Mr Beaman - Am sure many of you remember him

A ‘Master’ with the Common Touch

Mr. Beaman joined The Bishop’s School way back in 1972. I had the privilege of working with him since July 1981 when I was appointed teacher at the Bishop’s School, Pune.

The first few words that come to mind when I reminisce about      Mr. Beaman are ‘honest, God fearing, meticulous, straight forward and hard working’. There are many other traits worthy of mention, but the ones mentioned above, were his most endearing qualities.

As a teacher of English, he was ‘perfection personified’; whether it was vocabulary, punctuation or pronunciation, he knew it all, and as far I know, was never wrong. I could always count upon him to advise me correctly in any difficulties I faced with the English language, at which he was indeed a ‘Master’. His class always enjoyed his lessons, probably aware of the fact that they were being guided by someone who was the ‘very best’.

Mr. Beaman had other interests too, the school choir being one. He loved music and was actively involved in training the school choir for all its performances over the years. Classical music was his forté and he hardly ever missed a good performance, whenever there was one in Pune.

Quizzing was another one of his favourite pastimes and besides training and accompanying the quiz team to various inter-school competitions he enjoyed being the Quiz Master at the Inter-House Quiz Competitions held every year.

Being a bachelor and without encumbrances, the Boarding Section of the school was ‘his family’. He made it a point to attend all the meals in the Dining Hall, and even served the boys himself. He was in his element when school reopened after a long vacation – counting the boys, remarking on those who invariably returned late and on those who were usually homesick.

Mr. Beaman had a remarkable memory that enabled him to remember roll numbers, names etc. He could even tell you the year the boy joined school and whether he was a vegetarian or a non vegetarian!

He was meticulous while checking the class attendance registers, completing house lists and entering the names of new boys in the scholars register. His ability to spot mistakes in numbers and spellings of boys names was phenomenal- if you made a mistake you could be sure C.D.B (as he was often referred to) would spot it.

Another of his outstanding attributes was proof-reading, which, as I am learning through experience, is not only painstaking, but tiring, both mentally and physically. For Mr. Beaman it was just another job which he had mastered to perfection.

He loved animals - dogs, in particular. He also enjoyed reading, listening to the radio (BBC) and going for long walks.

Mr. Beaman led a very frugal existence and was accused of denying himself the good things in life. On visiting his room, one was usually taken aback at its simplicity – one look around told you that this was indeed a simple, God - fearing man, whose one desire was to serve others.

When I think back to 1981, and my first meeting with Mr. Beaman, I  remember that he filled me with awe,  but over the years that feeling was replaced with admiration and appreciation for a man who truly believed that ‘work is worship’.

To quote Mark Anthony in Julius Caesar:

“His life was gentle, and the elements

So mixed in him, that nature might stand up

And say to the world, ‘This was a man!”.

Mr Beaman - Am sure many of you remember him

A ‘Master’ with the Common Touch

Mr. Beaman joined The Bishop’s School way back in 1972. I had the privilege of working with him since July 1981 when I was appointed teacher at the Bishop’s School, Pune.

The first few words that come to mind when I reminisce about      Mr. Beaman are ‘honest, God fearing, meticulous, straight forward and hard working’. There are many other traits worthy of mention, but the ones mentioned above, were his most endearing qualities.

As a teacher of English, he was ‘perfection personified’; whether it was vocabulary, punctuation or pronunciation, he knew it all, and as far I know, was never wrong. I could always count upon him to advise me correctly in any difficulties I faced with the English language, at which he was indeed a ‘Master’. His class always enjoyed his lessons, probably aware of the fact that they were being guided by someone who was the ‘very best’.

Mr. Beaman had other interests too, the school choir being one. He loved music and was actively involved in training the school choir for all its performances over the years. Classical music was his forté and he hardly ever missed a good performance, whenever there was one in Pune.

Quizzing was another one of his favourite pastimes and besides training and accompanying the quiz team to various inter-school competitions he enjoyed being the Quiz Master at the Inter-House Quiz Competitions held every year.

Being a bachelor and without encumbrances, the Boarding Section of the school was ‘his family’. He made it a point to attend all the meals in the Dining Hall, and even served the boys himself. He was in his element when school reopened after a long vacation – counting the boys, remarking on those who invariably returned late and on those who were usually homesick.

Mr. Beaman had a remarkable memory that enabled him to remember roll numbers, names etc. He could even tell you the year the boy joined school and whether he was a vegetarian or a non vegetarian!

He was meticulous while checking the class attendance registers, completing house lists and entering the names of new boys in the scholars register. His ability to spot mistakes in numbers and spellings of boys names was phenomenal- if you made a mistake you could be sure C.D.B (as he was often referred to) would spot it.

Another of his outstanding attributes was proof-reading, which, as I am learning through experience, is not only painstaking, but tiring, both mentally and physically. For Mr. Beaman it was just another job which he had mastered to perfection.

He loved animals - dogs, in particular. He also enjoyed reading, listening to the radio (BBC) and going for long walks.

Mr. Beaman led a very frugal existence and was accused of denying himself the good things in life. On visiting his room, one was usually taken aback at its simplicity – one look around told you that this was indeed a simple, God - fearing man, whose one desire was to serve others.

When I think back to 1981, and my first meeting with Mr. Beaman, I  remember that he filled me with awe,  but over the years that feeling was replaced with admiration and appreciation for a man who truly believed that ‘work is worship’.

To quote Mark Anthony in Julius Caesar:

“His life was gentle, and the elements

So mixed in him, that nature might stand up

And say to the world, ‘This was a man!”.

