Teacher’s day, this year, felt like a much needed monsoon on a hot, arid landscape!
With the recent events in a school making headlines and creating shockwaves, the entire education system has been under microscopic scrutiny. The events that unfolded after the violation of a young student on school campus shook the very foundations of faith in the entire system as a whole. While anger and outrage spilled on to the streets, many who were in the teaching profession were equally shocked and frustrated.
For many, teaching is a passion and an opportunity to mould and blossom the innate potential of young people. Despite the long working hours, ever increasing workloads, rise in administrative tasks resulting in less teaching time, there are many who still exude passion and enthusiasm for the profession.
“Some days, I ask myself is it worth it, but the minute I enter the classroom, I know that this is where I am meant to be,” a senior teacher confides.
Beyond the call of dutyWhile working in schools, it was a blessing to have been witness to the countless ways a teacher would go beyond the call of duty. One teacher would forgo sharing the camaraderie of her colleagues and stay in the classroom so she could find some time to talk to her students. When one of her students seemed depressed, a colleague took the time to visit her house and have a chat with her family. We had seen teachers cleaning up after a student who became sick and teachers who would go that extra mile to arrange a nutritious lunch for a child whose family did not have the means to provide a well-balanced meal.
On numerous occasions, teachers on their own personal time, stay back in school to help out either with academic or emotional issues. Most of the time, these are not acknowledged and remain invisible in the bustle of a school day. These little actions really define a school, one beyond infrastructure and facilities which seems to be the criteria for a good school these days.
A personal mentorA good teacher inspires by the essence she brings to her interaction. She/he is a mentor who brings out the best in their students through a learning process which is a platform of sharing.
While being trained in working with Learning Disabilities, the interaction with my mentor was one that taught me beyond the framework of lectures and textbooks. Mrs. Nirmala Pandit, a special educator with over thirty years of experience, is someone who has kindled the minds of many educators.
Despite her years of experience, every interaction with a child was a new learning experience. While sitting in on one of her assessments, she asked me for my input and whether she felt anything could have been done differently.
There was no hierarchy or assumptions that everything was known. Besides creating an innovative atmosphere to learn, she taught me the importance of humility and keeping the windows of our minds open. The time spent with her was invaluable, and many a time when confronted with a challenging student, I had always kept her advice in mind, to be patient and let the child show the way.
Students, best teachersOften, the best teachers have been my students. On a community-based project in rural Tamil Nadu, we had the opportunity to spend a day with the children in their homes.
The two twelve-year-old girls, who spent the day with us, could not have been better guides. From showing us how paddy is planted (giggling at our efforts to plant paddy!), showing us how the water distribution system works, regaling us with folk stories about various trees and plants, these girls were passionate about their sharing. They asked us many questions about life in the city, and over the best crab curry lunch on banana leaves, we shared our love for loud Rajnikanth films !
Both girls said they wanted to be teachers and fifteen years later, one hopes that their dreams are being manifested in a classroom of their own.
There is much that needs to be changed in the system. Like any system, there are those whose actions cause grave harm. However, it is always uplifting to note that every day there are an army of souls who guide learners in their journey through their sheer love and dedication.
Teachers whose influence transcends the boundaries of school and teachers who have anchored many in times of crisis. Teachers who have gone that extra mile or teachers who have simply stopped by on a busy day to look at a student and say, “You are doing okay, hang in there.” To these invisible angels who make their classrooms a home, a prayer that their faith, love and passion give them the “wind beneath their wings.”
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