An Imaginary Educator... - Simar Kaur

Simar Kaur from Gyanshree School, Noida

‘The best teachers are those who show you where to look but don’t tell you what to see’. 

I think that teaching is one of the most critical and challenging jobs. Teachers are the pillars in students’ lives; without their encouragement and driving force, students find it hard to explore themselves. Dealing with different kinds of students can be hectic, but teachers work hard to make sure that everyone in their class understands the concept. They ensure that everyone feels included and gets equal chances and opportunities. And that is why I admire their profession. They convert present learners to future leaders. 

Now, if I were an educator, taking my teachers as inspiration, I would deal with different students differently. 

For example: If a learner in my class was too impatient to wait for his turn, I would tell him to calm down in a classroom where everyone gets a say. I would ask him to take three deep breaths and write the answer down, and his excitement told me that he knew the answer. However, some learners are unaware of the solution. So, before giving a chance to someone who already knows the answer, we must ensure that everyone else also knows the answer. 

Similarly, a fearful learner will have trouble communicating with the rest of the class and will probably hold himself back from answering. I believe that students know the answer, but they fear getting it wrong and the embarrassment they think they will experience. So, as an educator, I would encourage them to tell their doubts in class and answer questions. Even for a small amount of participation, I will appreciate their effort. Apart from that, fear can also be generated by peers who are not friends. So I would give the student opportunities to be comfortable with everyone in the class so that he doesn't feel humiliated even if he answers a question wrongly. I would tell him to repeat these lines whenever he feels scared or fearful - ‘I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is a little death that brings total obliteration. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain.’ These lines were written in the fictional book ‘Dune’; sometimes, when I feel scared, I tell myself to calm down and repeat these lines. And it works for me. 

Making students aware of the tactful techniques I use to overcome these problems would be my go-to method to help them. By telling anecdotes of my own and of other people, I would make sure that they inculcate these values. These are my current thoughts, but I know I still have a lot left to learn from my teachers and educators, and I’m looking forward to the limited years I will spend with my teachers here at Gyanshree. 

My Vision - Equal Opportunities for Boys and Girls

Payal Sharma

My vision is to become a good teacher and to build a platform where males and females are professionally given equal opportunities to grow.

As a teacher I want to become a friend, a guide and a helper for my students. I want to become a part of their lives in such a way that they don’t hesitate to share anything with me. My vision is to understand the cause behind student’s disinterest in the classroom.

I want to be a good teacher because I love to be with kids. This profession helps me to be a learner every day. Whenever I talk to my students I forget everything that is happening in my life and I become a part of them.

No other profession gives me as much satisfaction as teaching. The teacher training program happening in my school is helping me to deliver my subjects in the most effective and creative ways in the classroom. But I have to keep improving and learning.

Professional Equality for Males and Females

I want to build a platform where males and females are professionally given equal opportunities to grow. I think this way because of my life circumstances; I wasn’t able to work and research as biotechnologist just because I’m a woman and I received no support that my profession requires. I think many women must be facing it every day. Even today when we live in an educated society, such things happen with women!

To make a difference I have started with my own home with my three years old daughter. I don’t want her to feel later in life that she’s in anyway less because she’s a girl. I don’t want her to think, “Why am I a girl?”

In my neighbourhood, a family is sending their son to an expensive school but their daughter to a less expensive school. I have talked twice with the family and even visited their home to help them understand that girls should get equal opportunities. They said they’ll admit her to a better school later. But I know this will not happen. I dream that one day I’ll join a NGO and work for equal opportunities for boys and girls.

My giving extra time to school to attend training workshops was not liked by few people in my family. However the more I attend these workshops, the more I’m able to understand them.  Now I understand why they behave the way they behave. These workshops are helping me to understand not even children but even adults around me.

At DBN Amarvilla, there are days when resource persons, trainers get to converse with teachers on their vision and dreams. Our series titled ‘My Vision, My Dream’ is all about the aspirations of our teachers ever ready to embark on a journey of learning, exploration and self-discovery.

Post by: Payal Sharma, DBN Amarvilla School, Jammu, Email Payalsharma963@gmail.com