A visit to the doctor

If anyone has been to the doctor as a kid it has been ME.
I've had the measles and the mumps - measles quite a few times in fact.
Tonsils and adenoids that plagued me for years and prevented me from having ice cream ( and believe it or not we owned the biggest ice cream parlour cum bar cum  in Allahabad ) way back in the 50's and 60's.!
I've had pneumonia followed by double pneumonia and I almost died .
I have had a severe allergic reaction to Sulphur !
Eyes, nose, ears - you name it and I guess like any normal kid I was taken to the doctor for it.
Then when my kids were growing up it was the same - trips to the doctor for this and that .
The routine over the years from the time I was a kid was the same .
You go to the doctor - you wait a while - he calls you in - looks you over - puts on a torch and peers into your throat and up your nostrils - pulls down the bottom portion of your eyelid and looks at it- puts the stethoscope into his ears and listens . Breathe- breathe he tells you.
Then he looks you over - tells you to sit down- takes out a pad - scribbles in a few medicines and signs with a flourish.
If you enquire as to whether you should come again ,your told - "if your not better then come after a week- but I don't think you will need to come" - Confident as hell.
You walk out feeling better immediately. You buy the medicine - you take it and pronto - a few days later your well. In fact you start feeling better after the first few doses.
These days its so very different.
Lets just presume that you are visiting a doctor for the first time
This is somewhat the scenario.
You phone the doctor to make an appointment.
If your lucky he will see you the next day or the day after if he can squeeze you into his busy schedule- by the way your not talking to him- its his secretary/ receptionist / a nurse at the clinic.
She is business like and asks for your reference number / mobile number and full name - thankfully she does not ask for your bank account/ credit card no- at least not yet.
You finally get to the clinic . It's 6 .00 pm
You are given a form and you fill it in - some forms  require so many details , they   make you feel like your applying for a new passport .
Form filled and handed in - then you get a number . Its all very proper.
The nurse then takes you for  your height / weight / temperature check/ pulse rate  . Just to make sure she says .
Let me cut to the chase- its your turn to see the doctor now.
You enter the doctors chamber and he smiles and you shake hands.
" How are you ", he says dryly .
I often feel like saying " About to die " or something to that effect .
I tell him what the problem is - maybe just a very stuffy nose and a slight body ache - for goodness sake I know its the flu- so just get on and give me a tab to cure it .
No - its not that simple .
He looks at his laptop and keys in some information .
He asks for symptoms and you tell him that its the flu .
He looks at you sarcastically as if to say - if that's the case go cure yourself.
He knows your in his clutches as he moves in for the juggler vein.
He then goes through the torch , throat, nose , eyes routine and your relieved . This was a breeze .
He then goes back to the computer and keys in some more information . I peer- trying to pry - no luck.
He then picks up the phone and summons the nurse who he hands a paper to.
" Just have a blood and urine test " -  "to rule out a few things" says he in a matter of fact tone .
That's easier said than done - the blood test is fine - but a urine test ???
OK let me drink water - one glass- two glasses - I  feel bloated extremely bloated  but there is no signs of the wretched urine  .........................Do I have stones - I wonder ????!!!!!! A blockage maybe !
Finally that's done too.
The results will take 30 mts - so relax says the nurse .
You sit and re- read the morning papers.
People dead/ women raped/ floods/ famine/ job scarcity/ building collapse/ earthquake - depressing to say the least.
You wonder at the diseases in the room around you .
You have come in with flu- you could go home with Pneumonia, tuberculosis or whooping cough - a weak mind sure plays trick on you .
The nurse comes back and calls your name out loud .
For goodness sake - there are only 2 people left in the clinic and one is a lady- surely she cant be Mr Michael
"The doctor feels that an X Ray would be an added precaution" says the nurse .
I  have that too- I  do not complain- if you have to die it might as well be due to radiation !
An hour gone by - people are packing to go home and I am  the last one there ."   The
Doctor will see you now" says the sleepy looking nurse- its  a few minutes  past 8.00 pm  .She would have left by now - she looks like she is cursing me under her breath. I could do without curses at this stage .
The doctor looks at the reports and the X ray. No expression at first. I am about to panic - could it be something serious- something unexpected - isn't that how they sometimes find that you have a killer disease when you go for something totally different ?
Doctor looks up from the reports
" Just a mild infection  " he says "  Nothing to worry about but at least we are sure its nothing else ".
He smiles ...........
He then starts keying in the medicines and the bill amount .
2 capsules( antibiotics probably ) thrice a day after meals for 4 days , 2 tablets, once a day before meals  for 5 days  - one mixture twice a day after meals for a week.
Pain killers in case of pain- once a day after meals- at night- as they make you drowsy.
A multivitamin to counteract the antibiotic
He is done . He then makes small talk and looks at his watch .I get up and thank him .
I  go to pay - I  almost give a yelp when I  see the bill . But I  dare not make a sound lest he call me back on hearing the yelp and order some more tests !.
I take the prescription to the pharmacy and then decide.....................
" Do I actually need all these medicines"
I  look carefully and buy just the tablets for pain and fever .
I  go home - feeling worse and very despondent .
I  take the tabs along with some home made remedy which I  should have taken in the first place
I  get better .
The body has cured itself .
Amen.


 

A visit to the doctor

If anyone has been to the doctor as a kid it has been ME.
I've had the measles and the mumps - measles quite a few times in fact.
Tonsils and adenoids that plagued me for years and prevented me from having ice cream ( and believe it or not we owned the biggest ice cream parlour cum bar cum  in Allahabad ) way back in the 50's and 60's.!
I've had pneumonia followed by double pneumonia and I almost died .
I have had a severe allergic reaction to Sulphur !
Eyes, nose, ears - you name it and I guess like any normal kid I was taken to the doctor for it.
Then when my kids were growing up it was the same - trips to the doctor for this and that .
The routine over the years from the time I was a kid was the same .
You go to the doctor - you wait a while - he calls you in - looks you over - puts on a torch and peers into your throat and up your nostrils - pulls down the bottom portion of your eyelid and looks at it- puts the stethoscope into his ears and listens . Breathe- breathe he tells you.
Then he looks you over - tells you to sit down- takes out a pad - scribbles in a few medicines and signs with a flourish.
If you enquire as to whether you should come again ,your told - "if your not better then come after a week- but I don't think you will need to come" - Confident as hell.
You walk out feeling better immediately. You buy the medicine - you take it and pronto - a few days later your well. In fact you start feeling better after the first few doses.
These days its so very different.
Lets just presume that you are visiting a doctor for the first time
This is somewhat the scenario.
You phone the doctor to make an appointment.
If your lucky he will see you the next day or the day after if he can squeeze you into his busy schedule- by the way your not talking to him- its his secretary/ receptionist / a nurse at the clinic.
She is business like and asks for your reference number / mobile number and full name - thankfully she does not ask for your bank account/ credit card no- at least not yet.
You finally get to the clinic . It's 6 .00 pm
You are given a form and you fill it in - some forms  require so many details , they   make you feel like your applying for a new passport .
Form filled and handed in - then you get a number . Its all very proper.
The nurse then takes you for  your height / weight / temperature check/ pulse rate  . Just to make sure she says .
Let me cut to the chase- its your turn to see the doctor now.
You enter the doctors chamber and he smiles and you shake hands.
" How are you ", he says dryly .
I often feel like saying " About to die " or something to that effect .
I tell him what the problem is - maybe just a very stuffy nose and a slight body ache - for goodness sake I know its the flu- so just get on and give me a tab to cure it .
No - its not that simple .
He looks at his laptop and keys in some information .
He asks for symptoms and you tell him that its the flu .
He looks at you sarcastically as if to say - if that's the case go cure yourself.
He knows your in his clutches as he moves in for the juggler vein.
He then goes through the torch , throat, nose , eyes routine and your relieved . This was a breeze .
He then goes back to the computer and keys in some more information . I peer- trying to pry - no luck.
He then picks up the phone and summons the nurse who he hands a paper to.
" Just have a blood and urine test " -  "to rule out a few things" says he in a matter of fact tone .
That's easier said than done - the blood test is fine - but a urine test ???
OK let me drink water - one glass- two glasses - I  feel bloated extremely bloated  but there is no signs of the wretched urine  .........................Do I have stones - I wonder ????!!!!!! A blockage maybe !
Finally that's done too.
The results will take 30 mts - so relax says the nurse .
You sit and re- read the morning papers.
People dead/ women raped/ floods/ famine/ job scarcity/ building collapse/ earthquake - depressing to say the least.
You wonder at the diseases in the room around you .
You have come in with flu- you could go home with Pneumonia, tuberculosis or whooping cough - a weak mind sure plays trick on you .
The nurse comes back and calls your name out loud .
For goodness sake - there are only 2 people left in the clinic and one is a lady- surely she cant be Mr Michael
"The doctor feels that an X Ray would be an added precaution" says the nurse .
I  have that too- I  do not complain- if you have to die it might as well be due to radiation !
An hour gone by - people are packing to go home and I am  the last one there ."   The
Doctor will see you now" says the sleepy looking nurse- its  a few minutes  past 8.00 pm  .She would have left by now - she looks like she is cursing me under her breath. I could do without curses at this stage .
The doctor looks at the reports and the X ray. No expression at first. I am about to panic - could it be something serious- something unexpected - isn't that how they sometimes find that you have a killer disease when you go for something totally different ?
Doctor looks up from the reports
" Just a mild infection  " he says "  Nothing to worry about but at least we are sure its nothing else ".
He smiles ...........
He then starts keying in the medicines and the bill amount .
2 capsules( antibiotics probably ) thrice a day after meals for 4 days , 2 tablets, once a day before meals  for 5 days  - one mixture twice a day after meals for a week.
Pain killers in case of pain- once a day after meals- at night- as they make you drowsy.
A multivitamin to counteract the antibiotic
He is done . He then makes small talk and looks at his watch .I get up and thank him .
I  go to pay - I  almost give a yelp when I  see the bill . But I  dare not make a sound lest he call me back on hearing the yelp and order some more tests !.
I take the prescription to the pharmacy and then decide.....................
" Do I actually need all these medicines"
I  look carefully and buy just the tablets for pain and fever .
I  go home - feeling worse and very despondent .
I  take the tabs along with some home made remedy which I  should have taken in the first place
I  get better .
The body has cured itself .
Amen.


