By M.Rajini
Have you spent time with an 81 year old speaking about her life experiences and her passion for children, peppering her story with interesting facts, and the knowledge we gain as life reveals itself? Talking to the gentle, soft spoken, Jayalakshmi Sampath was a pleasure.
Her passion for educating children sparked when she worked at Agra, in a beautiful and ancient convent, in 1991; the convent was established in 1887. There she heard stories about nuns who went in boats to seek out girl children and enrolled them in the convent. Several of the nuns were shot dead by Thaakurs, for ruining the society. But they continued their service to children, and the convent stands testimony to their struggles.
Jayalakshmi found her purpose in life there, equipped herself to the task and executed it in the most graceful manner like a flower blooming. She named it ‘Bloomfield’, the PlaySchool at Neelankarai.
“I am a student of ‘The School’, and a Bharatanatyam dancer from Kalakshetra. My entire prime was Kalakshetra, Theosophical Society and Adyar. Our happiness and playtime revolved around Schmidt Memorial. Besant Nagar was a pristine beach, then. My father was educationist T.N.Chari, the Principal of Presidency College. I married S.Sampath in 1964. He was employed in the Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS). So I travelled with him to all the Cantonments, Pan India. In all the 11 cities I lived in, I would get to work in schools. While in Lucknow I got a degree in education at the Loretto College. I wanted to educate small children in my own style. It was not a business. There was no arithmetic involved in the venture. Only my Passion and Vision.
My husband offered his entire retirement benefits to me to pursue my dream. We had this house in Neelankarai, which was a deserted place then. I started my school here. We have had a steady stream of children, which I always limited to 30. Our house was in Raja Annamalaipuram. My husband was just waiting for me to live out my fancy, and give up my dreams to join him at RA Puram. But from Day 1, my soul is in this small world I have built,” says Jayalashmi with a glitter in her eyes.
Play school and kindergarten is the hub where kids are at an impressionable age and absorb knowledge like a sponge. Jayalakshmi has seen batches of kids leave her place since 1997. She has made sure that they get a holistic growth and enjoy learning, the fun way.
She showed me around the neat classes, children singing along with a music master and dancing to songs on ‘environment’. Most of her staff have been with her for more than 15 years. Her collection of study materials, especially her puppets, are amazing. “I take pride in my puppets which are all handmade for various stories and fables, and we perform so many shows with them. We have a lot of cultural activities, great celebrations ! We follow the Contemporary Montessori method of education. I do not use standardised books for teaching. All the crafts and lessons and activities are designed by me, carrying with it all my learning in various cities in India.”
During my travels around the world I visit schools there. No city has combined kindergarten with the main school. Remember, that kindergarten is the foundation for life. It deserves so much individual care and attention. It is a crime to give a Class number and a Section alphabet to them, and lose the individual child, in the ocean of students, is her firm belief.
I am happy to be a part of the growth of the many children who have passed through Bloomfield. There is no full stop in life as long as you are happy doing what you want, was Jayalakshmi’s final quote.
She can be contacted at 93828 26300, or [email protected].
