Teachers Day

I know, I do not belong to their generation of ‘Super Techy Connectivity’. Yet I know to stay connected. I can’t sing a single peppy western number but can appreciate when they perform. I use my laptop with difficulty but willingly learn from them, though slowly and can sport a smile if they call me a slow learner. I complement them lavishly when they turn in new, latest information relevant to the subject, before I can find it out. I know mild pranks are passable even if, sometimes it is at my cost. However, if the mischief can cause harm, I do admonish severely, without humiliating them in Public and with genuine concern and understanding with their future in mind. I know my group is mostly not quiet. I do not work that way. Not only do I believe in posing questions and discuss their view points before structuring an answer, but leave them with questions at the end that would triggers a series of more questions from them for me to ponder over.

Though many claim that our profession is ‘Noble’, I never fail to perceive it as a committed Business. I often say, “There is no charity here. I am paid for what I do and you pay for what you receive. If I don’t deliver, you have the right question. I too have the right to question you if you act as an impediment to a classy product delivered commonly for a group. So, let’s get down to meaningful business”. Well I am one of those ordinary Teachers of Today equipping to teach the ‘morrow. No more a teacher is an information provider. As teachers, we need to pause and clearly see the difference between the Past and the Present for sculpturing the unbelievably different Tomorrow.

Life does offer us a chance, at least once in a while, though not often; to find out that we can do more than what we thought we are capable of. This can become a vital lesson for our students to make them think that they can do more that what they think they are capable of. I never felt ashamed to tell my students that I did not know my subject as well as I does now, in the past. A verifiable example always helps more than a sermon or a motivational lecture. Anytime, particularly today it is important to be affectionate and be a shock absorber too at times to help and guide a pupil back to the genuine track of success. Every Institution should be supportive in conducting a Social Audit, with a positive attitude to identify the strengths for promotion and weaknesses for correction. This will help create and sustain a healthy environment where the purpose will be met and goal achieved.

It is our day today for we teachers. Let us plant. Transplant if required. But Nurture our live crop of the ‘morrow and make them sensible, strong, supportive and sensible.

Mahalakshmi Ramjee

Teachers Day

WORKSHOP FEBRUARY2010

IREX WORKSHOP WITH THE VISITING US TEACHER, MR. DANIEL GREENSTONE
11 & 12, February, 2010.
A REPORT
The two day workshop, a result of a cross-cultural educational program sponsored by the Teaching and Excellence Achievement (TEA) fellowship, which is overseen by the International Research Exchange (IREX) Board, Washington was inaugurated by Dr. Mrs. Y.G.Parthasarathy, Dean and Director, PSBB Group of Schools.
The TEA fellows Mr. Daniel Greenstone, an American Teacher from Oak Park High School and Mrs. Mahalakshmi Ramjee, PGT– Geography, PSBB, Nungambakkam, conducted a workshop on Educational Methods, Materials and Management.
About 50 city school teachers participated in the 2 day workshop. Mr. Daniel Greenstone gave a presentation on Classroom Management and Six Traits Model of Writing. Mr. Greenstone’s session covered students in the classroom right from the 1950s. With apt slides he was able to capture the situation. He discussed the current scenario in the US and expressed how times have been changing and what problems teachers face in their respective schools.
Mrs. Mahalakshmi Ramjee gave a presentation on the Dynamics of Classroom Arrangement. She spoke about Individual and Collective Discipline and Micro- Teaching and Analysis. She elaborated effectively on the principles of the above mentioned topic. A joint presentation on Assertive Discipline by Mr.Greenstone and Mrs. Mahalakshmi Ramjee was well received by all the participants.
Mrs. Ananthi Karthic, Counsellor, PSBB, spoke on The Role and Qualities of a Good Counsellor.
Day two began with an interesting presentation on ‘Interactive Methods for Civic Education by Mrs. Hemalatha Seshadri, HOD, Social Science, PSBB, Nungambakkam. The presentation included a mock debate by a couple of students. Dr. R. Jaganathan, Associate Professor, Department of Geography, University of Madras, Gave an exhaustive presentation on GIS and Map Skills. It was greatly appreciated.
In the Post-Lunch session Mrs. Mahalakshmi Ramjee came up with a presentation on Objective Processes on Global Curriculum Development. With a ‘Correlation Model’ she outlined the importance of universal learning objectives and the related subjects in Global Curriculum Development. Mrs. Vaidehi Madhavan, a Fulbright Scholar and Maths PGT in PSBB, Nungambakkam spoke about the Use of Rubrics for clarity in Assessment. It was greatly welcomed with the CBSE moving towards Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation. Finally the presentation of Mrs. S. Vasanthi, HOD, Science, PSBB, Nungambakkam, on Scientific Literacy and English Language kindled the need to read and synthesize media articles critically and acknowledge the contribution of Science to English Language.
Dr (Mrs.) Y.G. Parthasarathy, highlighted the necessity and the benefits of the two day workshop and she stressed on the Assertive Discipline in the Class Room Management. Mrs. Valli Arunachalam, Principal, PSBB, Nungambakkam welcomed the gathering. Mrs. Sheela Rajendra, Correspondent, gave away the Certificates to the participant and said this kind of Seminars would be truly meaningful when the knowledge gained is applied in our classroom situations. Mrs. Shyamala Shekar, Additional Vice-Principal proposed a vote of thanks. Dr. (Mrs) Chandra Ramani took charge of the overall arrangement and helped in the conduct of the program.

