ARE THE TEACHERS REALLY HAPPY ON TEACHERS DAY?

The heading that I have provided is a burning question which is essential in asking amidst this pandemic time. Unlike other authors who have written articles regarding this same situation through some personal experience of their parents who are teachers, I have not been exposed to any such experiences because none of my parents is a teacher. This article has found its roots deep in my heart because of the respect I have for my teachers. If any of my teachers are reading this do forgive me if I haven't justified your point of view as you would have expected.

For the past few months, social media has come alive due to certain videos and posts which show how disgraceful and disrespectful the students can be to their teachers. The COVID pandemic has forced the education system to adopt a virtual functioning of classes and education is now imparted only through online mechanisms. This is indeed a new model of education which all of us, irrespective of students or teachers have to get familiarised with. 

We as students are able to adapt to these technological methods quickly due to the exposure we have, but this is not the same with respect to teachers. Teachers have a dual responsibility, they have to look after their household as well as give the same amount of care for their students. They tend to adapt to this new model of education through online classes slowly, and our responsibility as students is to help them in understanding the nuances of this system.

But what do we do, we make fun of them, we tease them, we harass their mental health to such an extent, where they start to feel as if they are incompetent and do not blend into this society. I recently read an article on this same issue of abuse of teachers by the students during online classes. I was shocked and at the same time disgraced to be part of the so-called "student community" after reading what had happened to that particular teacher. The students used the inability of the teacher in adapting to the technology of online classes to such an extent, whereby she decided to end her life over listening to such insults.

I am sure that we all would have seen this particular video where this teacher was abused without paying heed to his knowledge, nor his age. This is just an example of the abuse which is happening to thousands of teachers across the country. And  I feel it is my responsibility to be the voice of such teachers.

So, you might be wondering why cannot the teachers raise issues or complaint to the respective education institutions? Here is why they cannot complain. As per the Forbes report, more than 1 million teachers have lost their jobs because of the Coronavirus pandemic. For this very reason, for the fear of losing their jobs because what the teacher tells about a student does not make a difference, but what a student tells about a teacher makes a huge difference.

Each and every lecture a teacher prepares has its basis on sheer hard work and dedication on part of the teachers. For taking a half-hour class, a teacher has to spend nearly double the time in preparing for that class. I mean it is ok to joke around and have some fun with your teachers, but it must never reach an extent where it hurts the feelings of the teacher.

The above picture depicts the gurukul system of education which was rendered in such a disciplined and regulated manner. Our Dharma lays out the following: "matha, pitha, guru, deivam", which implies that a teacher occupies a position which is greater than God himself. Due to the modernisation and globalisation, the concept of " guru, deivam" has disappeared and is just present in the texts.

We have reached a phase where the teachers have to think twice before saying something to the student because the student has reached such a stage where he can judge the teachers.

It is indeed a sin that we as students have abused the teachers. The teachers can never recover from this abuse for the rest of their lives.

Hence, it is an appeal to all the students reading this to kindly show humility and respect towards teachers, not because I am appealing but because you are bound to respect them and their words. Understand how a teacher feels and help him/her whenever needed because you know that he/she will definitely help you out whenever you need him/her.

With this, I would like to wish all my teachers a very Happy Teachers Day!!!!

Do share your view on the points I have highlighted in the comments.

The author does not take any credits for the pictures uploaded on this article. All the pictures have been taken from Google and all rights rest with the uploaders of the pictures.