TEACHERS — Blessing in disguise!
TEACHERS — Blessing in disguise!
By Ms. Mansi Mehta
Head, School Operations.
Always wonder why is Teachers Day celebrated on 5th September? Most of us are aware but do not know the facts. Well, the inception of this day goes way down to 1967!It is Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s birth anniversary and to give him a tribute to the contribution he has made in the field of education. He was a staunch believer of education, and was a well-known diplomat, scholar, 1st Vice President and 2nd President of India from 1962- 1967 and above all, a teacher. When some of his students and friends approached him and requested him to allow them to celebrate his birthday, he said, “instead of celebrating my birthday separately, it would be my proud privilege, if 5th September is observed as Teachers’day”.
Here when I write about being a ‘teacher’ I do not only mean teachers who are qualified with degrees and are teaching in schools or colleges, here the word teacher is referred to as someone who imparts knowledge, life skills, has an impact on a child’s life, is a role model. An individual has many roles to play in his/her life that of a mother/ father, a sibling, a spouse, a friend and not to forget of a teacher.
Parents are the first teachers in a child’s life so do in my life. You spend most of the time with them, observing them, going out with them. Children learn by imitation, statement stands true in my case. Teachers have played a very important part in my life since my early childhood years. I am in touch with all my teachers till date! With each one of them I have my distinct memories but the most that have had an impact in my life are from preschool years.
A ‘good’ teacher is the one who appreciates you, praises for your work, pats your back for small things like just finishing your tiffin box, having interactive sessions, dressing neatly and many more to pen down. This in turn helped me develop qualities like confidence, being responsible, organizational skills, respecting elders, being empathetic, altruistic etc. I was lucky then and till date feel blessed to have many ‘teachers’ in my life. Teachers in my life have been as small as a 2 year old child to a 60 year old individual.
Teaching is never a one way process the way children learn from us even we learn from them. It’s a beautiful give and take relationship. The impact that the preschool teacher has on children is just like the development of the brain. Research has proven that 98% of brain develops in first 6 years similarly preschool years being the foundation years, adults that the child is surrounded by in those years have the most impact on the child’s life.
For children teachers are like GOD. Whatever they say, whatever they do everything is acceptable to them. As adults I think we need to respect that and reciprocate by showing them love, care, affection and most importantly TIME that they deserve from all of us. We need to nurture the faith they have in us and not destroy it by giving them bad and unhealthy experiences in their delicate growing years.
According to me a teacher is the one who is Talented Educated Adult in a Child’s life Helping and Encouraging them to Reaching out the outside world.
