What was your Test Score?

Today as we bumped along to Nalgonda, with high hopes that our long months of conceptualizing would finally become concrete, Mother India threw another curve. From waiting for the car in Hyderabad, to waiting patiently at the school for the principal to kindly return from his lunch, even Sudek, one of AIF’s local coordinators had to complain: “I hate this waiting,” he said emphatically. “Work should be continuous, not all this wasting time.” “Are you sure you’re Indian?” was all we could ask. And the fruits of our waiting? The boys that would be participating in our project, the ninth classers, would not be returning until Thursday, better yet, next Monday  and for the cherry on top? Yet another unenthusiastic principal perched comfortably in his position of power, silent and looking elsewhere or burping openly in response. “Do you know why the computers are here sir?” “Can we work with the students three times a week?” “Are you happy that we are here sir?”  Burp, Belch and No.

But  as she usually does, Mother India came through and after a few blank stares, uncomfortable pauses and rapid bursts of Telugu, it was decided that twelve students and two teachers would be chosen by next Thursday.

In discussing the schedules, the principal wanted to know how the sessions would be conducted. “How many practicals?” he demanded to know. Staring pointedly at a banner posted grandly behind him, “Learning through Experience,” I explained that the students would be doing exactly this, learning by doing with no formal labels attached. “This is your motto, no?” Finally he cracked a smile.

Later as the daily heat cooled, we had a chance to work with the computer teacher on the iMac that has been installed for this project. With a grand audience behind him, Remy showed Asia how to conduct the basic operations on this new platform. She learned quickly,  she was most interested and engaged. Even the principal took a peep.

Then as we were about to leave I made the mistake of asking where the students were. Supposedly the tenth classers had returned to continue their preparations for exams. An abrupt change of speed, and in a flash they were produced before us. Twelve adolescent boys lined up, at attention sir!

Slowly we got a conversation going, but one around their exams, the center of the tenth classes existence as all governmental schools in India go.

You are studying for exams?

Yes mam.

Do you like studying?

Yes mam, very much so.

With the mention of cricket the conversation lightened as Sudek forced the boys into an awkward circle around us.  “Yes sir we play cricket but only after we study.” “Will you teach me,” Remy asked. “Yes but only after four.”

And what do you do after dinner?

Study.

And in the morning?

Study.

And do you like being at school?

Yes.

Why?

Because of our friends.

Phew. These boys had their performance down pat. But what do they really think? Were we the only ones who wanted to know? When we asked them if their liked using computers they were all ears. “Yes, Yes, we love computers but in tenth class we don’t use. Only exam preparations.”

Well we’ll be here for two months so when you’re not studying come see us in the computer lab. Yes, yes, they nodded and they were off. Our ride back to Hyderabad, bouncy and slow.

What is the meaning of an education that is focused solely on test scores? Sudek explained to us that here the teacher’s incentives are based on the students’ test scores. The higher the scores, the higher their salaries. Does this include the principal too? And in the U.S., supposedly the best system of education in the world, are we any better? Today I read a shocking article in the New York Times.  NYC schools, in an effort to attract a higher caliber of teachers are actually considering evaluating instructors according to their students’ test scores. Are we really that backwards? A friend of mine in her second year of Teach for America is leaving the NYC school public schools.  She is one of the most admirable and intelligent of people I know. And why is she leaving? Because her creativity, her passion, her talent is stifled by test scores. What does this mean for the future of education? What does this mean for a nation that is supposedly setting an example worldwide? Learning through experience? I just don’t know.