 

Infantile Melancholia

Infantile Melancholia

 

I remember learning Nursery Rhymes in School and I am sure most of you do too. “How many Nursery Rhymes do you remember?” I was asked by some friends a few days ago.

We racked our brains and surprisingly came up with quite a few. As the conversation progressed and we reminisced, we came to a unanimous conclusion. Most Nursery Rhymes in general, are sad, depressing and at times even sadistic!

Okay, don’t believe me – read on.

“Piggy on the railway track picking up stones / Down came an engine and broke piggy’s bones (Ouch!). Ah! said piggy – that’s not fair. Now, please listen to the reply of the engine driver, “I don’t care.” Isn’t that a callous reply?

Next came good old Humpty Dumpty who ‘had a great fall’. He obviously was smashed to smithereens because ‘all the kings horses and all the kings men could not put Humpty Dumpty together again’, and there must have been a mess on the pavement. If that was not a sad end, what is?

Poor Little Miss Muffet suffered a trauma of another variety. She was frightened out of her wits by a large and ugly spider and obviously was unable to finish her ‘curds and whey’ which she had just begun to relish.

Who hasn’t heard of Old Mother Hubbard. She was a kind soul and an animal lover too. However, when she went to fetch her dog a bone, the cupboard was bare and the poor little dog had to go to sleep hungry.

Little Jack Horner was definitely a shy and lonely lad. How else do you account for the fact that he was sitting all alone in a corner, eating his Christmas pie with his fingers and talking to himself. Depressing to say the very least.

Jack and Jill were rather unfortunate too. The good little children went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. As luck would have it, Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after. She probably broke her crown too.

What about the three blind mice who ran after the farmer’s wife. The sadistic woman cut off their tails with a ‘carving knife’. From then on, it couldn’t have been much fun for the three little mice being both blind and tailless.

I’ve saved the worst for the last.

“Rock a bye baby on the tree top / When the wind blows, the cradle will rock / When the bough breaks the cradle will fall/ and down will come baby, cradle and all”. Now that would be a very careless mother indeed! Who, in her right frame of mind would put a baby, in a cradle on a tree top, and that too, on a windy day? Poor, poor kid!

 

Infantile Melancholia

Infantile Melancholia

 

I remember learning Nursery Rhymes in School and I am sure most of you do too. “How many Nursery Rhymes do you remember?” I was asked by some friends a few days ago.

We racked our brains and surprisingly came up with quite a few. As the conversation progressed and we reminisced, we came to a unanimous conclusion. Most Nursery Rhymes in general, are sad, depressing and at times even sadistic!

Okay, don’t believe me – read on.

“Piggy on the railway track picking up stones / Down came an engine and broke piggy’s bones (Ouch!). Ah! said piggy – that’s not fair. Now, please listen to the reply of the engine driver, “I don’t care.” Isn’t that a callous reply?

Next came good old Humpty Dumpty who ‘had a great fall’. He obviously was smashed to smithereens because ‘all the kings horses and all the kings men could not put Humpty Dumpty together again’, and there must have been a mess on the pavement. If that was not a sad end, what is?

Poor Little Miss Muffet suffered a trauma of another variety. She was frightened out of her wits by a large and ugly spider and obviously was unable to finish her ‘curds and whey’ which she had just begun to relish.

Who hasn’t heard of Old Mother Hubbard. She was a kind soul and an animal lover too. However, when she went to fetch her dog a bone, the cupboard was bare and the poor little dog had to go to sleep hungry.

Little Jack Horner was definitely a shy and lonely lad. How else do you account for the fact that he was sitting all alone in a corner, eating his Christmas pie with his fingers and talking to himself. Depressing to say the very least.

Jack and Jill were rather unfortunate too. The good little children went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. As luck would have it, Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after. She probably broke her crown too.

What about the three blind mice who ran after the farmer’s wife. The sadistic woman cut off their tails with a ‘carving knife’. From then on, it couldn’t have been much fun for the three little mice being both blind and tailless.

I’ve saved the worst for the last.

“Rock a bye baby on the tree top / When the wind blows, the cradle will rock / When the bough breaks the cradle will fall/ and down will come baby, cradle and all”. Now that would be a very careless mother indeed! Who, in her right frame of mind would put a baby, in a cradle on a tree top, and that too, on a windy day? Poor, poor kid!

 

The stars and stickers in school

When I was in school in St Joseph's Allahabad I distinctly remember the Card system.
If you got above 80 % you got a PINK  card saying Very Good
If you got between 65 & 80 you got a BLUE  card  saying Good
If you got between 40 & 65 you got a YELLOW  card saying Fair
Anything lower and you got a RED card saying UNSATISFACTORY !

