Children had a day with Rudy Clas at Silver Hills
Photos:T.Mohandas
Cleanliness was evidently not next to godliness in Kerala, God’s Own Country, going by the experiences of Rudi Clas, Austrian teacher and researcher.
He was sharing his observations with students of Silver Hills Public School in an interactive session. On the plus side, however, Class was full of praise for the students of Kerala, whom he found to be obedient and docile in comparison to their Western counterparts.
Class also mentioned that there seems to be a lack of regard for the law, especially traffic rules among the people of Kerala.
Students of Silver Hills Public School took part in the Mass Pledge Campaign as part of the National Student Engagement Initiative for Swachh Bharat Mission on 1 February 2016.
As part of the activities Rudi Clas, Austrian teacher and researcher held an interactive session with students on the importance of building a clean Kerala.
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With many years of experience behind him, Class, a retired teacher, is here on a visit as part of his research into the educational practices of India.
He observed that children should develop a robust civic sense right from the start, which would help them keep their streets and community clean. He said that he had observed garbage bins not being used and litter strewn on the streets. Garbage should be separated into organic waste, metal and glass.
This waste can be reduced, recycled and reused (3Rs), saving labour and energy and generating valuable byproducts including manure.
“We would also do well to be careful with energy consumption and keep all types of pollution, within their safe limits.”
Though Kerala had a lot of potential as a tourist destination, it was its lack of cleanliness that was the biggest deterrent to tourists, Class emphasised.
Students were administered the ‘Swachhta Pledge’ by Mithun S Anil of Class VII A. Fr John Mannarathra, Principal, spoke about the importance of maintaining clean societies, thus building a clean nation.
He said that he had observed garbage bins not being used and litter strewn on the streets. Garbage should be separated into organic waste, metal and glass.
