More often than not, we assume teachers have it easy. After all, it doesn’t seem like such a big deal to stand for six periods a day, teach lessons that they’ve been doing for the last so many years, maintain discipline, assign homework, set question papers and evaluate answer scripts, right? Also, the fact that they get two months of paid summer vacation, and all the other holidays in between, make it seem like a super easy career choice.
This Teacher’s Day, however, MetroPlusdecides to break the myth associated with the profession. We talk to teachers and students about the often thankless unwritten roles played by them in the field.
Nikhil Ranbhise, who teaches in a school for underprivileged children, says: “As a teacher, you must develop a radar that picks up almost everything going on – inside class as well as outside. You must know who’s in a bad mood or who is ill, sometimes just by the look on their faces. You need to know which child is having trouble at home, which child has trouble with social interactions with other kids, and which one has just been feeling in the dumps for the last few days. And so your role, apart from teaching, is primarily that of a counsellor. Sitting down and hearing them out is a big part of that. Investing time and energy in building relationships is vital if kids are to open up to you in times of personal crises. You must be on vigil against any violence – physical or otherwise – and must be ready to intervene; even if it means physically intervening when gang violence breaks out outside school and some boys from your school are involved. Your students need to know that they're safe – emotionally and physically – when you’re around. And that’s what I strive to do everyday.”
Prashanth Wesley, a teacher of mathematics says: “There are times I have students who come to me with doubts in maths that are totally out of syllabus. These are kids who want to learn because they love to. And when they come to me, though I’m not obligated to teach them and many of my colleagues discourage me from doing so, I make it a point to help them out. There are times when even I’m unsure of how to solve that particular problem, so I get back home, do my research and work on it till I find the right solution to share with the child. In my initial years of teaching, I would even stay back after school to train the basketball team, although it wasn’t in my job description. I think every teacher, in some way or the other, does more than he or she is expected to.”
According to Sharon Clarance, a teacher of western music, “A lot of preparation goes in before entering class. To teach a regular lesson, I try to see how creative, different and fun I can make the class, whether in the form of PPTs, quizzes, worksheets or puzzles. Since I handle the school choir too, months before a concert, I search and listen to innumerable songs till I find the one I think is best suited for my choir. I then look up various choir versions or covers, following which I find the music scores for the same.”
She adds that teaching an instrument requires a lot of preparation too. “Finding pieces and songs best suited for each student and improvising on anything, if needed, all takes a certain amount of effort but it certainly does pay off in the end.”
More often than not, things that teachers do beyond their lessons, are either ignored or forgotten, and yet there are so many students who notice the little things and are grateful.
Elsie Arnold, a 12th grader who plays basketball, says: “Being a sports coach, for so many, means to teach and train students so that they have the skill and fitness level to play the game well. But our coach does so much more. His job doesn’t require him to have a bond with each student, whether the child is in grade one or grade 12. He is not expected to treat us to lassi after every match, from his own pocket, whether we win or lose, and yet he does that every single time. He cares for us well beyond the court, apart from doing his job exceptionally well.”
Elsie adds: “Personally, he has made a huge impact in my life and has taught me more than how to do a lay-up. He’s taught me that nothing comes easy, you’ve got to work for what you want, and that it is important to do my best, whether people are watching or not. I’m quite sure I will never find anyone else who would take the time and effort to invest so much into my life. I’m truly grateful to him.”
Whether it is being your child’s cheerleader, bouncer, problem solver, advocate, law enforcer, doctor on call or life coach, among a zillion other things, there’s no denying that teachers are superheroes without capes, the only kind of people that lose sleep over other people’s children. Don’t forget to thank them today!