Cecil, Thanks for that very supportive and encouraging post. I will try to comment on some of the issues that you have pointed out: (What I have to say mainly points out to the secondary school system i.e. up to Std X)
CP: Yes indeed. One must admit that despite all their lamentations school teachers in Government aided schools earn a very decent salary by Indian standards. Why is it then that so many teachers moonlight as insurance agents, real estate brokers, contractors etc. If they have so much spare time and energies shouldn't they be using that time to prepare for classes and to improve their teaching methodologies? TS: The common misconception that teaching is a a half day occupation ought to be dispelled. Teachers are full time workers. Their presence at the place of work may for half a day, but in the other half of the day, there are school related activities to be carried out - marking books, test papers, preparing lessons, setting papers, active participation in co-curricular activities, accompanying children to competitions and the like. There is that element among teachers which out of greed tries to make spare cash by moonlighting. A thorough professional will curl his lip at the thought of moonlighting. There are rules in place that prevent teachers from acting as 'agents'. This obstacle is easily overcome by having the agency in the wife's, husbands or some relations name. Again some managements shy away from taking action against erring teachers merely because the dice are heavily loaded against the management. No grants are provided for litigation and the procedure is tedious and time consuming. CP: Also can Tony give us some insights on the bane of tuitions? TS: The tuition racket works mainly because of the parents desire to improve the results of the child. I have offered coaching classes in the school FOC, but children (read parents) have preferred outside tutors. Many of these tuition classes work this way : A housewife who has some studies like XII or graduation decides to tutor children. She gathers a group of children who pay a certain sum of money. All she does is make these students do rote learning. These tuitions are interspersed with sessions of tea making and cooking evening meals for the family by the teacher. Oft, these teachers who are not 'with it' teach methods esp. in math. end up by teaching wrong methods of solving problems. What the average child needs is a rereading and re-writing of the lessons as per the timetable. Parents should also realize that not every one is an Einstein and should accept the child's limitations. Further I would like to add: Has anyone thought of Professional Counselling for teachers? If not it is high time now before the educational system goes to dogs. Anecdotes and humour I shall keep for a later day. -- It needs but the germ of an idea to spark a change. Tony de Sa Ph: +91 832 2470148 E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] M: +91 9975 162 897
