On Sugar Paper

I wrote an email asking for help to get my students into swimming classes. Please see the appeal below. Reach out to me (in the comment section) if you have any questions or want to help in any way. Please help spread the word. Thank you! _____________________________ Dear All, Hope you are well.  I am writing to make an ask.  My students finished their exams a fortnight ago and have two months ahead of them where they have nothing to do. As you'll know open spaces in Mumbai are very few and almost every other place requires money to gain an entry be it a class, movie hall or a mall. They don't have much resources to spend time on the internet (which is something I do not encourage at all but relent when they say they have nothing else to do). I have been wondering what can be done to get the kids out of boredom. The one thing that I think can really open up a new world to them is that of swimming. If they learn to swim they will be spending time fruitful...

Everyone thinks they can teach. I wonder why though. It is one of the first professions a person comes across in their lives which seems simpler and more doable than a doctor's, which is also one of the first professionals we meet. Or maybe because teaching and learning is a participatory process, hence one might think that they can teach, if they can learn. The sad state of affairs of education in the country, the fairly low entry points, the abysmal salaries might also all hint towards the thought that if that he/she can teach of course I can too. Let me tell you, thats not true. I have had some of the worst teachers while growing up and have come across some even more pathetic ones when I decided to learn something as an adult. Currently, I am learning how to swim. My coach is losing patience with me because I am unable to float in water and keep calm and breathe. He is also exasperated at my sister who seems to be the slow student. He adopts the sink or swim approach...