book reviews

A memorable learning experience
At the outset I must thank the School Management for having given me the rare platform to compete at the international level and participate in the TEA program organized by the USIEF and IREX. My travel to the US as a result of this (from September 21st to November 8th 2009) was essentially an enormously enriching experience.

The Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA), a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, organized by IREX (International Research Exchange Board) provides secondary-school teachers from Europe, Eurasia, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Western Hemisphere with unique opportunities to develop expertise in their subject areas, enhance their teaching skills, and increase their knowledge about the United States. TEA teachers travel to the United States to participate in a six-week professional development program at a US university. This is followed by a reciprocal visit by US teachers to work on joint teacher-training projects in TEA alumni schools overseas. The program builds teacher leadership skills and provides experience that can be shaped for the participants’ home teaching environments.
Key Objectives of this program
• To contribute to the improvement of the quality of secondary education in the participating countries
• To hone the individual teaching skills of the participants
• To perceive and Understand the key problems and issues of the world
• To acquire and develop skills to provide quality education and promote international peace and co-operation

The days I spent in Purdue University was highly rewarding. We were 24 teachers from Asia, Central America, South America and Africa sharing participating in a Professional Development Program. We teachers shared various teaching techniques, methodologies and assessment pattern followed by us in different parts of the world. The Seminar classes (105 hrs) included:
• 6 hrs of Theoretical Foundations of Contemporary Pedagogy
• 6hrs of Problems of Global and International Education
• 22 hrs of Instructional Technologies in Education
• 6 hrs of Socially-Oriented Projects/Interdisciplinary Approach
• 3 hrs of Comparative Methods in EFL/ESL
• 3 hrs of Diversity and Problems of Multicultural Education &
• 53 hrs of Curriculum Development and Innovative Methods in Social Studies

The Galaxy of Star faculty to who deserve a special mention were Prof: Dr. Anatoli Rapoport, the Coordinator for ‘Study Abroad Program’ in College of Education, Purdue University, Prof: Phillip VanFossen, Prof: Luciana C. De Oliveira, Assistant Professor, Literacy & Language Education, Department of Curriculum & Instruction, Prof: Dr. Melanie Shoffner, Assistant Professor, English Education, Department of Curriculum & Instruction, Prof: Dr. Lynn R. Nelson, Ms. Larissa Olesova, Ms Aasta and Prof: Chris McGrew.

The Program included an internship at McCutcheon High School. My mentor Mr. Scott Royer, Advanced course Geography teacher at the school provided further scope for -
• Team Teaching
• Addressing their International Club
• Screening our School’s Golden Jubilee for their students
• Giving a Power Point Presentation on ‘Incredible India’
• Talking and interacting with students of different grades
• Meeting with their Principal
• Meeting with their teachers and Counselors