We all strove extremely hard for the Pink and blue cards for obvious reasons. They were few and far between .
But yellow and red cards were not uncommon either .
A number of boys got them and no-  they did not contemplate suicide nor did they feel that the teacher hated them . No they did not tell their parents that they hated the school or wanted to leave it . They were not emotionally upset nor did they have to be sent to a counselor for support .

Times have changed drastically - so have pupils and their parents.
 One has to be so careful to motivate and not discourage in any way by word or deed .
Encouragement is the key word and STARS and STICKERS are the IN things .
All teachers keep them - no problem with that one but then they are THE PROBLEM.
At first stars and stickers were given for exceptionally good work and very high marks.
They were stuck in the exercise books and when one got a star it was the envy of all and much valued.
Today all that has changed.
Stars and sticker are given at random - a pupil I asked today had no idea why he had been given a star .
Nowadays stars and stickers have moved out of the exercise book and are now on the hand , on the forehead , on the tie , tunic , shirt - anywhere . THEY MUST BE SEEN  BY ONE AND ALL and the more the better .
Children demand them and parents expect them ............
Children are not satisfied and are always looking to see who has got more stickers and stars than them .
Think about the situation  briefly and it means nothing but reflect and you realize that this is one of the  many reasons  society is changing .
Young boys and girls  , so used to getting things   easily  in school and without actually  working hard and consistently  for them have begun to expect the same as  young adults .
Demands and expectations have changed and increased .
Everyone demands rewards , expects more and feels dejected and despondent when they don't get it .
They are constantly complaining - awaiting promotions and salary increases - job satisfaction is often at an all time low and jobs are changed frequently- its always greener on the other side .
Dejection, despondency and counseling is on the rise in the new work force  .
Finding solace in alcohol or more is not uncommon.
People are finding it next to impossible to cope with the stress and wonder why.
Ever thought about blaming the stars and stickers ?
 

The stars and stickers in school

When I was in school in St Joseph's Allahabad I distinctly remember the Card system.
If you got above 80 % you got a PINK  card saying Very Good
If you got between 65 & 80 you got a BLUE  card  saying Good
If you got between 40 & 65 you got a YELLOW  card saying Fair
Anything lower and you got a RED card saying UNSATISFACTORY !

We all strove extremely hard for the Pink and blue cards for obvious reasons. They were few and far between .
But yellow and red cards were not uncommon either .
A number of boys got them and no-  they did not contemplate suicide nor did they feel that the teacher hated them . No they did not tell their parents that they hated the school or wanted to leave it . They were not emotionally upset nor did they have to be sent to a counselor for support .

Times have changed drastically - so have pupils and their parents.
 One has to be so careful to motivate and not discourage in any way by word or deed .
Encouragement is the key word and STARS and STICKERS are the IN things .
All teachers keep them - no problem with that one but then they are THE PROBLEM.
At first stars and stickers were given for exceptionally good work and very high marks.
They were stuck in the exercise books and when one got a star it was the envy of all and much valued.
Today all that has changed.
Stars and sticker are given at random - a pupil I asked today had no idea why he had been given a star .
Nowadays stars and stickers have moved out of the exercise book and are now on the hand , on the forehead , on the tie , tunic , shirt - anywhere . THEY MUST BE SEEN  BY ONE AND ALL and the more the better .
Children demand them and parents expect them ............
Children are not satisfied and are always looking to see who has got more stickers and stars than them .
Think about the situation  briefly and it means nothing but reflect and you realize that this is one of the  many reasons  society is changing .
Young boys and girls  , so used to getting things   easily  in school and without actually  working hard and consistently  for them have begun to expect the same as  young adults .
Demands and expectations have changed and increased .
Everyone demands rewards , expects more and feels dejected and despondent when they don't get it .
They are constantly complaining - awaiting promotions and salary increases - job satisfaction is often at an all time low and jobs are changed frequently- its always greener on the other side .
Dejection, despondency and counseling is on the rise in the new work force  .
Finding solace in alcohol or more is not uncommon.
People are finding it next to impossible to cope with the stress and wonder why.
Ever thought about blaming the stars and stickers ?
 

http://gulfnews.com/life-style/education/today-s-pupils-live-in-stimulating-times-1.1188051

http://gulfnews.com/life-style/education/today-s-pupils-live-in-stimulating-times-1.1188051

Well behaved in Dubai

Dubai has tamed many a smart cookie from India .
Say what you like but all the bravado and DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM / DO YOU KNOW WHO I KNOW vanishes once you enter a government building here in the UAE .
An immediate transformation takes place and Indian  lions become sheep.
I clearly remember my visit to the Immigration department- a large building with  hundreds  of cars parked outside and hundreds of people inside .
No tea shops with clerks who are supposed to be at their counter having tea .
No pan shops selling pan .
One enters the building and reads the signs for the various counters .
No one asks questions as the directions are clear .
No PAN stains in the corners , no smell of urine anywhere - not even in the washrooms which are as clean as a 5 star hotel and very little noise if any at all. And no one is seen smoking .

The hall where visas were made was large, spotless and airy.
Long benches  were placed perpendicular to all the counters which were all manned .
When you entered you were expected to switch off your mobile and almost everyone did that without questioning .
 Many put it in silent / vibrate mode and f they took / made a call there was no yelling to hear what they were saying .
You usually take a token .
You take you place on the bench and watch proceedings.
A man goes to the counter only after his token  number appears on the screen
  He stands quietly and answers questions . No - he does not argue - does not try to bribe the clerk  - talks politely and in undertones . He signs when told to sign , pays when told to pay, takes his papers and moves on.
He does not ask to see the boss even if there is a problem
If his forms are incomplete he moves aside and completes them . If he is sent to another window and has to line up again he does it without a murmur.
He does not phone a friend to phone the clerk and request/ threaten/ put pressure on him !
As soon as he gets up everyone seated on the bench slides one place closer to the counter - there is no talk - no pushing , shoving , jostling for position nothing . Its quiet and peaceful .
The tough talking brat who throws his weight around in his motherland , India,  is a different sort of person here .
He is a well behaved expat.!

Well behaved in Dubai

Dubai has tamed many a smart cookie from India .
Say what you like but all the bravado and DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM / DO YOU KNOW WHO I KNOW vanishes once you enter a government building here in the UAE .
An immediate transformation takes place and Indian  lions become sheep.
I clearly remember my visit to the Immigration department- a large building with  hundreds  of cars parked outside and hundreds of people inside .
No tea shops with clerks who are supposed to be at their counter having tea .
No pan shops selling pan .
One enters the building and reads the signs for the various counters .
No one asks questions as the directions are clear .
No PAN stains in the corners , no smell of urine anywhere - not even in the washrooms which are as clean as a 5 star hotel and very little noise if any at all. And no one is seen smoking .

