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Adult Education



Almost one year ago, Usha Madam came to the United States. She stayed in California for three months at her son's house, which is 10 minutes from my house. We had a fantastic time visiting! Usha Madam found a great source of inspiration in her daughter-in-law, Rani.

Rani was a physics major and worked as a very young woman in India. She "retired" when her son arrived and they moved to the United States. (Working visa for one spouse = no working visa for the other spouse.)

Every semester, Rani takes a course from the local community college. She just finished a class on Java programming. Usha Madam saw this during her visit and she was amazed. She was amazed by the "life-long learner" culture and the vast number of courses available for adult education.

Usha Madam never said a word to anyone, but she started a plot to bring adult education to the Rainbow School the minute she left the United States.

Last week, Usha Madam informed me that Adult Education on Sundays started one month ago at the Rainbow School. She arranged for book donations, she arranged for several of the teachers to donate two hours every Sunday, and she already has over a dozen students. This old picture (above) from a parent's meeting in 2008 shows a few of the students. Some are totally illiterate, some are picking up where they left off in grade school, and some are even studying for the 10th standard exam (high school equivalency)!

I am so proud -- but not at all surprised -- that Usha Madam did all this. Teachers are always the greatest source of innovation for a school. Despite being a full-time administrator, Usha was always a teacher first and she is overjoyed to spend her Sundays teaching.

Congratulations, Rainbow School! Congratulations, Usha Madam! Thank you, thank you to everyone in Hyderabad who helped Usha Madam realize her dream. And thank you, thank you to the teachers who already work six days a week, and now volunteer to come teach on their one day off!

PS: Please send good karma to the "regular" Rainbow School students; they will take exams from April 7 to April 11.

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