I would like to place on records my sincere thanks to Mr. Scott Royer and Mrs. Sarah Powley for making me feel as a part of their school during the program.
This was more than just a Teaching program. It was an eye-opener. The Assignments and projects that I turned in during the program were appreciated very well by all the professors. I also got an opportunity to showcase some intricate nuances of Bharatnatyam, our beautiful Indian Art form at the International Dinner party.
‘Cultural visits sustained the academic interests’ as we visited several places of interest that were memorable like Happy Hollow Elementary school, Indiana State Museum and Children Museum, Feast of the Hunter’s Moon’ at the Quia village on the banks of river Wabash., Jefferson High School, Indianapolis State house, A Biblical Play, ‘Joseph and the Amazing Coat’ at the Beef and Boards a dining in theatre, Walking tour in West Lafayette, National History Museum, Science Museum, White House, Sears Towers and The Shiva Vishnu Temples.
Participation in the ‘Annual State Conference of Indiana Council for Social Sciences’ with our teacher Mr. Chris McGrew, the outgoing President of the Organisation was like icing on the cake.
The brilliant team of Dr. Anatoli, along with Mr. Chris and Ms. Aasta made sure that each one of us at Purdue felt at home and did enjoy the entire learning process which I am sure will enhance the very quality of our professional life.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the school authorities, particularly to Dr. Mrs. YGP, the Dean and Director, Mrs. Sheela Rajendra, the Correspodent & Vice- Principal and Mrs. Valli Arunachalam, the Principal for having given me such an opportunity which I am sure will enable me to serve the school better and serve the community at large.

The Penmanship of a Fascist Student

"What luck for the rulers that men do not think." So I start by quoting Adolf Hitler. We live in a world where the rule is, what we think and what we see is basically what we are. I am a student of class 12 and this is what we face. I go to a school which is half a century old and where the teacher's mindset is no younger. Totalitarianism is a better word. A student is considered a rebel if he questions a teacher. Times have changed and very few students realise that. In 1860 when the Italian Revolution took place, and the crowning of Victor Emmanuel II in 1861 happenened, the peasants were blissfully unaware of their new way of life, many had no clue about Liberal-Nationalist ideology. 148 years later, there is still no change.

I write this to make you realize, the real spirit of a student and hope that you get a backbone and question and stand up for your say. You may think I am mad, but a rebel doesnt have to do wrong. In the eyes of the Mafia, the police is a rebel. Teachers see various kinds of students and a new set of faces every year. They say, People dont change, time changes them. Teachers dont apply to that! for a simple reason, a teacher is ment to understand the minds of students, not doubt it! the moment a teacher doubts, criticizes or comment on a student she seizes to exist. Students take life as it comes and wonder later, as to why it is so, WAKE UP! WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS, MAKE GRAPE JUICE AND THEN SIT BACK AND LAUGH AS THE WHOLE WORLD TRIES TO FIGURE OUT AS TO HOW YOU DID IT!

Facsism is awful, and that, my good friend is exactly what we find in our school lives. Teachers are humans too. To err is man, Students are not born rebels. If I am accused of teasing a girl and the dean of my institution shouts at me, I have the right to raise my voice ( not shout) and clarify the situation. The moment a nerd stands up and corrects a mistake made by a teacher the guy has guts of steel!

What we now need is a millenarianism moment. Something that will awaken the students from a life that makes BLACK look colourful! students have a problem in thinking twice when a teacher says something, Twice is too long. Think_Act! Remember, If one word made a man the president of the world's most powerful country. That word can surely make a small difference in your life. That word, my friend, is CHANGE

If this writeup gave you the kick equivalent to that of10Vodka Shots, the job is done. If not, either you have a very rare, teacher-friendly student relationship or simply, you are just a fragment of society's imagination

Silence in Traffic

I will begin with a confession. I have a bleak outlook about the human race. Despite being proud of the human intellect and being unable to transcend our fundamental philosophy that is rooted in self centeredness, I believe that Humans are perhaps not among the better things that happened to this planet. I also believe, with all my heart, that given the style of our contemporary lives we have lost out on the little good that earlier men possessed. We are driven by an overwhelming sense of materialism coupled with callous apathy toward anything that may not be of profit to us.

Secondly, I think democracy is a complete disaster. Democracy is of the people which is not a good thing anymore, by the people where in today’s world there is only buy the people and for the people which translates as for the people who run the democracy. It is a system that we cling onto for want of something better. In the moral crisis stricken world that we live in democracy can occasionally provide glimpses of the morally upright people that some part of us (the heart it should be assuming it still has some power left) yearns to be through the media, an occasional Human Rights issue or an instance of justice being dispensed to the innocent and powerless. Although the media is accused of sensationalism, Human Rights issues dominate headlines for only a few days before fading away without a hint of a solution and the fact that these rare cases of justice dispensed occurs only after a delay of decades, democracy ensures that something can happen, if only rarely, that can help us slightly appease our ever-rising guilt at the type of race we are gradually transforming or rather disintegrating into.

