Quality and Love - Roopa Bhattacharyya

A student who does a shoddy job with classwork and homework

The pandemic has had a telling effect on the writing ability of many children. In the last two years, assignments and tests were mainly based on google Forms and multiple-choice responses. The students were rarely required to submit classwork or homework in written form. So, when I started teaching grade three in physical classes last April, most students could not write words and sentences with clearly formed letters, as expected from a third grader. So, in addition to the regular work, I had to make them practice handwriting. While many improved, two children submitted shoddy work after six months. So, I gave them particular practice and motivated them to get a gold star for doing neat work. This has helped improve the quality of the classwork and homework. 

However, only one of the laggard children still needed to improve. Counselling the child showed that his parents could not help him due to their busy work schedule and general apathy towards education. The child was bright and knew all the answers orally. However, he could not write it down neatly; the handwriting needed to be legible. It took almost one year of constant motivation, and finally, the child is writing legibly now. 

Two underage students in a romantic relationship

Since teaching in the primary department, I have never encountered students in a romantic relationship. Nowadays, children are overexposed to TV and OTP platforms thus, they often say things like “I LOVE YOU” to other children, and immediately, some others respond “, HAW”. Some even go to the teacher and report this. So I, as a teacher, explain that love is a great feeling and nothing to be embarrassed by. I explain to them that their parents love them, they love their parents, they love their brothers and sisters, they love their teachers, and the teachers also love them. So, love is a feeling of concern and sharing. It is one of the noblest emotions. 

Roopa Bhattacharyya

Ahlcon Public School

Quality and Love - Reena Gusain

Quality refers to “The the totality of features and characteristics of a product or service and its ability to satisfy the needs”. In today’s competitive world, everyone is thriving hard to give the best qualitative result to make survival possible. In the field of education, when we talk of the word quality, it basically refers to the additional input poured by the teaching staff to give the best qualitative result either relates to teaching or any other problems arising. Any lackadaisical approach will definitely bring down the desired result.

1.  A student who does a shoddy job with classwork and homework

As the student is bright and intelligent, bearing the ability to grasp things quickly and have an upright approach towards studies, the case should not worry. Some students do bear this tendency of completing their assigned work in a haste manner to be identified amongst front runners.  Attention needs to be paid to such students because shining is needed for a diamond to sparkle. However, if a student is average or below that level, then special attention is required. Maybe the student is in some sort of mental agony, and as a result, he delivers such results.

For such situations quality and love skills need to be catered to the students. A teacher should be smart enough to arrive at the reasons for the student forwarding such weird presentation skills. The approach should be a positive one, and the teacher should try to assimilate the student so that he changes his perception of his skills. The teacher should take stock of all going inside the student's mind and sort them out with her skills.  If the situation demands, then a verbal talk with the parents/ guardian may also be carried out.

2.  Two underage students in a romantic relationship

With increasing innovation and technology, social media platform has engulfed our society, and no one is untouched. Two underage students in a romantic relationship are basically due to excessive use of social media platforms which is unavoidable as the Corona pandemic has given birth to online teaching, thereby exhausting the offline teaching mode. Short bytes of romantic videos as advertisers do appear on these platforms. Also, the students have free hand access to any of the social sites. No quality time is being provided by working parents. Since these are tiny minds, they are vulnerable to such videos and start living a fantasy life. But need to understand why such a situation arises that a student at such a ripe age tries to find love outside. The reason behind it may be that he feels devoid of love in his home surroundings, especially with the working parents.

An experienced teacher facing such a situation, rather than manipulating things and trying to run away, will definitely try to sort out things before it worsens. The teacher should make the students understand the difference between good and bad, real and fantasy, especially if we are dealing with adolescents. The teacher should try to nurture the minds of such students with positive thinking and make them understand their prime responsibility. The teacher should also make the parents/guardians understand their prime responsibility towards their children to understand the purity of love they can receive from their parents in abundance.

For being a lovable person, you need to be clear with your thoughts, ideas and have a caring attitude. A person possessing all these characteristics ought to be loved by everyone and remembered forever.

- REENA GUSAIN, THE DOON GIRLS SCHOOL

Pandemic Diaries - Every challenge is a Lesson Learnt : Nidhi Jain

A few days back, early in the morning, my phone rang while I was asleep. The call was from the mother of one of my students. Hearing the news made me feel as if the wrath below my feet had slipped away. She had lost her husband and my student, her father!  They had lost him to the deadly ongoing pandemic.

