As I had mentioned before, I go to this school in a neighbouring village where, at present, I am trying to set up a 'Science Exhibition" for the 5th, 6th and 7th class children. I was reading the Environmental Studies text for the 5th class. It is surprisingly broad in its coverage and goes further than the cliches... it gives anecdotal write ups about a shepherd in Palamuru, a cotton farmer, a poultry farmer and their problems. Then, there is a chapter on nutrition and food pyramid, on our body, forest and tribal life, transport, one on safety and first aid, one on child labour. Then it covers the atmosphere, energy sources,some basic geography and a bit of history etc.......There are some good things about it, and some deficiencies. The good thing is, it sensitises urban children to lives they otherwise do not get to even see. The bad thing is that it takes on too many things and does not do justice. I think I learnt considerably more geography than this.
One other thing is that the publishers and editors have no concern for language. It is in English meant for English medium schools. At the age of 10 or 11, if they read a book with grammatical errors, they are going to learn just that. Language skill needs to be nurtured right from the beginning. After learning to say "he tell to me" and "he enquired me" till the age of 15, the child cannot suddenly change.
Lastly, there is a page that says
"I am an earthworm. I make the soil fertile......."
"I am a snake. I help farmers by swallowing rats......"
and
"I am tykrograma. The scientists from I C A R created me. My life span is only one week. I destroy the eggs of enemy insects that infect crops..."
I have looked up Google search, and ICAR website. I cannot find out what tykrograma is. I am curious.
One other thing is that the publishers and editors have no concern for language. It is in English meant for English medium schools. At the age of 10 or 11, if they read a book with grammatical errors, they are going to learn just that. Language skill needs to be nurtured right from the beginning. After learning to say "he tell to me" and "he enquired me" till the age of 15, the child cannot suddenly change.
Lastly, there is a page that says
"I am an earthworm. I make the soil fertile......."
"I am a snake. I help farmers by swallowing rats......"
and
"I am tykrograma. The scientists from I C A R created me. My life span is only one week. I destroy the eggs of enemy insects that infect crops..."
I have looked up Google search, and ICAR website. I cannot find out what tykrograma is. I am curious.
PS: The NBAII lists biopesticides.............There I found Trichogramma australicum , T Brasiliensis etc. which act against sugarcane borer. I am relieved, but what about the generations of children who are looking for the mysterious tykograma?
