A break from school

FREE FROM SCHOOL: Rahul Alvares; Other India Press, Mapusa, Goa;
Distributed by Other India Bookstore, Mapusa, Goa-403507. Rs. 100.

SCHOOLING AS part of education with its rigid structure and curriculum
has become an accepted part of life. When Claude and Norma Alvares,
decided to give their son, Rahul Alvares, a break of one year after the
latter's SSC examination, many eyebrows would have been raised.

Rahul, on his part, had to maintain a daily diary and write a special
account every month of events and his experiences during the year. This
chronicling has been published now as a book.

Rahul was able to satisfy his interest in wild life, earth worms and
spiders in the course of this break which can be considered as fruitful
education.

All the chapters, especially ``Snakes alive'', ``Learning to teach'',
and ``Crocodile Dundee'', make interesting reading. This book can be
enjoyed by the young and the old alike.

T. RAJAGOPALAN