You could put your children in a school that hammers them into assembly-line products. Or you could choose an education that nurtures your children into creative, sensitive individuals. First of a two-part report from the leading alternative schools and their underlying philosophy

Nandita's diary

The eight-year-old accompanied her mother, Deepti, to various schools

31.8.98 : I am at the Aurobindo ashram, it is wonderful. It is in Pondycherry.

1.9.98 : I saw a red and black centipede. There were two of them. I saw them at the Shri Aurobindo school. I climbed a big gulmohur tree, and saved some ants almost drowned in a little water in a little hole in the tree.

2.9.98 : Today I went to Auroville. I first went to the kindergarten. It was very beautiful, all the children were very small-small they were very cute.Then we went to the New School. It had tree house classes. And little ponds. And the children were designing their school. Then we went to an uncle's house in a school called New Creation. He had four dogs and six cats, 21 small birds in a big cage, 11 rabbits, and 18 fish in the biggest size of aquarium.

5.9.98 : Rishyvaly is very nice, in it I saw a big tree. Rishivaly has many beautiful birds. There are many cats and dogs even. And I like them all. There is a boding school in Rishivaly. And I am staying in Birds house.

6.9.98 - Today I made a new friend, her name is Shweta. I liked her and she liked me.

7.9.98 - I saw a school called RISHIVANM, there were mud room classes. The children were poor children. There were 70 children. They had made swings and slides themselves. Like we can. It was very beautiful.