It’s heart-warming to see the little students of St Mary’s Nursery and Primary School, Ashok Nagar, stand and greet every visitor entering their classroom with affectionate smiles – this is one of many things that Shanti Moses ensures that her students practise.
This 85-year-old teacher has been single-handedly running this school for the last 50 years, just for the love of teaching.
“I came to Ashok Nagar in 1964. Back then, there were only a handful of families and hardly any schools. Soon after leaving my job as a teacher at Doveton Corrie Boys School in 1964, a few parents from this area requested me to start my own school,” recounts Shanti, who transformed an amply spacious hall into a classroom for 13 students, including her own children. “My husband made a few furniture for the classroom. And thus, I started the school on June 1, 1966.”
Running a tight shipInitially, one teacher taught all subjects for students till the third grade. Gradually, one more was employed for teaching languages, including Hindi and Tamil. Today it has eight dedicated teachers.
“Today, we have generations of students studying in this school. What makes me happy is that my former students make sure to come back and pay me a visit, interact with the students and in turn inspire them.
The excitement is palpable when they see their old desks and benches still intact,” she chuckles. “This is the greatest appreciation I can receive as a teacher,” she adds.
In addition to in-house facilities and screening of documentaries, Shanti believes in giving the students a practical understanding of the subjects. “My mathematics classes constitutes models and practical work, including taking the children out and demonstrating the counting methods. I also encourage them to ask questions fearlessly,” she explains.
Incidentally, handwriting too is given a significant attention. “We train our students extensively in cursive writing from the kindergarten level.”
Interestingly, students of Class 4 customarily give their seniors of Class V a grand farewell through songs, dance and their fun activities.
A gritty fightThere are many who think Shanti raised the bar, which helped the school rise to the level of other top educational institutions in the city. She managed to do this with any publicity, they say.
“I follow the motto — one child should bring another child! The school developed through sheer word of mouth,” she smiles.
Shanti points out that it was her determination and passion for teaching that saw her through several tragedies in her life, including the death of her husband and son, who died in the line of duty.
“Everybody thought I will close down the school; but it was the students who gave me the reason to carry on. In fact, I feel sad when they are on vacation,” she says.
The 85-year-old teacher says, “We are like a family. My students get worried if I they don’t find me in my chair for a day. As I live in the school premises, I am the first to receive them and the last to leave after seeing them off. Parents also put their wards under my care during emergency situations.”
