We Can

A Very Happy Birthday (belated) to Oxford Public School!

I have been thinking of writing a post for the blog since the day our school started it. So many times, I penned down my thoughts but never found them good enough to be posted. Today, while interacting with my class, a very important point came up which set me thinking. Students told me, "Ma'am, we understand when a teacher tells us that a certain topic is important. But sometimes the explanation becomes so boring that we don't pay attention." At that time, I just told them that it is their mistake that everything that is important and needs explaining becomes boring for them.

In retrospection, I realized that somewhere, sometimes, the fault lies in the methodology we teachers adopt. I strongly believe that a teacher is as good as his/her student. Yes, it is difficult to achieve a 100% success rate in the class. There will always be students who'd pay attention no matter what and how you teach. Similarly, there will always be those too, who would frustrate you and challenge your patience. But can we just let the monotony creep in? Can we not make an effort to reinvent our teaching styles? Can't we, at least, try to go that extra mile?

Teachers are leaders who lead their classes. We have the power. We can open students' mind to an idea they have never ever thought of.

While teaching, can't we take a moment and think, if we were among the students, would we like the classroom we have created? Would we like the way lessons are taught and problems handled? And most importantly, if we don't act like we want to be there, would our students act like they want to be there?

I know everyone fights his/her own battles before reaching the class on time. At times, even the classroom gets converted into a war zone. Making an extra effort, walking that extra mile becomes impossible. But then, we are in a profession that counts and it is aptly said-"in teaching, every minute counts."  

Richa Upraity

Educator, Oxford Public School