On the first day of 9th standard, our English teacher asked us to write about our school. Mine was the only original essay. Everyone else had copied the transcript from the school diary. I was so innocent that I didn't even think of copying.

This is what I wrote, as it is.

The first page of my handwritten ninth-standard essay. The school's name is blacked out in the heading and opening sentence. The teacher's red-ink corrections remain visible.
My original handwritten essay from ninth standard. Tap or click the photograph to enlarge.

School: Our School name is [name removed]. I am very comfortable to study in this school. Because in this school all the teachers were encourage me to study well. Not only me but all the students of this class. I feel very happy being in this school. My friends also encourage me to study well. They are all very good to me. In my school not only teaches the subjects but also teaches the sports like volleyball, Batminton etc., To teach this types of sports the particular teacher is there. In my school computer classes are also done. In our school we celebrate all the National festivals like Gandhi jayanthi, children's day, teacher's day, Republic day, Independence day etc., And the New year also we celebrate very happily. Not only with the teachers but with the school Staff's also. President also join us to enjoy. He is also good his school is helping to give education to Lower caste family children's also.

A note from me now: I was a kid and didn't know any better than to use these words.

Kannada: Kannada is our Mother or Native language to us. The Kannada is very easy to me to learn & write. The Teacher who teaches Kannada is very good. He teaches Kannada in very attractive manner. Means in very good way that make us to hear the lesson & I like this subject.

English: English is also one of the favourite subject. The teacher who teaches the English is very good. She encourage all the students to study well & taught us English very likely. She is good but whenever any student done wrong she gives a punishment. Doing like this is good but the student's afraid. but for the bad students it's become good by afraiding of her. They learn very good & study well. I am not afraid of her but I like English teacher. She is very good & her's behaviour is also very good. I got good marks in 8th std also in English.

Hindi: It is your National language. I like this very much. I can speak this language very well more than English. It is very easy by learning & writing. We can score good marks also (like the English) in Hindi. The Teachers who teaches this subject is very good teacher. She is very likely to all. She teaches very effectively like English teacher.

A note from me now: I don't think Hindi is the national language, and I don't think that anymore. India's Constitution doesn't name a national language. Hindi and English are the official languages of the Union, and 22 languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule.

Maths: Maths is also my favourite subject. Without learning Mathematics we cannot understand any addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, division and others like Algebra, Geometry. The Teacher who teaches Mathematics is my class teacher. He is also good. They do jokes & for this also we like him.

Science: I like Science very much because it is interesting to learn about organisms, plants, animals and about microbes etc., We learn about organisms in Biology, & about plants in Botany, & about animal in Zoology. I feel happy to learn this lesson.

Social: Social is also my favourite subjects it helps us to know about vegetation, living in particular place & about this world history, Constitution & Geography. The teacher who teaches this also very good.

These teachers are very good & likely to me.

My teacher gave it 13 out of 15, with "Good" in red ink.

The last page of my handwritten essay. The list of teachers' names is blacked out. The teacher's red-ink mark reads 13 out of 15, with "Good".
My English teacher’s assessment: 13/15 — Good. Tap or click the photograph to enlarge.