The hall where visas were made was large, spotless and airy.
Long benches  were placed perpendicular to all the counters which were all manned .
When you entered you were expected to switch off your mobile and almost everyone did that without questioning .
 Many put it in silent / vibrate mode and f they took / made a call there was no yelling to hear what they were saying .
You usually take a token .
You take you place on the bench and watch proceedings.
A man goes to the counter only after his token  number appears on the screen
  He stands quietly and answers questions . No - he does not argue - does not try to bribe the clerk  - talks politely and in undertones . He signs when told to sign , pays when told to pay, takes his papers and moves on.
He does not ask to see the boss even if there is a problem
If his forms are incomplete he moves aside and completes them . If he is sent to another window and has to line up again he does it without a murmur.
He does not phone a friend to phone the clerk and request/ threaten/ put pressure on him !
As soon as he gets up everyone seated on the bench slides one place closer to the counter - there is no talk - no pushing , shoving , jostling for position nothing . Its quiet and peaceful .
The tough talking brat who throws his weight around in his motherland , India,  is a different sort of person here .
He is a well behaved expat.!

Lucknow airport and the Indian babu

Last year I had gone to India to recruit teachers.
Now let me give you a little background .
My hometown is Allahabad so that is what is mentioned in my passport.
Place of residence is now shown as Dubai as that is where the PP was renewed.
I had travelled to Chennai, Delhi and Lucknow and had to fly back to Dubai from Lucknow.
Its 2 .00 am and there is only one flight leaving Lucknow at that time - for Dubai ( its a small airport ).
Its Air India ( what else can it be ) and Lucknow has a small airport.
Long queue - mostly workers moving to Dubai.
Then I reach the counter and stand there for a few minutes.
The clerk behind the counter looks up from over the rim of his spectacles .
The conversation that follows takes place in Hindi ..................
I am asked my name - full name
Date of birth??
Place of birth??
Present residence - I answer Dubai
Reason for travel- I answer Work.
By now my blood is boiling but I try hard to remain calm.
Now start the howlers.
This is what he said - in Hindi.
If I am from Allahabad - lived in Dubai , entered India 8 days ago from Chennai then WHY was I exiting from Lucknow  !!!
I swallowed hard and could not believe that this guy  had the audacity to ask such moronic questions .
You want to know what I did then ????
No your wrong
I worked out the puzzle for him- slowly and peacefully and confidently.
He smiled as if he was now going to stump me with the 1 crore question..............
WHERE ARE YOU FLYING TO was his question.
That was when I put my hand luggage down - looked him in the eye and asked him how many flights  were leaving within the next hour or for that matter for the next 8 hours.
He said - one flight - to Dubai
So I said - YES sir- that is the flight I am catching .
 He then asked me to stand in the center of the counter so that he could look carefully lest some other angle made me look like a T......T
With a flourish he then stamped the passport- looked again and said NEXT ...................
Even when I think back now - my blood races through my veins ..........................
So much for the Indian babu .


 

Lucknow airport and the Indian babu

Last year I had gone to India to recruit teachers.
Now let me give you a little background .
My hometown is Allahabad so that is what is mentioned in my passport.
Place of residence is now shown as Dubai as that is where the PP was renewed.
I had travelled to Chennai, Delhi and Lucknow and had to fly back to Dubai from Lucknow.
Its 2 .00 am and there is only one flight leaving Lucknow at that time - for Dubai ( its a small airport ).
Its Air India ( what else can it be ) and Lucknow has a small airport.
Long queue - mostly workers moving to Dubai.
Then I reach the counter and stand there for a few minutes.
The clerk behind the counter looks up from over the rim of his spectacles .
The conversation that follows takes place in Hindi ..................
I am asked my name - full name
Date of birth??
Place of birth??
Present residence - I answer Dubai
Reason for travel- I answer Work.
By now my blood is boiling but I try hard to remain calm.
Now start the howlers.
This is what he said - in Hindi.
If I am from Allahabad - lived in Dubai , entered India 8 days ago from Chennai then WHY was I exiting from Lucknow  !!!
I swallowed hard and could not believe that this guy  had the audacity to ask such moronic questions .
You want to know what I did then ????
No your wrong
I worked out the puzzle for him- slowly and peacefully and confidently.
He smiled as if he was now going to stump me with the 1 crore question..............
WHERE ARE YOU FLYING TO was his question.
That was when I put my hand luggage down - looked him in the eye and asked him how many flights  were leaving within the next hour or for that matter for the next 8 hours.
He said - one flight - to Dubai
So I said - YES sir- that is the flight I am catching .
 He then asked me to stand in the center of the counter so that he could look carefully lest some other angle made me look like a T......T
With a flourish he then stamped the passport- looked again and said NEXT ...................
Even when I think back now - my blood races through my veins ..........................
So much for the Indian babu .


 

Friday mornings in Dubai

Friday mornings in Dubai are eerie.
The reason is - the whole of the week one is used to noise- a mad rush in the traffic- traffic jams- no place to park- shopping for groceries etc.
Then comes Friday and Dubai sleeps all morning .
Till about 11 am an eerie silence pervades the city. People sleep late- you see no wasing on the balconies ! Car parks in malls are empty- car parks in residential are full - roads are dirty usually ( even the cleaners rest I guess ) .
Everyone seems to be making the most of it.
Then at about 11 there is a stirring.
Fathers, then mothers get up and start moving around - kids usually sleep till noon or later !
Super and hyper markets start filling up - washed clothes start making their appearance - cars start moving and gradually the whole city gets into motion.
Parks fill up with those eager to make the most of the last of the cool weather .
Kids go down for a swim- most residential buildings have pools .
By afternoon its madness again
Roads are full with everyone going everywhere .
Malls are mobbed - it seems like everyone is in every mall !
Its the weekend
Its the time to unwind and enjoy.
For my part - I cant sleep late - be it a week day or a weekend.
Friday morning I am usually up by 6.30 - tea , news papers and the laptop .
Boring ??
No- relaxing - its the weekend  for me as well and I don't need to rush out
I enjoy the white space I mentioned in an earlier article- just  being alone & doing nothing official ! 

Friday mornings in Dubai

Friday mornings in Dubai are eerie.
The reason is - the whole of the week one is used to noise- a mad rush in the traffic- traffic jams- no place to park- shopping for groceries etc.
Then comes Friday and Dubai sleeps all morning .
Till about 11 am an eerie silence pervades the city. People sleep late- you see no wasing on the balconies ! Car parks in malls are empty- car parks in residential are full - roads are dirty usually ( even the cleaners rest I guess ) .
Everyone seems to be making the most of it.
Then at about 11 there is a stirring.
Fathers, then mothers get up and start moving around - kids usually sleep till noon or later !
Super and hyper markets start filling up - washed clothes start making their appearance - cars start moving and gradually the whole city gets into motion.
Parks fill up with those eager to make the most of the last of the cool weather .
Kids go down for a swim- most residential buildings have pools .
By afternoon its madness again
Roads are full with everyone going everywhere .
Malls are mobbed - it seems like everyone is in every mall !
Its the weekend
Its the time to unwind and enjoy.
For my part - I cant sleep late - be it a week day or a weekend.
Friday morning I am usually up by 6.30 - tea , news papers and the laptop .
Boring ??
No- relaxing - its the weekend  for me as well and I don't need to rush out
I enjoy the white space I mentioned in an earlier article- just  being alone & doing nothing official ! 

