The name is absent

Anglo-Indian teachers were in agreement that there was no
policy on religious education, except the guidelines given
by the Indian government. Religion could not be taught
during school hours. Christianity was taught outside
school hours to Anglo-Indians. Indian students who
attended these lessons, did so by parental choice. Indian
students enjoyed the lessons on Christian parables.

One teacher expressed the opinion that time and
opportunities were

. . . being missed to integrate Anglo-Indians
and Indians and increase understanding, but we
are at a loss of what to do with the children,
apart from drawing pictures about Bible
stories, watching a video or singing hymns.

There was obviously a need to research this area of the
curriculum in Anglo-Indian schools.

(46) Anglo-Indian teachers are aware of their failure to
teach Anglo-Indians to become bilingual and multilingual.
The majority of teachers showed an interest in the
researcher's plan to create a Theory and Practice for
Anglo-Indian schools to eliminate disadvantage. One
teacher stated,

I'm willing to give it a go in my class, but
make it easy to understand, you know, step
one, then step two etc.,.

A Principal in an Anglo-Indian school said,

I really read too many descriptions, but
rarely a prescription of what needs to be
done. I am willing to become involved in any
ideas you come up with, because we do have a
problem.

Some of the teachers had heard of Action Research when
change or an improvement had to be made in teaching or
learning. One group was interested in collaborating with
the researcher in a sustained relationship over a period of
time while the quality of teaching and learning is in the
process of being improved. See, Bolam, B. (1974b)
Teachers as Innovators Paper for the OECD. DAS/EID/74.53
Paris: OECD p.8

(47) National Council of Educational Research and Training
(NCERT) (1979) Socially Useful Productive Work Curriculum:
Developing and Implementing the Programme New Delhi:
NCERT (p.62); see also, Buch, M.B. and Patel, P.A. (1979)
Towards Word Centred Education Ahmedabad, India: Gujarat
Vidyapith.

(48) Brennan N.L. (1979) The Anglo-Indians of Madras: An
Ethnic Minority in Transition Ph.P. Thesis Syracuse
University, Ann Arbor University Microfilms International:

159

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