dr Sanjeev Kulkarni
Nagemallige,Mahishi Road, Malmaddi,
Dharwad – 580007, Karnataka; India.
Tel : 0836-2743100

sankulajeev@yahoo.com