Thirdly, I believe the framework of the philosophy of human choices has gone wrong somewhere, if not altogether, during the course of our evolutionary process. Our Right to Choice which is perhaps the defining element of the Homo-Sapiens has radically transmuted into an ability that enables us to constantly and completely hurt others, hurt ourselves and develop a bent of mind that curiously fails to remember morals or obligations when lured by personal gain. We claim that we are only as good as the world allows us to be but why do we choose to let others define the way we should act? The courage to take the road less taken seems to have dissolved in the reckless thirst for selfish gains and indifference to the consideration of others.

In this scenario we find that we are nothing more than a species that is wholly selfish, albeit with an ability to make that seem acceptable, living in a system that is a breeding ground for even worse people and attitudes formed as a result of a lifetime of making choices that benefit nobody but ourselves.

The sole solution to this problem is to establish totalitarianism. An order inspired by an individual who will make choices as they are meant to be made – to benefit the maximum number of people possible. Someone who will establish a much-needed contemporary version of democracy by being for the people and of the people but not necessarily selected by the people simply because people will not choose what is necessary but what they wrongly presume to be so. Someone who can inspire the future generations to revert to the environment and people friendly people we once were whilst not compromising on some of the ways of modern living.

The problem with the solution is that keeping in mind that a majority of the people have fallen prey to the monotony of the selfish lives that they have grown to love and that people inspire other people especially where negative thoughts are concerned, it becomes almost utopian to look for a leader who can, more importantly will, break free from the confines of the lifestyle of today and be strong enough to face strong opposition while pursuing his goal for a new world order. But the key factor is that the search for such a person is almost impossible, not wholly undoable. Any Britisher would have laughed at the idea of an ordinary man in loin cloth ousting them from India; we would have shamelessly, in the past, laughed at the idea of a female President.

People always show staunch resistance to change. For a majority it means moving out of a familiar territory. It therefore necessitates that any new thought or idea must pass through total ridicule and laughter. Sometimes, ridicule can be a sign of the pragmatism of the idea which people are trying to destroy but pretending the idea is hilarious when within they are wondering if the idea could be a reality one day.

The way to free ourselves from this chaotic situation lies not in searching for a leader to rein in the change. The answer lies in kindling the dying embers of the loving people we want to be; in removing the blinkers of selfishness and capitalistic attitude. The world economy today is a poignant example of the result of reckless exploitation and while the economy recovers it is the perfect time for our attitude to reform too.

We must try and put our own desires on a lesser scale of priority. We must try and look at others and the planet in perspective too. We must keep the whole picture in mind. Our choices must be defined not by what we desire but by what our duties are. Our democracy should instill faith in the future and not train them to be terrorists in their own way. We are confined within the tinted perceptions of our own mind where, in this funny system of living, we feel that who we are is only half as important as who are perceived to be. It is what we think, it is what we believe in and it is what we do that defines us. If we have the courage to be different, we will lend courage to others lacking the faith in being unselfish. We need to go beyond what we want. The purpose of this change, this dream, is not to crush the choice of people but to protect them against it. In our times of organized anarchy the choices that people make are not good enough. They deserve more; they deserve to have their true self unveiled. Because we are but people and sometimes we need to be protected from our choices against our own choice….

It required one Mahatma Gandhi to inspire millions, it required one Bill Gates to accumulate billions of dollars, it required one Edison to light up this world. It requires one thought from us to create a change. A change that will change the world we live in, a change that will change the people we love and love with; a change that will change the future.

We know many great leaders; some of them were born leaders, some of them chose to be leaders but some of the very best had leadership thrust on them because someone believed in their idea of change. While the scenario demands leadership at its very best, it is possible for each one of us to rise to the occasion. Each one of us can be that leader who will bring the difference. Each one of us can be a part of that Dream. Each one of us can play a role in transforming that dream into reality.

All glory comes from daring to begin. We must have the courage and determination to go beyond the ridicule, ahead of criticism and believe in the change we stand for. We may still fall, stumble and make mistakes but the whole point of the exercise is to avoid making mistakes willfully right?