Familiar Art Sparks Attendance in Rural Classrooms

Source: Kothari et al. (2022) – Journal of Education & Culture

In this influential study, Kothari and team analyzed how incorporating culturally familiar content into classroom art activities significantly boosted student engagement in rural Indian schools. The research found a 15–20% increase in attendance when students interacted with drawings and lessons that reflected their own lives—like farming, festivals, and local animals. Children were more likely to show up and participate when they saw their own world represented on the page.

The study emphasized that relevance matters just as much as access. Unlike generic textbooks, culturally grounded activities made children feel seen and proud of where they came from. It wasn’t just about coloring—it was about connection. Students began sharing stories tied to the art, building classroom dialogue and interest, even among children who usually stayed silent.

This finding directly supports the core idea behind Roots and Colours: that art becomes powerful when it feels personal. By focusing on Pongal celebrations, rice fields, and Tamil words children already know, your book will naturally build literacy, school belonging, and curiosity—especially in low-resource schools where student attention is fragile and hard-earned.