The Drury Mirror

Issue date: 12/4/06 Section: News

Becca Steinert (?06) gains valuable teaching experience at Hem Sheela Model School in India during January ?06.

Dr. Rabindra Roy and Dr. Protima Roy?s Hem Sheela Model School in Durgapur, India.

This winter break, instead of sitting on the couch recuperating from semester finals, 18 Drury students will be experiencing life in a whole new way.

These students will immerse themselves in the Indian culture as they travel with Drury professors to a country very different from the United States. They will also have the opportunity to interact with some of the brightest minds in India, the children of Hem Sheela Model School.

Hem Sheela Model School was founded by Dr. Rabindra N. Roy, a professor of Chemistry at Drury University, in honor of his late parents Hemchandra and Sheelabati Roy. "I'm grateful to USA for my own education and the opportunity to teach at Drury for 40 years," said Roy. "And I have been working 40 years for 16 hours a day that has given me the strength and courage to build school 12,000 miles away from Springfield."

The school is located in Durgapur, India, the home town of Roy. In 1995 Roy and his wife Dr. Protima Roy, a professor of education at Drury University, opened the doors of their new school thanks to their own donation of $1.5 million and the support of individuals including Drury's previous president John Moore and several Drury faculty members.

Hem Sheela is the official sister school of Drury University and hosts many Drury students who choose to study abroad at this institution.

The study abroad is a three week long program offered during Drury's winter break. Around 20 students usually choose to study abroad each year at Hem Sheela. These can be science students presenting research with Roy or education students delivering lesson plans to the Indian students or just students who want to experience the Indian culture in a new way.

During the 2004-2005 winter break Bonni Welch, currently a senior biology major, and Katherine Easterly, a senior secondary education and theatre major, traveled to India and Thailand with the Roys. During their trip their also visited the Hem Sheela school.

"We went in blind pretty much," said Easterly. "We had no idea what we were going to."

Easterly and Welch spent one week with the children at the Hem Sheela school. "[The children were] so well behaved and so excited about learning," said Welch. "They wanted to be at school," said Easterly.

They taught the younger ones "American games, and songs and nursery rhymes. We played with junior high, sixth grade to seventh grade, kids. We taught them to play kick ball and volleyball and red rover."

The Hem Sheela School consists of nine buildings on 24 acres. It serves 2350 students, 95 teachers and approximately 50 staff members.

According to Roy, Hem Sheela is a success because of "the combination of the best educational system in America and the best educational system of India." Roy also credits the principal, Mrs. Shubha Narayan, as a contributor to the school's "100% commitment to excellence and discipline." The school emphasizes "hands on activities [and] more understanding of the concept and less on memorization."

This teaching method seems to work well because last year no students at Hem Sheela received Cs or Ds in any of their classes. "107 appear for senior year final examples. 103 of 107 got all As and four got all Bs," said Roy. While this may seem like quite an accomplishment in America, it is just not acceptable for Roy. "I want to get outstanding for everyone. Mission of our school is to really take great care of each and every student. No failings."

The Hem Sheela Model School is a great opportunity for Drury students to experience a culture different from the one they were raised in.

"It's incredible," said Welch. "I've never witnessed a culture so beautiful and vibrant and rich before. Because they've been a nation for thousands of years, so their traditions are just steeped in all this mystery it's amazing."

"Getting away form here and definitely the experience of a different culture would be cool," said Jesse Larby, a sophomore pre-med major who plans to travel to India this winter. "I think it would be neat seeing the school that [Roy] developed and to teach kids. That'll be cool."

Craig Dunseth, a sophomore pre-med major, is part of the group headed over this year and has high hopes of riding an elephant. "I hope to experience a culture far different from ours," said Dunseth. "And from [what] past students who have went on the trip [have said] it will be a culture shock."

"It's an assault on the senses, very much so," said Welch of her experience. "It's hot, it's dirty, it reeks... But saying all this I wouldn't have traded it for anything."

"I'd recommend going in a heart beat," said Easterly. "I'd say that it's a good experience and that it is probably one of the best short programs you can go one, culturally. If you want something that will engulf you in culture you've never seen before, this trip is the best because if you go to Europe it's somewhat similar to the United States. If you go to India it's nothing like home."

"It will absolutely change your view on life," Welch said. "From material possessions to just how you view society in general and other people and their place in it. An incredible experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything."

For those planning on traveling to India, Welch and Easterly offer this advice: "I'd recommend going to the Gem of India before so you have an idea of what you're getting into food wise." And "be opened minded. It's going to be a rough experience but it's going to so be worth it. Take toilet paper, it's your best friend. And hand sanitizer. I took a small pharmacy because you will get sick."

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