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I arrived at the Modern School just after the heavy monsoon rains of 1964, greeted at the front gate by Jugdesh a most friendly chokidar.

Quickly ushered into the Headmaster Kapoor's office where I was assigned levels of science and math. My classes were large, around 33 students each. I entered the class decked out in a black graduation gown carrying my books and notes.

The students quickly stood at attention in by their desks in their blue uniforms and in unison said, "Good Morning Mr. Kroner" while I took roll. Then I lectured.

It was different than when I was a student in the US where we discussed, talk, and argued differing points. My students took good notes and did well on their many exams. Surinder Kumar Jain was a top point getter along with Ashok Krishna and Ajay Parmar.

I drank tea with breakfast, tea at the tenish break, tea at noon, tea at 3....I drink coffe now! And, I always ate on the vegetarian side of the lunch room, probably because they got more food. We took groups from school to Mysore, Bangalore, at the winter break and I learned to eat with my hand....right hand.

I was in New Delhi when Lal Shastri passed away in Russia and met Indira Ghandi once at a function. My second year in India was spent in Dagshai(Punjab at that time), Simla "kepass," teaching at a smaller Sikh School.

Anyway, you asked for some notes about the Modern School. Oh yes...the single fan in each classroom with the single light bulb glaring...those were the days! What a great school...what a great country...INDIA!

Pete Kroner was a science and mathematics teacher in Modern in 1964 and 1965. Presently he is a school administrator at Pleasant Valley School, Chico, California.