have trained to be a teacher from the get go. If my calling to be a vet was not be, I should have just trained to get an education degree and gone to teach. Before kids, I had more patience and the experience would have got my patience levels to stay at that level.
I could have solidly contributed to kids’ lives, even in a system that doesn’t accommodate different needs as well as it should. Since it is unacceptable that any child should be left behind, our schools and systems should per force take all kinds of children and then figure it out. Ideal would be figure it out before, but hey, in a world that plays at being inclusive, I would take it in any order. (p.s.: Did you hear the Aadhar/UID higher up say they can’t be ‘too inclusive’? What is THAT?!)
Have learned so much about education and systems and the need to match learning styles adequately (at least adequately!). If the internet were more prevalent in my time, who knows what avenues would have opened up? At the very least, I would have had enough evidence to present to support my position of making it to vet school.
Why is it that in India people stray into education? It is still the preserve of people who think they can’t cut it any where else. Yet, it is the toughest profession – this myth that it is the ideal job for a mother whose kids go to school; she can go with them to school and come back at the same time….this one needs to be bust big time.
When their children are sick, teachers are expected to be in school. This is just like your having to do what it takes as a professional when you go to work. If anything, this is more important….they have your childrens’ futures in their hands. Commodities futures…not so important. In my book at least.
Teacher work like dogs. And I don’t mean dogs as either stay-at-home dogs or any disrespect….dogs rank up there in this household. This is not a profession for those who just want to handle the logistics of being a stay at home mother without staying home. There’s preparation, there’s correction, there’s the brain storming to do when someone isn’t getting it, it is in getting a class room to be disciplined with sensitivity and much more important – knowing each child at least adequately. It is teacher, counselor, coach and parent rolled into one. For several kids. Many more kids than one would consider parenting.
So why is it that we have a crappy B.Ed degree for someone interested in qualifying as a teacher? That degree honestly is not worth the paper it is written on. One can study at home and pass an exam. Without handling a class. There’s little on pedagogy on the syllabus, not enough on age specific child development, little to no class observation…..it is completely inadequate.
The saving grace pre-RTE was that interested folk had a lower barrier of entry. Yes, the ones who weren’t meant to be teachers were also let in….but there were some good ones. Just like there are now. But if this is the pool one has to pick from, you can’t even blame schools.
An article like this gives you the importance of teachers. I don’t believe that the value of a teacher can be costed out in rupee anna paisa. Yet, if that is what is needed, here it is. Now may the mercenary (who shouldn’t be in the ‘business’ of education in any case!) awake to the need for good teacher training and attracting a pool of people interested in children and teaching in every school, conventional or not, inclusive or not!
Have a lovely weekend, everyone!
I’ve often wondered, given how important teaching is not just on an individual level but also for long-term macro-economic benefit to the nation, how come no country has invested in a national teacher corps or something like that – an elite professional training programme. Elite only in the sense of being top-notch in quality. They could recruit thousands every year. Give them the training IIT-ans or the administrative services enjoy. Is there something like that somewhere? If I am correct, the IAS/IPS/IAAS/IFS intake every year is around 500-700, teaching could take up so many more.
So agree. Why can’t they take this on seriously? States already hire a lot of teachers as does the Central Govt – even if the KVs are administered separately. Serious teacher training colleges – an elite teacher corps….what an awesome thing that would be!
I also wish there was an efficient and compulsory aptitude test for teachers. Some teachers were just not meant to be teachers. I often volunteered at my kids’ schools, one time, in one of Tejaswee’s schools, I met her new class teacher in the Staff Room, and she greeted me with, “Be nice to me, I am your daughter’s class teacher.” This was meant to be funny, but I saw no humour in it.
A friend who was a teacher herself, once said, “Whatever you say, teachers have power, parents have to be nice to us.” She was annoyed because some parents had not been nice to her and no matter what she said after that I didn’t think she was a right person for their child to be with.
Strongly agree. Teaching is not for everyone. One (good) teacher I know said – you better enjoy working with groups of kids all day. I know a few who shouldn’t be anywhere near kids (luckily not in my kids’ school!).
Seriously, they said that?! Feel for the kids who end up dealing with the stuff that follows later. I still remember a teacher who treated me like a pariah for 3 years because I decided not to take an extra class she took in the evenings and because she thought I was a bad influence on her favourite student. She and her friend went out of their way to be mean and I wondered why they bothered so much to be mean to someone way younger and under their power, in this structured, systematic way!
hear hear!
my mom would love you Sangi..for years she has been hearing stuff like how a teacher’s job is best for a woman..no one seems to realise the hard work that goes behind preps for each class no matter how many times you have taught the same thing for n number of years, the paper setting, the paper corrections, the note book corrections, the composition books, the extra work of arranging for charts and models, etc etc etc..