I was surprised and shocked at the same time to see my student in the class on the same day. It was tough for me to face her as I had no words to console her. Her camera went on and off several times.  I had assured the student's mother that if the little girl needed to take some time off to be with her family, she might surely do so without worrying about missing classes. I would later work with her to help her catch up with what she would miss. But she didn’t want to. In fact, she said that being in class will help her forget about her loss.

I was quite convinced of her reason. As a student, and even now as a teacher, being in class has always given me the feeling of being safe and protected. A place where I could engross myself with like-minded people who are interested in seeking knowledge. I was happy that I could somewhere make this little girl feel the same kind of security. 

The nation continues to deal with the impact of COVID-19. As I look behind, I find that we have focused mainly on the technology and tools for making our teaching effective and interesting. Technology has taught us how to virtually connect with our students. But, I feel that we need to maintain an emotional connection along with the technical connection, especially in this unpredictable and unreliable time. 

The affective domain plays a vital role in today’s teaching and learning. The current situation has affected everyone deeply, and I often think about its influence on the students and the teachers emotionally, psychologically and even physically. 

So we teachers should ensure that we help and guide our students to maintain emotional balance and positive mental health. We must let our students know that we are always there for them, and they can reach out to us whenever they need. This will also certainly help to strengthen the bond between the teachers and the students.

Each of us dreams of going back to school, and we are eagerly waiting for all the conversations that we used to have with our students and colleagues. Till then, we as teachers shall leave no stone unturned to keep the river of learning flowing, and we will keep the spirits high of the little hearts we connect with day in and day out.  

Nidhi Jain
Gyanshree School

Courage and Patience - Flyers DGS

 The two hardest tests on the spiritual road are the patience to wait for the right moment and the courage not to be disappointed with what we encounter” – Paolo Coelho

The current scenario is the best example for us as humans to understand courage and patience is one of the most important values to survive the worse that life throws onto us. Here, our members of the group are sharing their experiences of courage and patience during Covid-19.    

·       Vijaya Jugran- नई प्रेरणा ने हमें जोशीला बनाया, सभी ने नया कदम शिक्षा क्षेत्र में बढ़ाया। हिम्मत साहस और त्याग के भावों ने, नये इतिहास के नए पन्नों को रचाया। 

विपरीत परिस्थितियां बनती हैं रुकावट, प्रकृति समय-समय पर लेटी है करवट, इंसान का जज्बा कहां रहता है सिमट, 2020 के इतिहास में बता दिया यह झटपट।

शिक्षा उन्माद है आशा है तमन्ना है, ना रुकने वाला यह सफर हमेशा आजाद है, शिक्षा शिक्षक शागिर्द सबका एक ही भाव है, 

सफल प्रयास प्रसन्नता की राह है। अतः तकनीक का लिया हमने सहारा , शिक्षा का नया स्वरूप निर्मित हुआ हमारा। 

·       Vandana Goel - To teach an empty classroom has been a whirlwind and everyone is being asked to do more than they can do in a day, so all teachers are just trying to be patient and courageous enough to deal with the kind of impossible solution in uncharted territory. A teacher of the first standard in PKR School Ambala said, “Teaching first graders virtually this spring was tough. It’s easier for bigger kids because they know how to navigate through the various programs, and most high school kids are already doing a lot of learning with technology. For our students, it was a challenge because they could not do the program by themselves. They required help. I had a few parents who were working, and they couldn’t just stop and help their child. A lot of parents were overwhelmed, so I went through each assignment and videotaped myself doing it, showing them how to circle a noun in a sentence or count money.” Ability to cope up with all the challenges in this era with hope and courage is what I call Patience.

 ·       Urvashi Uniyal - The year 2020 - 21 is the year of Courage and Patience. As an English teacher, I tend to “borrow” from my favourite authors.  I would like to quote Charles Dickens, who said, “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” It was nice we could spend time with family, but it was worst as we had to do all our work on our own.

I personally exhibited a lot of courage when I had to teach students with parents sitting next to them. It was a demo class almost every time. I showed courage when I accepted that many things are beyond my control in an online class. So, patience followed suit with this.

