Class VII - C

For me, they are an inspiration each time we interact: avid readers, curious by nature and a whole lot of fun. Each of them a semi-polished gem. Not many teachers have the opportunity to teach such a class, or learn from them in the process. Those who understand poetry, would know that it is more difficult to create unrhymed verse, than a rhymed one. I teach a class of born poets. In the next few posts, I shall publish their work - unrhymed verses on 'Nothing'.

Independence Day at an International School

My school believes in showcasing talent. So much so, that sometimes, we end up glorifying functions over values. As a result, the school fiestas, talent hunts and special assemblies enjoy full attendance, while only a handful show up for the Independence Day.

I wonder if we are losing the awareness of nationalism; the pride in our nation's achievements; the way the heart soars each time the flag unfurls; or the smile reflected in our voice when the national song or the national anthem is sung.

Given the latest attendance records, perhaps, it would be more apt to state that we have already lost that awareness.

Welcome to the world of competition

Ah yes! The teacher tries her best to assure students that marks are not "everything" and yet, when it comes down to the grass root level...

My school, recently, participated in a competition held in four parts: poetry recitation, speech recitation, creative writing and book designing. The best speech-person of the school was chosen for the poetry recitation competition. The simple reason was that the teacher in charge of training the participants of the poetry competition, felt that she stood a better chance at winning with him on her team. Never mind if he was better suited for a different competition. I say 'she' and not 'us' or 'the school', because that is exactly how things were. In her need and excitement(?) to win, she managed to skip over the first rule of the competition. She sent the student to recite T. S. Eliot when the competition called for Indo-English poets! How embarrassing to be up on the stage, all excited to play your part, only to be told that you're disqualified!

What is scary is that in our greed to secure 'personal performance', we ignore the most important aspect of the education system: the students. Three teachers teach class VIII in our school. One of them was assigned the responsibility of setting the question paper. To ensure, perhaps, that her students were more prepared for the test than any others, she hesitated in sharing the syllabus with the other two teachers. In fact, the names of the supplementary readers for the month were not shared till the very last minute. Even then, the names were revealed only through the out-of-class-interactions between the various sections! Thank goodness for interclass friendships. Perhaps we could learn a little something from them :-P

The desire for personal achievement often casts a dark, impenetrable shadow over the bigger picture. It is severely unfair to our students to send them unprepared for a competition or a test. We must question ourselves and our motives. Since when did personal performance become so important that we choose to be unjust to our students? Since when did our students become mere pawns in this game of being the "best" teacher?

I cannot help but question myself too: I'm relatively new to the profession. Would I, too, a few years down the line, resort to similar tactics? Even as I ask the question, my heart and mind, working as a team for once, answer resolutely: NO!

P.S.

One of my eighthies gave me a friendship's day card today. It says: "...although you're too lenient but we still love you that way". I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Oh well.

Exam time

The debate over whether to have exams or not is not a new one. Our newspaper reading sessions often focus on the abolition of the board exams in class X. All those opposing the abolition of exams should spend some time as both, a teacher as well as a student. It is, undoubtedly, the most stressful time of all.

I'm probably more nervous than my students. Somehow, the school believes that it is absolutely acceptable to add elements to the syllabus at the last minute. Only my kids and I know how we've wrapped up the syllabus.

Well, I keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best. I have smart kids. Some of them continue to try and disrupt the class even in these final days before the exam. They are already too far gone on the path of self-destructive attitude to be pulled back in such a short time. But, oh well, I'm gonna try till I die :P

The Seniors

With time, I've come to realize a small part of what my seniors seem to have known forever. The youngsters are a pleasure to teach even though they're naughty. With the older students, we have to work hard to earn our respect. Even then, there are some who continue to throw attitude. Don't ask me why. I haven't discovered that bit yet.

My colleague and friend from CIE, still gets grief from her class. They disrespect her openly. They put their heads down on their desks the moment she enters the class. They talk across the room while she is teaching. They walk around, chit-chatting and playing air-cricket (of all things!), while the class is in session. They mock any audio-visual aids she carries to help them with their work.

Our supervisor took a session with them, which my friend sat through. She had wanted to pick up some best-practice tips. What she got in return, was further antagonism. The class took this session as a complaint made by their teacher to the supervisor. They turned up the disrespect by a few notches and they broke her heart and her confidence. Everyday. A little bit at a time.

She seeks advice from us all. My seniors, our professors from CIE and even from me. Treat them how you'd like to be treated. Give them respect before expecting it in return. That's all I tell her. It hasn't worked yet. Didn't I tell you not to ask me why? There are no answers in this post. I don't have any.

It's been a month since the school reopened

Yes, it's intact. That teacher's voice. It's like a chained beast. Fangs out, growling just within reach. A point comes and the chain breaks. Out it leaps at the poor suspecting students and terrorizes them, momentarily. Then, it retreats and within a few minutes, the fear subsides in it's wake.

Fear. Is it synonymous with teacher? Back in teacher training, I swore I'd never shout at my kids. Silly fantasy, it seems now. It breaks my heart that the kids seem to expect it, encourage it and only respond to the beast's command. Soft-spoken teachers are dismissed as if worthless nothings.

The Navyug kids will always hold a special place in my heart. When I've had a bad day at school (shouted too many times, fought too many tiny worthless battles), I think about them. My Navyug seventhies with their unrestrained enthusiasm and the trying-to-be-adults eleventhies, who fell in love and got over heart aches everyday... and just like that, everything seems worthwhile.