Towards Better Days

Asmakam gramaha nagarath naadidoore varthathe (Translated as: My village is situated not too far away from the city). The first chapter of Eight grade Sanskrit text book starts with this sentence. Even though, since childhood she was taught mantras, slogas and bajans in Sanskrit, the taste of Sanskrit as a subject was not known until the eighth grades. In 90s, unlike the present time, children had hardly any role or even no role in selecting one’s subject of studies. Parent (educated Dad) proposes and disposes which children obey unarguably. So did she! Class teacher of seventh grade cautioned her dad about her worst skill in Malayalam handwriting. They expressed their difficulty in evaluating her answer scripts and shared their anxiety in her scoring less marks in the paper in higher classes. They even warned and threatened her father that this might even affect her SSLC marks and that she will have to struggle to get admission in schools of repute. A very ambitious and serious Dad decided to teach his ‘brilliant’ daughter otherwise, Sanskrit, that would help her score better marks in her SSLC examination.

Sanskrit classes were nightmare to her. Not because of the tedium of the subject but because of the classroom atmosphere. Classes were delivered by a senior teacher of the school who knows each lesson byheart. She has been dealing with the same old book of poems, short stories, plays, and the like since her enrolment as a teacher. She enters the class carrying no text books but with a cane stick. The weapon reminded one of a patient discharged from a hospital after succumbing to a road accident. Both ends of the stick were wrapped with a cello-tape to prevent it from further tattering it has gained from hitting strong hands that were often exposed to the punishment. Those were the golden times for teachers. Neither Human rights commission nor the Children’s Rights protectors would turn up if students were subjected to corporal punishments. Parents would recommend combo package of punishment if they are reported about one! (I wish if I were a teacher then)

Sorry for getting diverted from the topic! First week went well. This teacher’s objective was to make all her students pass the exam with 90 % and above. (I wonder if one student of her class uses Sanskrit as a language for communication at present). To achieve this goal, every Monday a class test is held. She would sit lounging in the wooden chair and read a long question to which the students should give an even longer answer. The central character in the story found it difficult to answer these questions in a very short span of time. After this test paper, she would call out for the top scorers. Victorious them would find their places for the week in the front rows. The average students will be pushed to the back benches. The ‘slow learners’ who really require good attention will be forced to occupy their seats on the floor. They are seated in proximity to the teacher so that she can easily reach them with her cane stick. Unfortunately, she too was categorised as the slow learner.

Children of those days react less. They were more enduring than the present generation. She got used to the habit of sitting on the floor, close to the tutor who judges the standards of her students through a memory and speed test! But cat will be out of the bag when the ordained hour arrives. Following the first quarterly examination, the teacher identified that the poor little soul who was categorised as a slow learner is no more a poor scorer. It was a revelation to the teacher and there after she started giving additional time to complete the class test to all the students. Hats off to that teacher’s attitude for the realization and changing her heart.

The scenario has changed. Students would react and seek for explanation if they are not convinced properly. A teacher- student relationship has undergone a revolutionary change since years. One cannot live as a teacher within its limited definition in the current education system, rather she should be willing to get down from the platform where she is glued to the black board, chalk and duster and drop the stick of strictness and order. During the olden times, there were hardly any means to which wards shall get diverted from their studies. Students nowadays encounters many challenges and are often provoked to get diverted from their focus. Covid and Post Covid times have exposed students to the world of IT and are vulnerable to cyber activities. Hence the role of a tutor has grown beyond mere imparting of knowledge. She shall remain a constant companion, mentor and a friend to her students. The scope of a teacher to influence her students in his holistic development is very many. When the students of 90s are asked to single out a teacher who influenced them differently, he will have to brainstorm. Let us hope that future is not too far where students would have the picture of their teachers as understanding, loving and remembered as a good companion.

Ms. Saritha. K, Head, Dept. of English, Al Shifa College of Arts and Science, Kizhattoor, Perinthalmanna