Recognition

Of all professions I feel that a teacher's is the most recognized.
Let me try and explain.
I have been a teacher since 1978 .
Have taught boys in the Boys High School Allahabad  in 78- 79 - 80and am in touch with a few.
From 1981- 2001 taught boys at The Bishops School Pune
From 2001 - till 2006 was with boys and girls at The Modern High School Dubai
From 2006 have been at The Millennium School Dubai
Hence have taught/ been in touch with  thousands of pupils and their parents.
Allahabad is not too bad but when in Pune I meet pupils at every nook and corner . Almost all recognize me - for me the face is familiar but usually not the name unless the pupil was very clever/ very wicked/ a boarder/ a tuition boy !
Be it a bank, a hospital, a mall , on the road - I meet some pupil  or the other !
It feels good
The same with Dubai !
If I were born again I would chose no other profession - I guess once a teacher , always a teacher .

 

Recognition

Of all professions I feel that a teacher's is the most recognized.
Let me try and explain.
I have been a teacher since 1978 .
Have taught boys in the Boys High School Allahabad  in 78- 79 - 80and am in touch with a few.
From 1981- 2001 taught boys at The Bishops School Pune
From 2001 - till 2006 was with boys and girls at The Modern High School Dubai
From 2006 have been at The Millennium School Dubai
Hence have taught/ been in touch with  thousands of pupils and their parents.
Allahabad is not too bad but when in Pune I meet pupils at every nook and corner . Almost all recognize me - for me the face is familiar but usually not the name unless the pupil was very clever/ very wicked/ a boarder/ a tuition boy !
Be it a bank, a hospital, a mall , on the road - I meet some pupil  or the other !
It feels good
The same with Dubai !
If I were born again I would chose no other profession - I guess once a teacher , always a teacher .

 

Bitten by a snake- Denzil Fernandez in Bishops Pune

It was about 5 am and I was jolted awake by loud knocking on the front door. I was in Simba Dorm in Bishops  at the time and in charge of the boarders there .
My sleep vanished as soon as I opened the door - " Sir - Denzil  Fernandez has been bitten by a snake "
Now let me explain- Denzil was a boarder - quite a naughty one - he was probably in Class 8 or 9 at that time but I can't be too sure . He was an ace footballer/ sportsman and so he and some other boarders had gone down to play football on the field at about 4 . 45 am . The ball rolled into some shrubs- Denzil went to retrieve it and was apparently bitten by a snake.
I dressed in  jiffy and rushed to the clinic - Denzil sat there- a trifle white in the face and quite confused -  with a swollen hand . Even more petrified was the school Matron who said " Sir we need to rush him to the hospital immediately ,Kuch bhi ho sakta "
So off to Jehangir hospital we rushed in the school Ambassador.
Thankfully it was morning because at night the driver was usually drunk !
Along the way I kept talking to Denzil-  we made small talk - I  did  not want him to die on my hands !
 His hand was now swelling  fast and the skin looked like it was about to tear open - the wound was red and there were distinct fang marks or so we thought . I kept asking him if he was feeling drowsy - I had heard that snake bites made you drowsy and they you died !
We reached the hospital and rushed into the EMERGENCY !
I was asked what had happened and made to sign some papers - and Denzil was admitted immediately .
We paced around outside- no we did not even think of phoning his parents who were in the middle east- you guessed right- there were no mobile phones back then and we would have to go to the telegraph office and probably book a call which would ( hopefully ) come through in an hour !
The wound was cleaned , probably an injection/ a tablet or two was given and the diagnosis was pronounced - IT WAS PROBABLY  NOT A SNAKE BITE !
The doctors had no idea what had bitten him but they said it was not a snake.
It was now about 9 am - relieved I asked the doctors to release him.
That was easier said than done. "No", they said
Like all good hospitals they wanted him to stay for 24 hours to make sure he was fine .
I tried to reason that the swelling had started going down and by the way, he looked fine but the doctors would have none of my logic.
I think Denzil wanted to be admitted so that he could bunk classes .
He had been admitted and now the doctors  had to make sure ......................
To cut a long story short I once again spoke to them to let him go back to school -  signed a paper accepting responsibility if anything  should happen and soon we were on the way back to school .
Denzil was smiling - the nurse was  scolding him for causing the confusion early in the morning and I was relieved.
What made Denzil and his friends decide to play football before 5 am and what actually bit him - I will never know .
Thankfully it was NOT A SNAKE .
 

Bitten by a snake- Denzil Fernandez in Bishops Pune

It was about 5 am and I was jolted awake by loud knocking on the front door. I was in Simba Dorm in Bishops  at the time and in charge of the boarders there .
My sleep vanished as soon as I opened the door - " Sir - Denzil  Fernandez has been bitten by a snake "
Now let me explain- Denzil was a boarder - quite a naughty one - he was probably in Class 8 or 9 at that time but I can't be too sure . He was an ace footballer/ sportsman and so he and some other boarders had gone down to play football on the field at about 4 . 45 am . The ball rolled into some shrubs- Denzil went to retrieve it and was apparently bitten by a snake.
I dressed in  jiffy and rushed to the clinic - Denzil sat there- a trifle white in the face and quite confused -  with a swollen hand . Even more petrified was the school Matron who said " Sir we need to rush him to the hospital immediately ,Kuch bhi ho sakta "
So off to Jehangir hospital we rushed in the school Ambassador.
Thankfully it was morning because at night the driver was usually drunk !
Along the way I kept talking to Denzil-  we made small talk - I  did  not want him to die on my hands !
 His hand was now swelling  fast and the skin looked like it was about to tear open - the wound was red and there were distinct fang marks or so we thought . I kept asking him if he was feeling drowsy - I had heard that snake bites made you drowsy and they you died !
We reached the hospital and rushed into the EMERGENCY !
I was asked what had happened and made to sign some papers - and Denzil was admitted immediately .
We paced around outside- no we did not even think of phoning his parents who were in the middle east- you guessed right- there were no mobile phones back then and we would have to go to the telegraph office and probably book a call which would ( hopefully ) come through in an hour !
The wound was cleaned , probably an injection/ a tablet or two was given and the diagnosis was pronounced - IT WAS PROBABLY  NOT A SNAKE BITE !
The doctors had no idea what had bitten him but they said it was not a snake.
It was now about 9 am - relieved I asked the doctors to release him.
That was easier said than done. "No", they said
Like all good hospitals they wanted him to stay for 24 hours to make sure he was fine .
I tried to reason that the swelling had started going down and by the way, he looked fine but the doctors would have none of my logic.
I think Denzil wanted to be admitted so that he could bunk classes .
He had been admitted and now the doctors  had to make sure ......................
To cut a long story short I once again spoke to them to let him go back to school -  signed a paper accepting responsibility if anything  should happen and soon we were on the way back to school .
Denzil was smiling - the nurse was  scolding him for causing the confusion early in the morning and I was relieved.
What made Denzil and his friends decide to play football before 5 am and what actually bit him - I will never know .
Thankfully it was NOT A SNAKE .
 

