Having completed reading ‘The End of
Molasses Classes’ by Ron Clark, I wish if I were a child in his Academy or at
least a faculty member who can be part of the marvelous endeavor. The book was
so compelling, memorable and staggering. The Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia
started from the ground-up revolution, and over ten thousand educators from
around the world have visited the school to learn about the unexpected ways the
teachers and parents of RCA that helped the children achieve great
success. The professional development
experiences they offer are unique. Ron Clark Academy is the brainchild of Ron
Clark, the man with sense of adventure, creativity, innovation and above all
with determination to commit himself for the venture he is indulged in. He has
written three books, The Essential 55, The End of Molasses Classes, and The
Excellent 11 that serve guidance for parents who want more for their children,
teachers who need strategies for helping students achieve success, and communities
that hope to uplift every child and improve the education of the next
generation.
What is special with Ron Clark
Academy? It is not something because it is established in United States of
America but for the simple reason that there is man with his wonderful team
having a vision, commitment, innovation and above all passion for educating
children behind the venture that started in Atlanta by renovating a one hundred
year old factory into a school that would affect the lives of children all over
the world. He had no financial support or other resources at hand while he
passionately decided to start the school at the abandoned building.
In
his book The End of Molasses Classes Ron Clark narrates with candor his
struggles, commitment , challenges he faced in the beginning, innovative
practices, creative class rooms, strategies to support the child to achieve success
and the experience of children, educators and parents in transforming the lives
of thousands of children.
For
every child a day at her/his school is a unique experience of learning and a
step towards excellence. The committed educators make the children believe in
themselves and do not destroy their dreams. They give all that they have to their
children even though they may often receive nothing in return. They get to know
their students in non -academic setting. Rather than finding excuses, they
search for solutions and make it happen. Thus they create moments that will
have a lasting impact on children’s lives. They treat every child as if he or
she were their own. They accept and celebrate diversity in the class room.
Though
we consider education is the panacea for all development issues, In India we
could not realise quality education for every child. The issues of our
education system are unfathomably complex and the quality of education remains
deplorably low. However much can be done if each teacher is equipped with
skills to deal with children from multiple backgrounds and passion for
educating them through strategies that aim at excellence. Teachers at RCA have invariably
proved that teaching is not just a career to earn a living. They show us the
true meaning of relationship, how to be humane, understand the children and
guide the parents and community to support the future generation towards the
pathways of quality life.
Ron
Clark Academy is not just an institution that gives quality education to
children through successful strategies; therefore its lessons are not
exclusively for educators or educational institutions. It is an excellent atmosphere where every
educator, staff is inspired to work to attain the vision and mission of the endeavor.
Academy gives excellent lessons to organizations, leaders and to every
individual working with people about human resource management, the secret of
success of a team work and above all the true sense of commitment, creativity
and innovation that could bring about wonders.
