Entering the debate

The recent debate on whether political cartoons should be allowed in textbooks grabbed a lot of media attention, but in all this hullaballoo, the voice of teachers was found missing. Teachers’ opinions on the debate would have certainly been an eye-opener. It is time teachers acknowledged that the classroom is an equally important political space and begin to use it in a way that will make students think beyond their textbooks and build a culture of debate and discussion.

Thinking about language

One of the biggest conundrums facing our education system at all levels, from the pre-kindergarten to the advanced tertiary, is the language question. Teachers struggle with building relationships and understanding with toddlers who come into their classrooms from multiple linguistic Read More …

Shifting equations

In today’s new India, there are stories of change everywhere — from household structures to use of technology. The world of the classroom too has undergone several changes, both visible and invisible. The learning process has changed in a big way — the teacher-student equation has shifted. With technology, students are more in control of their learning. While this may be a good thing, will it affect the teacher’s role, will they cease to be key players in the learning process?

Occupational hazards

Just 10 years ago, teaching was considered the “safest” job that women could enter into. But the recent guresome murder of the Chennai school teacher has brought to light the several dangers that teachers have to battle every day while carrying on with their work. While the news may appear more “American” in nature, this is not the first time that a teacher in India has been killed. Schools unfortunately are turning into battlegrounds for the powerful to fight for their own ideologies and causes, and falling on the wayside are teachers, students and education itself.

The subject of the matter

Subject teachers at the school level have a major responsibility in terms of inculcating learning attitudes and generating interest in a particular subject. It is the passion for a subject that the teacher kindles in the student which takes him or her on a learning journey . It is only when a student cares deeply about a subject, is he motivated enough to share the learning with others.

Taking on the role of change makers

Quality in Indian education is something that has excited a lot of debate and discussion in the last few years. And during these debates a lot of solutions have been thrown up to address this issue. But whatever the solution, whether technology driven or creating better learning spaces, a change for the better has to begin with the teacher, for she is the change maker.

New mindsets, new approaches

This issue of Teacher Plus, in collaboration with Wipro’s Earthian initiative, brings a wide range of articles that looks at various aspects of sustainability. Sustainability has to become a part of the fabric of daily life, embedded in the decisions we make everyday about using water, power, food and land. It has to become a part of our thinking, learning and doing.

Make time to stand and stare

Busy, busy, busy all the time, that is what we are. We believe that these days we don’t have the time to eat, drink or indeed even breathe. But are we really so busy that we don’t have a few minutes to just stand and stare? Recharge our batteries by just looking at the sun rising or the birds chirping so that our busy days are a lot more pleasant?

Taking time off

Books and art —- there can be no better way to get teachers to come together and give them a special time. A short event to help teachers to get away from their familiar environments was held in Hyderabad recently and true to the theme, ‘Rediscover yourself through books and art’, most of the teachers who marked their attendance promised to buy and read up the books that they had perhaps long forgotten about.

Teaching in times of uncertainty

During times of conflict and political unrest, it is always the functioning of educational institutions that gets hit first. While it is true that teachers lose a lot of working days during such times, perhaps they can use this time to think about and plan creative lessons for their students.