BILAL NEWS

BILAL COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL

Email received from visitor teachers from Boston, USA, who came to know about our school and requested to share their experience with our teachers. They were at the school for a whole week and this is what they had to say:

Thank you for this message about yesterday's celebration (Imam Ali’s Wiladat), as well as the enactment performed by the students, the singing and prayers, and your inclusion of us (myself, Nessarose, Ariela, and Micol) in the event.
 
There is so much beyond this that we want to thank you for. It is not an exaggeration to say that being in your company at the school this week was transformative for us, probably in some ways that will only seep in later on. 

Visitor teachers with Principal, Mrs Karim

Everything, from simply being among the children, the atmosphere of your serene but energetic campus, the obvious dedication of your many teachers, food-preparers, maintenance persons, the brilliant tailor (putting Versace to shame!), all of this was something to remember and to transcribe into our own experience in the States. 
 
It was especially rewarding to be able to assist in and teach some of the students.  I have never worked side-by-side with my daughters quite in this way and it gave us so much to think and talk about. Even though I've taught many "ESL" (English as a Second Language) students (from Central America, China, Ethiopia, the USSR, etc) never have I done so out of the Boston area and within an unfamiliar school structure. I have taught education courses, writing courses, learning skills courses, and supervised aspiring teachers, but never outside of our "neck of the woods" in the Boston area. This was a great privilege. My major observation was: how smart the students are, how easily they catch on, even though my approach to English learning was a bit different, how much they have to say, and how I need to learn Swahili to really appreciate what they know!
 
Please extend our thanks, if you're able, to those who will not be reached by this email

  
Beyond all of this, let us know whether it would be helpful to put our heads together on a broader level in terms of teacher education, distance learning, any partnering between schools in our area (Boston abounds in teacher-education programs and all kinds of schools) and Bilal.  Several teachers seemed interested in distance-learning types of options to further their professional development. Perhaps there are exchanges possible between teachers on the Boston side and those at Bilal...Let's continue the conversation.
  
You are wonderful, loving, visionary, and generous educators.  Our deepest gratitude to all.
 
Love and Peace

Elaine Schear, Ed.D. and Family  (617) 275-6338