M A I L B A G

Make teaching a worthwhile career option

Today is Teachers’ Day. I wish it could be a day of pride and cheer for the teachers. But it is not because their plight has not improved much over the years. They are still lowly paid with a poor standing in society. People look at teachers as majboors. And private schools and coaching centres leave no stone unturned in exploiting the teachers because of their majboori.

I am MA, B. Ed, NTT, IT diploma holder with over 20 years of teaching experience. Yet, I draw a poor salary. Being an Army officer’s wife, I can manage. But can another teacher with no other source of income, run a house with a poor salary? So, why blame a teacher who takes tuition to augment his meagre pay? He can’t feed his family with ideals alone.

If the government wants the guru-shishya concept to survive, expects teachers to be committed and work as role models for students, following Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s ideals in letter and spirit, teachers must be paid a handsome pay of at least Rs 20,000 a month. Only then will teaching become a viable and worthwhile career option for both men and women. Investment in education and teachers can never be wasted. The future of India lies in the hands of teachers.

MADHU R.D. SINGH, Army School, Ambala Cantonment

II

If one wants to be a true teacher, one should remove all the barriers between the teacher and the students. A teacher’s role is not confined to the classroom or school alone but lies outside the institution. Little can be achieved if the teacher does not give his whole time in preparing the student to face the challenges in the world. Mahatma Gandhi said, “The true textbook for the pupil is his teacher.”

The teacher should be crystal clear about the goals of teaching. His role is not to dictate terms to students or dominate the show in the classroom. He is to help and serve the students. He has to transmit his values to his students through the magic of his own teaching.

Obviously, he can do this only if he himself has experienced these values. To quote Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, “A teacher can never truly teach unless he is still learning himself.”

When there are no good teachers and sincere students, blind tradition would rule the roost. However, when true teachers emerge and champion the cause of truth and excellence, the blind tradition will give place to enlightenment.

BINDERJIT KAUR, Sant Baba Bhag Singh Institute, Jalandhar

III

The late President of India, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, was an outstanding teacher. He had high regard for teachers. Hence, his birth anniversary is observed as Teachers’ Day all over the country.

However, times have changed. Incidents such as the one in Ujjain where a Professor was beaten to death shows that the sacred relationship between teachers and students has come under strain.

Let’s not blame one particular section for the current mess. As both sides are at fault, both must change for the better. Teachers should consider students as friends and the latter should not consider the former as hard taskmasters.

After all, the teachers too were students once and they got good guidance, care and understanding from their teachers as the old gurus had for their shishyas.

USHA NARINDER SINGH, Solan

Not for combat job

Lieut-General Harwant Singh (retd), in his article “Women in Army” (Aug 18), aptly said that women are not suitable for combat jobs. The nature has created women for a different role which is no less important than that of men. Seeking gender equality in all walks of life would be incongruous to the laws of nature.

When men trained in different disciplines (sports etc) cannot perform each other’s role, how can one expect women to perform men’s role and vice-versa? Let us be rational and not make this a socio-political issue. Women have far more important roles to perform.

SHAILAJA SHARMA, Mandi

Kartar’s success

I refer to the news-item, “Kartar golden streak continues” (Aug 7). What could be more inspirational and excited than the life of the Olympian and 
veteran wrestler Kartar Singh! It is a perfect story to be told in every school, college and university.

His winning the World Veteran Wrestling Championship at Riga, Latvia for the record eleventh time in a row speaks volumes for his undying passion, hard work, devotion and dedication towards this sport. Despite the government’s apathy towards sports, it is rare for someone in India not only to continue with his passion but also does his country proud. Kartar Singh has made us proud. He is our legend and hero. He deserves to be conferred an honour befitting his excellent track record.

SUBHASH C. CHAUDHRY,  Indianapolis (USA)