 ·       Nandini Arora- All over the world, the teachers played the role of a COVID Warrior which no one acknowledged. I also like many other teachers faced many difficult situations such as lack of technical know-how, digital skills, virtual learning resources and observation of numbers of parents while teaching through an unfamiliar medium.  I struggled to engage my little ones to get the learning outcomes. But the immense support of my colleagues, coaches and some parents helped me to be courageous and perform my classes more effectively with patience. My kids’ sincerity, hard work and respectful behaviour is the reward of my courage and patience.

·       Bhumika Vyas- COVID-19 has taught everyone to be patient and courageous and made us understand that change is the only constant. Therefore, to understand and move along with the only constant in the world one requires both courage and patience. The living example is of all the teachers who continued to show courage and patience and brought a transformation from the horse and buggy days of teaching to a full-fledged technology-based experiential teaching. It would be right to say that through courage and patience, the teachers have risen like a phoenix from the ashes! 

 ·       Ritika Tyagi- 2020 has been a life-changing year in all aspects. Amid the lockdown, we teachers learnt that nothing is impossible for us to do! Working on the frontline and then bringing all the students together, making them feel comfortable in this virtual world was surely an uphill task. However, it made us more patient and gave us a chance to reflect on our teaching methodology. We felt insecure and scared about the whole situation too, but smilingly we kept motivating our kids; thus, it strengthened our courage.  We started thinking more about encouraging our kids patiently than just putting the deadlines and pressure on marks.  It has been a courageous leap forward for all the teachers, and we will continue to give our best patiently.

 Courage to forgo and forget what’s non-essential and incognito along with patience to tread unabated towards ones enlightened unique path is the sole purpose of all existence. COVID-19 has forced us to adapt to a new norm and helped us dive deep within our own selves to recognize our potential. Everything has a purpose in this world. Let’s be aligned with who we are today and as they say- ‘Only the present moment is ours’.

- FLYERS DGS @ The Doon Girls' School Dehradun: Vijaya Jugran, Vandana Goel, Urvashi Uniyal, Nandini Arora, Bhumika Vyas and Ritika Tyagi

Covid 19: A Teacher's Perspective - Ajay Vijayvargi

 After going through various layouts in the package of 20 lac crores to deal with the extraordinary situation by the pandemic in India by the government, where most affected sectors of society –labourers, farmers, industries, infrastructure banking and many more are covered, it is clear that the Indian government is trying to benefit everyone. This move is welcome and was much needed to fight. As per the surveys, the amount of the package is about 10% of the GDP of the country thereby making some compromises even in the defence sector (reduction in budget outlay) for next financial year. A lot many relaxations in all sectors like less deduction of EPF from salaries, a moratorium in EMI`s. Everything is fine, it's the government's responsibility, full marks for it as under the present situation whatever best was possible is being done.

However, the question nobody asked and neither answered, is nothing is thought over the working of private schools big or small as due to sudden lockdown from mid-March when the session was going to end and fees were not collected completely, the schools somehow managed to pay the salaries for the month of March but schools started facing a severe crisis – financial crunch. The reason is simple students not coming to school, parents finding it difficult to pay the fees due to delay in the salaries, uncertainty in the job and future liabilities etc and are asking for a waiver of school fees for one quarter i.e from April to June.

The government has not given a clear verdict over this, which affected lacs of private school teachers unpaid, how will they run their family expenditures and pay fees of their ward and a lot more. The government has paid attention to the needs of the present hour but nobody thought about investing in the future, as `School Fees are to be considered as a future investment and not expenditure`.

The only insight required is a provision in the financial package for private schools as soft loans for a year or so that when situation normalises and fees are recovered by schools these loan amounts would be repaid, this financial assistance to school will give liquidity to schools to pay salaries to the teachers regularly during this difficult times so that teachers also can run their families and meet unforeseen expenses like sickness etc in their families.

The teaching profession is most unrated as the teachers are underpaid but they are shaping the future generation and an important part of the society too.

Ajay Vijayvargi, The Fabindia School

Simplicity and Trust-Ajay Vijayvargi

Simplicity means less complex, more communication, more effectiveness​ and trust means

when actions meet words. While going through life sketches of great personalities, I was greatly influenced by Mr.Ratan Tata, a person, a living legend who possesses both the attributes under discussion i.e Simplicity and Trust.

