"To teach is to touch a life forever"

~Christa McAuliffe

Happy Teachers' Day! Today’s special edition post is dedicated to all the amazing teachers in the world. The opening quote is one that really sticks with me, I remember vividly 4 years ago when I gifted two of my teachers a painting with this quote. My teacher came to me the next day and said that she was going to frame and hang the painting up on her wall. I was really happy to hear this. Teachers never stop aspiring and inspiring. Our teachers make sure that no matter what, our learning is not hampered.

Teaching has undergone so many changes over several hundred years. Today, technology has brought us to the point where a formal classroom is also not needed. Like the changing times test students, we tend to overlook the fact that it also tests teachers. Today’s post is going to be about my opinion on the online mode of schooling & learning. Teachers always make sure we are still enjoying the lesson and finding it interactive.  The one thing I am really glad I don’t miss out on is the jokes! I love it when the teacher laughs with us and we break the monotony. Online classes are hard but our teachers never stop trying their best! Even when we have technical issues and the class is delayed the teacher makes sure that we don’t miss out on the topic to be covered. So, even though we are not physically present the teachers make us feel like we are. 

All of us hear or read in the media about how online classes are not apt for student’s learning. We hear students complain that they did not understand the teacher cause the voice was not clear. We hear parents saying that there were too many issues and classes are not at all smooth. But we never paused to think & ask a teacher about her thoughts regarding online class. So, I was curious and asked one of my favorite teachers what she feels. She said that she is glad that students don’t miss out on their education. But as a teacher she misses the connection with her students, the bond and interaction. She feels that she can’t show her emotions or see her students’ emotions. Online classes have mounted a certain amount of pressure on the teachers. It has increased their workload & is reducing the amount of time they can spend on improving efficiency of their teaching. The switch for them was also sudden & abrupt. It takes time for teachers also to get accustomed to gadgets, software, virtual classroom etc. Everyone expects that students be given time to adjust to the new ways but I am not sure if the same consideration is being given to teachers. It is also eating up into their personal time but they are there the next day, like always – ready to take a class with a smile. I also take other classes (Sanskrit and Keyboard) outside of academics. They are through online mode too but it hasn’t affected the quality of my learning. Kudos to all the teachers around the world.

Just before we ended our conversation, she told me that no matter how many problems she faces; she
forgets them all when she teaches her students because she loves teaching and she is so passionate about it.

The children of today are the future of tomorrow. Teachers are actually shaping tomorrow’s world. They are on par with scientists, researchers & inventors who are lauded to be influencing how tomorrow looks. How can we thank our teachers enough? Just one day dedicated to them doesn’t seem enough. I feel sad that I am not able to be with them today & express my gratitude. Hence, the special blog for today.

Thank you, teachers, for being the true mentor of our hearts!

Share this blog with as many teachers as possible if it resonates with how you feel. Leave a comment letting me know how you would like to thank your teacher. If you are an adult reading this, I hope it reminded you of your favorite teacher as a student!

Thanks for reading!

See you next time!