An ode to Sorpotel- ( Not written by me )

 

 

AN  ODE  TO  SORPOTEL

For the hotch potch known as Haggis
Let the Scotsman yearn or yell
For the taste of Yorkshire pudding
Let the English family dwell.
For the famed Tandoori Chicken
That Punjabis praise like hell
But for us who hail from Goa
There's nothing like SORPOTEL!

From the big wigs in Colaba
To the small fry in Cavel
From the growing tribes in Bandra
To the remnants in Parel
From the lovely girls in Glaxo
To the boys in Burma Shell
There's no Goan whose mouth won't water
When you talk of SORPOTEL!

And Oh! for Christmas dinner
Don't you think it would be swell
If by some freak of fortune
Or by some magic spell
We could, as they have in Goa
A bottle of the cajel
And toddy leavened sannas
To go with SORPOTEL

And from good ol' Kolkata,
Please let me add some thoughts,
Of hing-aer kachouris, and tea in chatty-pots.
A perfect combination,
I'm sure you'd remember well,
But for that sit-down dinner,
It's got to be SORPOTEL!

Now the anglo-bras will swear,
by smelly balichow,
And butt curry from Chulias,
(You know, the innards of the cow.)
But they get all stoned and dreamy
when they get that heady smell,
of toddy-drunken sannas and steaming SORPOTEL!

And every bloke from Cal ,
Will talk of kati roll.
Of puchkas, dalpuri and nehari,
And sometimes maachaer jhol.
Panthey Kowswey jhalfrezee and pepper water
Oh I love them as well,
But if we have to go to the polls
I VOTE FOR SORPOTEL!

An ode to Sorpotel- ( Not written by me )

 

 

AN  ODE  TO  SORPOTEL

For the hotch potch known as Haggis
Let the Scotsman yearn or yell
For the taste of Yorkshire pudding
Let the English family dwell.
For the famed Tandoori Chicken
That Punjabis praise like hell
But for us who hail from Goa
There's nothing like SORPOTEL!

From the big wigs in Colaba
To the small fry in Cavel
From the growing tribes in Bandra
To the remnants in Parel
From the lovely girls in Glaxo
To the boys in Burma Shell
There's no Goan whose mouth won't water
When you talk of SORPOTEL!

And Oh! for Christmas dinner
Don't you think it would be swell
If by some freak of fortune
Or by some magic spell
We could, as they have in Goa
A bottle of the cajel
And toddy leavened sannas
To go with SORPOTEL

And from good ol' Kolkata,
Please let me add some thoughts,
Of hing-aer kachouris, and tea in chatty-pots.
A perfect combination,
I'm sure you'd remember well,
But for that sit-down dinner,
It's got to be SORPOTEL!

Now the anglo-bras will swear,
by smelly balichow,
And butt curry from Chulias,
(You know, the innards of the cow.)
But they get all stoned and dreamy
when they get that heady smell,
of toddy-drunken sannas and steaming SORPOTEL!

And every bloke from Cal ,
Will talk of kati roll.
Of puchkas, dalpuri and nehari,
And sometimes maachaer jhol.
Panthey Kowswey jhalfrezee and pepper water
Oh I love them as well,
But if we have to go to the polls
I VOTE FOR SORPOTEL!

Teachers- Yesterday - Today & Tomorrow

When I look back on my years as a school boy, I remember a few teachers who have left an indelible impression on my mind for various reasons. The first two were teachers, who coincidentally, both taught Mathematics. They were energetic, strict and determined to see that no pupil was left behind in the subject. They were empathetic, motivational, original and caring. Period after period and month after month, they went about their task methodically. For them, teaching was definitely a passion. While I did not excel in the subject, what they taught me, stayed with me, and today, when I look back, it was probably one of them who unknowingly motivated me to become a teacher.

The second group of teachers who left an impression on me was a kind of happy-go-lucky set of teachers. Rather friendly, often smiling, they went about their jobs hoping to make a difference in children’s lives. They were good human beings, but they did not believe in pushing students beyond their expectations. Their method was simple. They taught us what they had learnt and how they had been taught, and so period after period, month after month and year after year, they taught the same topic, gave exactly the same assignments, repeated the same tests and hoped for the best. I clearly remember one or two of them picking up notes given a few years earlier to the previous batch and dictating the same to us. Pupils and parents swore by their notes and by their methods and they ensured that everyone passed.

I am talking about the 1960s – 1970s, where we sat in rows at desks and listened dutifully to what the teacher said. Interaction between teacher and student was minimal and we learned without questioning.

Times have changed, haven’t they? Today pupils are living in the most intensely stimulating period in the history of the world. They are being besieged with information from computers, smart phones, televisions and advertisement. The goal of the teacher in the twenty-first century learning environment should be to bring together data, resources, tools and expertise to positively impact teaching and learning. What society needs are people who can ask good questions, come up with creative solutions, critically examine those possibilities to figure out which one creative solution is most likely to be effective, and communicate that solution effectively enough to motivate others into action. In the educational field, it has been realized that students aren’t just consumers of facts any longer nor are schools just brick and mortar structures. They are centers of lifelong learning.

Today’s teacher, besides delivering content, must also be a role model, part time parent, counselor, cashier, administrator, tech expert, nurse and care-provider. He/she must be organized and knowledgeable and must realize that information isn’t bound primarily in books anymore but is available anywhere and everywhere.

When I was in school, teachers dispensed information and education was almost like a production line. Teachers were told what to teach, when to teach and how to teach. I clearly remember no differentiation and all of us were taught exactly the same way. My teachers used the same methods as past generations. Everything has changed today. Teachers are encouraged to adapt new practices that acknowledge both the art and science of learning. They have been made to realize that they first must get to know the student as an individual, in order to comprehend his / her unique learning styles and abilities.

The need of the hour is a generation of teachers who continue to update their skills, as regularly a possible – men and women who aim to develop learners instead of teaching them; who help their pupils to become independent and motivate them not only to learn and think for themselves, but to apply the knowledge they have garnered in real life situations as well.