I love you Sangi
Ditto.
I know – most mothers seem to think this is their way of ‘doing something’, keeping themselves ‘occupied’! Add in the enthusiasm for doing this year in and year out, child after child…be interested or be a bad teacher!
And the only place in the world where teachers are paid well and is seen as a serious profession – Scandinavian countries, do superbly well on the eduction front. Proof enough.
Do tell re the book. What do you think of it?
We (lil one and I) had a long chat later yesterday on the topic – realised we had not somehow not discussed it properly ever. Felt more equipped to deal with her Qs since I’ve been reading your posts/thoughts. Thanks!
There are so many examples to look to…if we’ll only get away from our parochial concerns as states or boards or such.
Loved the book – it deserves its own review post. Shall be putting that up soon, daughter read it, son hasn’t yet…thought I would read it with him to answer questions and be around as needed. Good to know that the little one is informed – she’ll be a dream of a friend to someone who needs that empathetic ear.
Chox beat me to this: was going to say, the Scandinavian countries are the only ones where teaching is an elite profession. But, they have the advantages of a small and relatively homogeniis populations to work with, whichIMO helps them exceed in all sorts of social-capital ways. (Not exactly social capital, maybe human capital is the term i’m looking for).
You’re right – a lot of their other systems also work well. Take the point on small/homogenous population but by that token we should at least be able to replicate in small pockets? Enough small pockets.
M, I think the problem goes beyond just scale and complexity due to diversity. Even if you looked beyond these two there are inherent issues with the whole idea of what education should be. And then the likes of Mr.Sibal come and further mess it up.
Certainly there are many many issues beyond size of population and homogeniety, I was only pointing out that the problem seems manageable when it isn’t so large to start with. this debate about just what education is: the US, as youprobablyknow,is going through much angst with this question, with some folks wanting more testing, others wanting less etc. Again, my observation, but as the school going population grows more diverse, there are more issues to solve. This isn’t a problem though,merely an important variable, IMO.
And i had the impresion that Bangalore actually had some pockets of decent schooling: have been hearing very good things about some of the new schools such as Primus. .of course,these are private schools, have grown cynical enough that I can’t believe govt. Schools will do anything useful in my lifetime.
I don’t think we have enough small pockets. Or even enough schools that provide sensitive, child-centric, relevant education. There are a few schools that try hard, succeeding with some kids…normally the self-driven ones who will do well in most systems. It all ends up with the individual teacher that the child ends up with. Just that teacher and hopefully an eco-system that supports her. Every school struggles to find these teachers, even the big ones. This is a big problem and one we can’t afford to not aggressively address as a country.
I Love working with kids. I seriously think I can become a better teacher . Unfortunately I can’t be a teacher with Engineering degree. I think there should be a better way to became teacher than that crappy B.Ed degree. May be as you said in another life I would.
Well, there are some other options – montessori for 2.5 years to 9 years or the IGCSE certification to teach in those schools. And apparently B.Ed is only for higher classes, primary teaching doesn’t seem to need this. Do consider it, Sneha, the better the people we have in there with our kids, the better are future’s prospects for us as a country. And welcome here!
Is it possible for you to give some info on montessori and IGCSE certification courses?
Thank you
The Montessori courses are here – http://indianmontessoricentre.org/
CIDTT is a course for teachers to certify themselves for IGCSE – The Teacher Foundation has the tie up with the British Council (www.teacherfoundation.org). I think there are other organizations that help with IGCSE certification as well, shall try and get more info.
Thanks for the info.Will be grateful if you give more info.
So true that people stray into this profession in our country. I agree absolutely with Aparna, A national teachers corps would have done wonders..It is a tough job and needs better suited people. Aptitude, as IHM said.
I have been a part time teacher during my research day and I loved that time…this stupid B.Ed degree is crap.
Any plans to start teaching again? Do consider it – we need good people in there!
‘This is not a profession for those who just want to handle the logistics of being a stay at home mother without staying home’ Exactly what i’ve been trying to tell folks who think they would like to be a teacher so that they can get away from the stress of IT life!! I tell them to seriously look at all that being a teacher entails and then take a plunge.. if at all. Sis is a teacher in an engineering college and have seen up close what it takes!! With small kids, it would be a bigger responsibility i guess..
And.. BEd is definitely a stumbling block for anyone who is still seriously interested in being a teacher
Loved reading this one Sangitha!
Thanks, Priya. I wouldn’t even attempt an engineering college…how does she do it?!
Am considering special ed strongly. And wondering if I am nuts.