Mangaluru: Whoever brings about a change in a person and one who shows a way for a better living is a teacher. Also, the onus of continuous and constant learning for teachers is to gain constructive knowledge to educate self, because the responsibility of parting the same among students is a social commitment, said Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo, who inaugurated the Teachers day celebrations for Schools in Mangaluru North, organised by Department of Public Instructions on September 5, 2016.

Lobo said that teachers are economically better today because of better salary than what teachers were receiving earlier. He stated that his parents were also teachers and remembered that they were drawing a monthly salary of Rs 4 to Rs 10 and still managed a decent living. In spite of better economical status, teachers are still facing problems in their job, he said.

“Teachers should be aware of the happenings around them by being very attentive. The political developments, local issues must be discussed in class rooms. Teachers should develop skeptic approach on the system which sharpens them intellectually,” he added.

Sixty three teachers from primary, higher primary and high school level from Mangaluru North were felicitated.

Irene Shashikala, a teacher who had retired after putting in 42 years of service teaching English, Maths and Science, was one among those felicitated. The earlier system of teaching was more effective and the commitment to learn among the students was more, she said, referring to students present 15 years ago. “Today, teachers have to feed the students not only with good education and values, but also food. This is an additional burden on the present day teachers who are expected to drain their brain for a very unconstructive purpose. The computers have not done any good to the students, because they are learning undesirable things through them.

Veronica Pinto, an English teacher with 40 years of experience said, “I had a wonderful and satisfying career as a teacher. I started teaching at Little Flower, Bajpe and ended up in Little Flower, Kinnigoli and almost all the students were morally rich and obedient”.