“Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear”: Want Respect? Show Respect!

In Nepal, respect for teachers and administrators is instilled in student through the threat of violence, i.e. fear! That, of course, is despicable, just as Albert Camus says. Getting students to respect teachers is easy: just show them respect by listening to them.

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KVS: Read To Lead

I read English books and novel voraciously as a child because, firstly, I loved it and, secondly, I knew it would help me improve my English. Looking back, I think it benefited me in many other ways, ways that I didn't know and anticipate.

So now, back in Nepal, one of the many things I am trying to do is impress upon schools, teachers, and students the value and importance of reading. This blog post reproduces a presentation I made about that to a group of students at Kopila Valley School.

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Questioning the Questions Grade 11-12 Students Must Tackle, And My Solution

Even NOW as someone who majored in and taught chemistry, were I to pretend to be a grade 11 or 12 Science student in Nepal and take their Chemistry examination, I will likely not get a good grade. I wouldn't be surprised if I even fail. The reason? The questions are just completely off and what is expected as responses are also ridiculous.

What many in Nepal still struggle to understand is that if we teach students how to think, they can learn, on their own, ways to commit to memory what they must to pass examinations, something I am trying to get across in my teacher education program.

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Child Rearing and Education: “Best Discipline” Through No “Disciplining”

Contrary to what many Nepalis believe and will tell you, raising a child to be a well disciplined one does NOT require "disciplining." In other words, to raise a well-behaved child, you don't have to scold, scream, shout, beat, or humiliate the child. All you have to do is to raise them by respecting, listening, and engaging with them.

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