"Education effects eternity. A teacher himself doesn't know where his influence stops."
Love this quote now. There are others I like but I love this one.
Great responsibility and immense power is what it implies. it's like a beacon, automatically guiding my actions. "Oh my! They miss nothing,"was my reaction when a 10 years old 4th grader came to me and politely asked," Ma'm these children vex you a lot na?" Obviously it was a girl.(though i had boys as sensitive but she did ask).
It was my 4th year with them. I had to prepare a list with various details of the 46 students, classifying them according to given criteria. it was urgent,to be provided the same day and I back from the office down stairs, had rushed to my class and asking my students to read the story that we were reading before i was summoned downstairs to the office,afresh, had sat down to work. "Please don't ask me anything now," i was compiling the list and in between looking at the source of any unnecessary noise or commotion. i had said nothing just before the girl came to me and softly as to not to disturb me, said the words.
I was flummoxed. brought to my senses. I could not help but smile, bewildred.
I have always believed that children are more logical and intelligent than adults. Simply because they are good observers. A small act of mine, even little gestures and eye movements are noticed and read and understood correctly.
I never wanted to be a teacher. i wanted to make it big in the creative field.(now i know how creative you need to be to be a good teacher) Had to yield to nana's demand of sitting for the entrance and had to get admitted to study to be a teacher when cleared the test. Even after the training i joined an advertising agency. After two years of working i again yielded to the pressure of appearing for the recruitment exam. As it was to be, i not only passed the exam but realised later that was ranked 8th in the list of passed candidates.
I remember just my interview where i argued about Heathcliff and my medical/fitness test where i was funnily searching for the birthmark forgetting i was in front of total strangers and it was late till i realised what i had really done during the attempt. within a few weeks i had joined as a teacher.
On my first day,I stood outside the school building wondering what being there would be like.
A few boys were playing cricket and i could see nobody who could help me. Waiting was the only option.
when i actually went in, sat in the principal's office, went to my class,it was a world different than what i had imagined. the only plus or gems i would like to call them, are the children and the relative freedom a teacher has in moulding her children, her class. the children i feel are smarter than the more care-fored and well taken care of students of the public schools from economically sound backgrounds. They amaze me with their abilities at times. The will to learn is so strong in them. Most of them, first generation learners, without any academic help from home,have written beautiful poems. Just initiate the reaction and see the fireworks. I love it.
This is how MCD's schools are, i thought then, though i respect them now when i can see through it all-the compulsion of the students, their parents and the teachers and school-maintenance staff.
However i felt then, today i love being a teacher!
A lot needs to be done for education improvement at many levels i know, but at my level i simply cannot wait for anything. I'm amidst the storm and i'll sink if i dn't act. my students are watching and even if they are not, they're with me and will sink with me. I'v to save them and myself.
Love this quote now. There are others I like but I love this one.
Great responsibility and immense power is what it implies. it's like a beacon, automatically guiding my actions. "Oh my! They miss nothing,"was my reaction when a 10 years old 4th grader came to me and politely asked," Ma'm these children vex you a lot na?" Obviously it was a girl.(though i had boys as sensitive but she did ask).
It was my 4th year with them. I had to prepare a list with various details of the 46 students, classifying them according to given criteria. it was urgent,to be provided the same day and I back from the office down stairs, had rushed to my class and asking my students to read the story that we were reading before i was summoned downstairs to the office,afresh, had sat down to work. "Please don't ask me anything now," i was compiling the list and in between looking at the source of any unnecessary noise or commotion. i had said nothing just before the girl came to me and softly as to not to disturb me, said the words.
I was flummoxed. brought to my senses. I could not help but smile, bewildred.
I have always believed that children are more logical and intelligent than adults. Simply because they are good observers. A small act of mine, even little gestures and eye movements are noticed and read and understood correctly.
I never wanted to be a teacher. i wanted to make it big in the creative field.(now i know how creative you need to be to be a good teacher) Had to yield to nana's demand of sitting for the entrance and had to get admitted to study to be a teacher when cleared the test. Even after the training i joined an advertising agency. After two years of working i again yielded to the pressure of appearing for the recruitment exam. As it was to be, i not only passed the exam but realised later that was ranked 8th in the list of passed candidates.
I remember just my interview where i argued about Heathcliff and my medical/fitness test where i was funnily searching for the birthmark forgetting i was in front of total strangers and it was late till i realised what i had really done during the attempt. within a few weeks i had joined as a teacher.
On my first day,I stood outside the school building wondering what being there would be like.
A few boys were playing cricket and i could see nobody who could help me. Waiting was the only option.
when i actually went in, sat in the principal's office, went to my class,it was a world different than what i had imagined. the only plus or gems i would like to call them, are the children and the relative freedom a teacher has in moulding her children, her class. the children i feel are smarter than the more care-fored and well taken care of students of the public schools from economically sound backgrounds. They amaze me with their abilities at times. The will to learn is so strong in them. Most of them, first generation learners, without any academic help from home,have written beautiful poems. Just initiate the reaction and see the fireworks. I love it.
This is how MCD's schools are, i thought then, though i respect them now when i can see through it all-the compulsion of the students, their parents and the teachers and school-maintenance staff.
However i felt then, today i love being a teacher!
A lot needs to be done for education improvement at many levels i know, but at my level i simply cannot wait for anything. I'm amidst the storm and i'll sink if i dn't act. my students are watching and even if they are not, they're with me and will sink with me. I'v to save them and myself.
