September 5th is a remarkable day. It’s a day when schools and colleges in India enthusiastically celebrate ‘Teachers Day’.
In India, on this day senior students come to the class dressed like a teacher and conduct classes. Often even teachers sit and attend their classes. This helps the students empathize with the teacher, and gives them a day to relax on the opposite side of the desk.
The Indian education system, nowadays seems to have lost its essence – that of good teaching and it has become rather business-oriented in its approach. No doubt, a teacher doing his job well may deliver information and knowledge, but is that all that is expected from a teacher? Especially, when the modern generation is lacking not information and knowledge, but true education.
Brief History of Teacher’s Day
India has been celebrating Teacher’s Day on 5th September since 1962. It all began with the birthday of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a philosopher and a teacher par excellence. He is known for his contribution towards the Indian education system. Some of his students wanted to celebrate his birthday and requested him to allow them to do so but Dr. Radhakrishnan felt that every teacher deserves an appreciation and introduced celebration of teacher’s day on his birthday. He believed that the teachers should be the best minds in the country.
India was well known for its Gurukul system where the teachers were known as “Gurus”, those gurus were treated with most ‘reverence’ and dignity. Today we call our teacher a ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’ nevertheless; the role of the teacher remains the same.
Pearls of wisdom from a ‘Guru’
“Indian education system is very good compared to many other countries” says Dr. Leo D’Souza SJ, Director of Laboratory of Applied Biology; former Principal of St. Aloysius College, Mangalore. He has been in the teaching profession since 1972.
Newskarnataka spoke to him for his wisdom, knowledge and experience in the field of education across India.
According to him, there is hype created that studying abroad is better whereas in reality children in many schools in England do not even know how to read and write in their mother tongue properly, i.e in English. “There a lot of spelling mistakes and the same is the case with mathematics; they lack the basic skills”, he said.
On the subject of professionalism in the teaching profession, Fr. Leo was critical of the current Indian system; “Today education has become a business; it is no longer a service. So many colleges and schools have been started with the intention of profit making. If the management itself is money-minded then one cannot expect teachers to be service-minded. They also indulge in money making. Teachers will see which school offers the best salary and opt for that. It has become a profession just like any other profession. It’s like you deliver goods in the form of course work but nothing beyond that. Character formation, value education, is not taken care of because these are not of much worth to them”, he said.
He also questioned the fallacy that literacy is education; “In fact the distinction between literacy and education is a fine line. It is not necessary that an educated person is literate but it is expected from a literate to behave as educated. Isn’t it the role of a teacher to combine both the traits and help in the formation of child character?”
Who is a good Teacher?
According to Dr. Leo, a good teacher loves his students. He sees a future for his students. He has a goal to achieve and motivates the students to do the same. For him, Dr. Abdul Kalam is the model teacher, who does not miss a single opportunity to interact with students and remind them to have a goal in life and work towards that goal.
A good teacher is the one who gets out the best from the students by identifying their potential. For a good teacher, helping students to reach their maximum potential is much more important than just teaching mathematics or geography.
Teacher speak…
Teacher’s day is a tribute to the hard work and devotion of the teachers. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the second President of India and the luminary whose birthday is dedicated to teachers, once said: ‘Manav ka danav hona uski har hai, manav ka mahamanav hona uska chamtkar hai. Manusya ka manav hona uski jit hai.’
Dr. Leo D’Souza SJ speaking about the importance of teachers in a child’s life says “Educated people are what they are because of their teachers; those who are not educated are looking forward to the teachers to guide their children. After all a teacher plays an important role in our lives. Formerly teachers were held with respect. Even today we have to look at teachers with respect and should not look them as tutors but people of dignity”.
Ms. Melisa M. Goveas, Asst. Prof, Department of English in St. Aloysius College says “Teaching is a job taken by losers… Teachers have nothing else to do… such are the comments I have heard among people. But if you ask me, teaching is not a job for a loser. Being a teacher is a difficult task the importance of which comes next to parents only. Many think that one can easily become a teacher and there is a feeling among people that those who are jobless and cannot find place in industry, end up taking teaching as profession, which is not true. Teaching profession will never bore you. Every batch and each student is unique and special. Moreover it takes courage sincerity of heart to be a teacher”.
Ms. Sheryanne Velho-Pereira, Asst. Prof. Dept of Microbiology at St. Xaviers College, Goa says “Teaching for me is a calling… a vocation… We as teachers owe a lot to the society as we are not merely teaching just the subject matter but moulding several lives”
Ms. Carmen Natasha Peres, Grade I Teacher in English, DHS, says “Being a teacher is one of the most amazing things that could ever happen to my life. Through my two years of teaching, everyday unfolds a new challenge before me. Teaching is always a two way process. A teacher is like a potter. She/he should mould the students carefully. Every turn should unravel their ideas and help them to be unique and self sustained individuals.”
Ms. Juby Thomas, Asst. Prof., Dept of Mass Communication of St. Aloysius College says “Today I got a greeting card from one of my old students where she said thank you for creating meaning to the word ‘ teacher’ and that really made my day and I really felt that the greetings, appreciation and recognition will surely help the teacher to love their profession and continue the good work. I salute all the great teachers who worked hard to build the nation. The teaching profession is challenging today because we live in an era where education has turned out to be a business and technology has replaced the role of a teacher. Yes it is good to have a day dedicated to teachers to remind them to evaluate themselves and their contributions. Higher education in India is not up to the standard and India has not yet made it to the top 100 universities in the world. So it is high time for us teachers to evaluate ourselves and keep the politics away from education”.
Student Speak…
“All my life I was fascinated by my teachers and I believe that each one of us have some fond memories of our days at school and college”. “She took my stage fear away – she thought me how to speak and how to behave” “I was her pet…” “He is the best sir I ever encountered”
These are the common catchphrases I heard when I went around talking to students in their campuses. Yes its true, there are many things we remember about our teachers; They cannot be forgotten because they are the ones who motivated us, encouraged us, helped us and stood beside us as we matured. No matter what grades we took but our teachers always motivated us to do better. Next to our parents, our teachers were the ones who cared about us and our future.
This message came out clearly when Inslita Teles, PG Student told me “Teachers are like parents, through them we learn many things. They are the one who mould us academically to choose the right path professionally and when in doubt answer our queries and expand our knowledge.”
Tanya Pereira said “Teaching is the most fulfilling profession. It can be viewed as both a job as well as a calling! Although some people perceive teaching as the easiest profession to get into, it is by far one of the most challenging ones. It is stressful and fulfilling at the same time.”
Rowena Fernandes said ”They are the best, helpful and caring.”
Juban said “I like my teacher because she is beautiful.”
Alisha said “She understands me better than anyone.”
Kenisha M says “Teachers are my angels designed by God to take care of me and to mould me.”
Like every year, this year too, Teacher’s day will be celebrated with glamour. Students will put on performances, dramas, dances, and various other programs to entertain their teacher. Teacher’s Day will integrate the students and teachers. It’s an opportunity for every student to show gratitude to his or her teacher. It will be a reminder for every teacher to give their best and to do justice to their calling.
“It is not what is poured into a student that counts but what is planted” – Linda Conway.
