As I nursed my Teachers after a long day, my phone pinged. I peeped into it and found, not the usual goodnight message, but a meme. It read: “A good teacher explains. A great teacher inspires. An unforgettable teacher leaves an indelible mark on your soul.”
I saw my soul’s reflection in my Teachers. They handed it to me on a platter, a fully developed prototype, but I never took it to production—or did I? Frank Sinatra would say, “I did it my way!” and maybe that’s what I did. In hindsight, perhaps that’s what I was taught to do!
I looked up at the only calendar in the house (the rest are on our phones, so we don’t have to be mobile to find out when “now” is!) and saw it was 4 September. I suddenly remembered my teachers, took a sip, and recalled all the other Teachers who have shaped our minds—body shape notwithstanding.
They’ve played with our heads and still do, long after they’re out of sight. Sometimes aggressively, sometimes passively; sometimes with care, sometimes with compassion, sometimes with passion, and sometimes with indifference. They remain our headlines, while our parents, siblings, and others we meet are the meta descriptions. Who wants the whole story?
Different strokes for different folks!
Teachers’ Day means different things to different people because teachers have always had to differentiate among kids to help them reach their potential, which they are often blind to or blindsided by peer or other queer pressures.
For teachers, though, Teachers’ Day is just another day in a life where other lives are entrusted to their care. Meanwhile, they place their trust in an institution that rewards them with a pittance and says, “Trust that all is well!” as they count every penny. But somehow, the penny never drops!
Raise your glasses!
I want to raise a toast with Teachers to teachers worldwide. They do a difficult job in challenging circumstances. They navigate classrooms that resemble obstacle courses in an army camp, filled with hormonal yet unharmonized teenagers. At home, they juggle their own children with other people’s kids, while their spouse ranks a distant 8th in their list of priorities.
But their job is harder now than in the days of yore and yoke.
For most kids today, X is not the unknown to be solved through quadratic equations or calculus (isn’t that a thorny plant at home?). They seem more comfortable with three unknown variables than one! The more, the merrier! That’s my guess—be my guest with yours!
Attention spans have shortened, information (not knowledge—there’s a subtle difference) is available from an ATM, and AI (Artificial Intelligence) often substitutes NI (Natural Intelligence). As a result, CI is withering away. I imagine you’re wondering what CI is—you need NI to figure it out! Clue: C=Critical…
In this context, a teacher can only teach what they know, and that knowledge often seems insignificant compared to what students can easily find out or already know. Why is that? The education system is rigid, even frigid, making teachers more so. So, what is their real contribution to the next generation?
Teachers’ real contribution lies in helping students rely on their natural intelligence, think critically instead of just criticizing, discern credible sources, and transform information into knowledge. And then apply that knowledge in ways that benefit both themselves and the world. Chalks may be outdated, but cheese is not—and that’s the challenge for teachers.
Well, time will be the judge of this transformation. It’s part of Vision 2047, and we’ll have to wait and see. Feed on the chalk, not the cheese, and we’ll see you on 5 September 2047!
Citizens! Get into shape!
Teachers don’t just shape citizens; they shape them into sustainable ones—many of whom are out of shape because they prefer cheese over chalk. They must instil values and creativity because doctors, engineers, and lawyers are now passé.
They must do this without raising Cain, traumatizing, labelling, or crushing curiosity. Instead, they must nurture wonder and resilience, inspire innovation and guide students on their unique paths—all while maintaining patience, compassion, and a sense of humour. Just like you, dear readers of this column! They must help students do it their way.
A silver-lined cloud or a rainstorm?
This is the silver-lined cloud we see. But what do teachers see? A rain cloud about to burst and rain money? Or fire? Despite their crucial role in society, teachers are often paid a wage so low it wouldn’t cover a bottle of Teachers.
Yes, they’re rich in spirit (figuratively, they can afford the whisky), but their bank accounts tell a different story. And to change their headlines and meta descriptions, they often moonlight as tutors, reteaching the same lessons to the same students—at home.
Love makes their world go round!
What keeps them going, you ask? Love. It’s a double-edged sword—one that cuts deep when they see a student struggle but glows warmly when they witness that “aha” moment. This love isn’t just for the students but for the act of teaching itself. It’s a calling, a passion, a raison d’être. Yet sometimes they metaphorically cry out, “Father, my Father, why have you forsaken me?”
Battles and blessings!
Rarely do the blessings from the classroom extend beyond it. When they do, the joy is boundless. But more often, the blessings within turn into battles without—battles with the principal, co-workers, increasing workloads, feedback forms, parents, and finally, their own families. Work-life balance is unheard of in the teaching fraternity. Dinner conversations are about school. They spend their lives building castles in the sand, and then find themselves counting the grains!
Trust Us, We’re Trusts!
In India, education is built on trust—literally. Almost every institution is part of a Trust because, of course, trusts are trustworthy, right? It’s an illusion fed by out-of-classroom coaching and an alphabet soup of NEP, SEP, UGC, etc. Teachers trust these trusts while the trustees—politically and socially connected, but distant from the classroom—find it a good business, and good business to be trusted by everyone: the government, educators, students, and parents!
Hats off, folks!
So here’s to our teachers—dedicated, impactful, underpaid, and overworked, but still standing tall. They may not always get the respect they deserve, but on this Teachers’ Day, let’s give them a standing ovation. And maybe, just maybe, a bottle of Teacher’s to show our appreciation. After all, they’ve earned it!
I did it My Way; you do it Your Way! That’s what we are taught to do!