The pic of this great person which exhibit simplicity - imagine the person behind the Tata empire, in his factories where everything from salt to planes are manufactured, owner of one of the biggest steel plants showing trust in Indian traditions by lightning the lamp against the darkness of pandemic and showing trust in the leadership of India like millions of other Indians. A person who donated INR 1500 crores to Prime Minister's relief fund to fight COVID19 and once was denied check in a hotel during British times laid the foundation of The Taj at Mumbai.

  

This great personality who was a pioneer of industrialization of independent India. His leadership is unprecedented and a beautiful combination of simplicity and trust and a demonstration of the values of simple living, high thinking. Likewise, one should always try and remain simple and easy to understand which will help one to gain others trust and respect. Similarly, teachers who are responsible for nurturing the students should also be simple in their dealings and teaching as that's how they will be able to earn their students' trust and their relationship will go way longer. 

Ajay Vijayvargi, The Fabindia School

Lockdown: Pressure Management: Jitendra Suthar

Adaptation is basic attribute of human being. We are meant to adapt all the situations we

come in contact with. Everyone around is trying to accept this condition and are making efforts to get back on track. While doing so, there has been a lot of pressure on each individual to tackle this pandemic situation; pressure like food, shelter, work, water and many more.

Many a time, we keep on working with the thought that there will be some relief but load increases accordingly. For this, it is better to schedule a time for each work. Do not give extra efforts to one work as the other might get delayed. By this, a person might start getting frustrated.

In these situations, we should have some stress buster activities. Such activities like taking a break from such pressure and spending time with family, Playing fun games, reading comics, listening to music, drawing etc.

What is the best way to stay happy in this lockdown period? Many a time we think of doing something but are not able to do because of the daily busy schedule. This is the best time to utilize and keep ourselves busy.  We should get engaged in activities like exercise, cooking, gardening and many more.

Jitendra Suthar

The Fabindia School

Service to Humanity - Urmila Rathore

Service to humanity is service to God.

We all are aware of COVID-19.

The whole world is suffering from this disease. Italy, Spain, America, China etc .are in brutal condition. Even developed countries are still fighting against this curse. Including ours, most of the countries are on lockdown. Lockdown is the safest step to avoid COVID-19 but what will happen to those people who don't have a home, shelter, and money.

In this condition, humanity comes in front of COVID-19 as one because it is not differentiated through caste, creed, gender and religion. Any religion of any human race has come to serve the poor and needy ones in this pandemic.

Many people are serving food packages and have donated money in CM and PM relief fund for saving humanity.

If I say that doctors, nurses, paramedical and police forces are our real heroes and gods

who are serving us, then I would not be wrong.

We can help them by staying at home and it is our duty of every human being to make our universe more beautiful and liveable for all species.

Due to lockdown, our living planet is also healing. Birds and animals also feel comfort without human disturbance, so God keeps all things on the place positively. I hope that governments take sustainable steps when this lockdown is lifted so that the environment does not suffer a rebound increase in emissions(as has happened in the 2008 financial crisis).

With our thinking and actions, we can support our nature, serve love, kindness and hope, soon everything will positively cure and we will win this fight against the Coronavirus.

- Urmila Rathore, The Fabindia School

Work from Home: New Learning - Ajay Vijayvargi

Due to the pandemic, the spread of COVID -19 virus, everyone was faced with a situation like never before. A complete lockdown in more than 22 states with the postponement of exams in schools, colleges etc gave new learning opportunities to educators which involves greater use of technology while implementing Social Distancing. 

At this time of Social Distancing to protect everyone from disease, we need to assign our students daily work and stay tuned with them to get the feedback, solve their difficulties, keep them away from rumours and update them with important information issued in the public interest by the government.

 If we look at the larger positive side of this the situation,  this has given us an opportunity to spend the much-awaited time with our closed ones and has also given an opportunity to try our hands at new learning opportunities, strategies using the technology and implement them in our teaching and learning styles effectively.

While social distancing requires staying aloof but the need of the hour is to stay connected with our family, relatives, workplace, colleagues, students and school leadership through alternate modes of communication(s) by simple calls, WhatsApp group chats, group calls, video recording of lessons prepared by yourself or by using any other apps – Youtube, Khan Academy, Zoom, Skype and many more.

Let’s pray for everyone’s well being while being connected and safe.

Let’s fight it together.

Ajay Vijayvargi

avi4fab@gmail.com

The Fabindia School, Bali