The quotidian life choices for a professional career are many. For me, teaching as a profession will always remain at the helm. My working trajectory was formed initially as a Kindergarten teacher, though it was a very brief stint. My deep-seated values of being patient and grounded were a direct outcome of interacting with the little ones. Living cheerfully and being joyous in all our endeavours was indeed my best takeaway from the Kindergarten students. Even today, when I am encircled with life’s challenges, I make it a point to visit my Kindergarten students and feel rejuvenated in their presence.
Dr. Anil Kumar T, Principal – Amara Jyothi Public School.
Quite notably, there is no concept of a Perfect Teacher—albeit a Performing Teacher is what I truly believe in. Instead of ubiquitous jargons like Best Teacher, it is the Concerned Teacher I personally look up to more. As a Principal, I have always encouraged my coterie of teachers to be loving and caring rather than being solely result-oriented in their teaching methodologies. And why not! The teaching workforce primarily comprises responsible world citizenry of female teachers who are excellent manifestations of work–life balance.
With the passage of time, teachers have surely become more passionate and enlivened about their profession. Out of 360 days in a year, our teachers work for a staggering 230 days, each day demanding unique styles of teaching, mentoring, loving, and handholding. A visceral revelation of a teacher’s life indeed reveals her various avatars—not only as a teacher but as a Mother, Counsellor, Friend, and sometimes even a Nurse too. These roles are multifarious, balancing the rigmaroles of home and classrooms, calling for an extraordinary blend of passion and love for children. Well, teachers are like water—adaptive and protean by nature.
In hindsight, the pandemic burgeoned with its own myriad of challenges, but the teaching fraternity indeed proved their mettle. Management philosophy, textbooks, curriculum, and digitised teaching came with their whirlwind of changes, yet the teaching contingent remained unfettered. They accepted appreciation and feedback in equal stride and kept the space of teaching sacrosanct and alive. They remained the ultimate listeners, observers, and masters of a student’s character building and path-breaking development.
Spearheading a class of 35–40 students with meandering mental dispositions and abilities, a teacher’s job is uphill with steeper learning curves to look forward to. The job embraces new ideas, innovative techniques, and keeps evolving by the clock. This entire process is comprehensive and elaborate. After all, the entire teaching community is not only creating the next generation of learners and leaders but also imbuing in them the spirit of like-minded progressive individuals who join hands to emerge as unified Indian citizens with a global presence.
Teachers are beyond geography and demography; teaching their students to fight the blizzards of life by standing erect even when the winds or tides change and acquire their most powerful form. They offer their service, set and cast in gold, with the least expectations of support or promises of a viable, fruitful career. My dear students—even if you meet them after many decades of your life, you will surely recognise them, and that is the BEST GIFT you can ever bestow on your great teacher. Your fond recognition and love are their ultimate Guru Dakshina.
In my closing thoughts, I reminisce the beautiful words of the legendary Rabindranath Tagore:
“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”