Besides knowing how to teach reading, writing, mathematics and science, today’s teachers must know how to manage a classroom, differentiate between the high achievers and slow learners, as well as be able to develop curriculum that is rich and challenging in content.

A teacher today must know how to use tests to assess learning and be able to teach pupils to learn collaterally. Their job also entails counseling students as they grow and mature – helping them to integrate their social, intellectual and emotional growth. They must give students the tools to make better decisions and use their knowledge to better contribute to society and the world around them. Rather than seeing themselves as masters of a particular subject they must aspire to be inspirational role models who are able to develop a bond with their pupils.

The age old adage of the teacher being the king /queen of the classroom should have been thrown out with the dish-water ages ago. Today a teacher is a guide, a facilitator and a co-learner. Rather than demand silence a teacher must encourage conversation and make learning a participatory, educational adventure. In order for students to really understand what they are learning, the curriculum must relate to their lives; learning activities must engage pupils and make them curious while assessments must measure real accomplishment and be an integral part of learning.

Effective teaching has to be fluid and adaptive to the current culture. The effective teacher is one who embraces the evolving technological culture and adapts to the student’s needs of today. In  doing so, the teacher will thrive, students will flourish and the goal of education to create men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what past generations have done, will be achieved.

http://gulfnews.com/life-style/education/today-s-pupils-live-in-stimulating-times-1.1188051

  

 

Teachers- Yesterday - Today & Tomorrow

When I look back on my years as a school boy, I remember a few teachers who have left an indelible impression on my mind for various reasons. The first two were teachers, who coincidentally, both taught Mathematics. They were energetic, strict and determined to see that no pupil was left behind in the subject. They were empathetic, motivational, original and caring. Period after period and month after month, they went about their task methodically. For them, teaching was definitely a passion. While I did not excel in the subject, what they taught me, stayed with me, and today, when I look back, it was probably one of them who unknowingly motivated me to become a teacher.

The second group of teachers who left an impression on me was a kind of happy-go-lucky set of teachers. Rather friendly, often smiling, they went about their jobs hoping to make a difference in children’s lives. They were good human beings, but they did not believe in pushing students beyond their expectations. Their method was simple. They taught us what they had learnt and how they had been taught, and so period after period, month after month and year after year, they taught the same topic, gave exactly the same assignments, repeated the same tests and hoped for the best. I clearly remember one or two of them picking up notes given a few years earlier to the previous batch and dictating the same to us. Pupils and parents swore by their notes and by their methods and they ensured that everyone passed.

I am talking about the 1960s – 1970s, where we sat in rows at desks and listened dutifully to what the teacher said. Interaction between teacher and student was minimal and we learned without questioning.

Times have changed, haven’t they? Today pupils are living in the most intensely stimulating period in the history of the world. They are being besieged with information from computers, smart phones, televisions and advertisement. The goal of the teacher in the twenty-first century learning environment should be to bring together data, resources, tools and expertise to positively impact teaching and learning. What society needs are people who can ask good questions, come up with creative solutions, critically examine those possibilities to figure out which one creative solution is most likely to be effective, and communicate that solution effectively enough to motivate others into action. In the educational field, it has been realized that students aren’t just consumers of facts any longer nor are schools just brick and mortar structures. They are centers of lifelong learning.

Today’s teacher, besides delivering content, must also be a role model, part time parent, counselor, cashier, administrator, tech expert, nurse and care-provider. He/she must be organized and knowledgeable and must realize that information isn’t bound primarily in books anymore but is available anywhere and everywhere.

When I was in school, teachers dispensed information and education was almost like a production line. Teachers were told what to teach, when to teach and how to teach. I clearly remember no differentiation and all of us were taught exactly the same way. My teachers used the same methods as past generations. Everything has changed today. Teachers are encouraged to adapt new practices that acknowledge both the art and science of learning. They have been made to realize that they first must get to know the student as an individual, in order to comprehend his / her unique learning styles and abilities.

The need of the hour is a generation of teachers who continue to update their skills, as regularly a possible – men and women who aim to develop learners instead of teaching them; who help their pupils to become independent and motivate them not only to learn and think for themselves, but to apply the knowledge they have garnered in real life situations as well.

Besides knowing how to teach reading, writing, mathematics and science, today’s teachers must know how to manage a classroom, differentiate between the high achievers and slow learners, as well as be able to develop curriculum that is rich and challenging in content.

A teacher today must know how to use tests to assess learning and be able to teach pupils to learn collaterally. Their job also entails counseling students as they grow and mature – helping them to integrate their social, intellectual and emotional growth. They must give students the tools to make better decisions and use their knowledge to better contribute to society and the world around them. Rather than seeing themselves as masters of a particular subject they must aspire to be inspirational role models who are able to develop a bond with their pupils.

The age old adage of the teacher being the king /queen of the classroom should have been thrown out with the dish-water ages ago. Today a teacher is a guide, a facilitator and a co-learner. Rather than demand silence a teacher must encourage conversation and make learning a participatory, educational adventure. In order for students to really understand what they are learning, the curriculum must relate to their lives; learning activities must engage pupils and make them curious while assessments must measure real accomplishment and be an integral part of learning.

Effective teaching has to be fluid and adaptive to the current culture. The effective teacher is one who embraces the evolving technological culture and adapts to the student’s needs of today. In  doing so, the teacher will thrive, students will flourish and the goal of education to create men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what past generations have done, will be achieved.

http://gulfnews.com/life-style/education/today-s-pupils-live-in-stimulating-times-1.1188051

  

 

What has caused more long term destruction ??

• What has caused more long term destruction - the A-bomb,
  or
  Government welfare programs created to buy the votes
  
  
  
  of those who want someone to take care of them?
  
  Japan does not have a welfare system.
  
  Work for it or do without.
  
  These are possibly the 5 best sentences
  you'll ever read and all applicable to this experiment:
  
  1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity
  
  
  
  by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.
  
  2. What one person receives without working for,
  
  
  
  another person must work for without receiving.
  
  3. The government cannot give to anybody anything
  
  
  
  that the government does not first take from somebody else.
  
  4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!
  
  5. When half of the people get the idea that they
  
  
  
  do not have to work because the other half
  
  
  
  is going to take care of them, and when the other half
  
  
  
  gets the idea that it does no good to work
  
  
  
  because somebody else is going to get
  
  
  
  what they work for, that is the beginning
  
  
  
  of the end of any nation.
  
  
  
  Whileall this is true, it is necessary toextend
  
  a helping hand
  
  to a person in genuine need,
  
  only to help him/herself,
  
  Whether it results in encouraging "ability" or
  
  perpetuates "disability" would depend on
  
  the character and the hidden agenda
  
  of both the donor and the recipient.

What has caused more long term destruction ??

• What has caused more long term destruction - the A-bomb,
  or
  Government welfare programs created to buy the votes
  
  
  
  of those who want someone to take care of them?
  
  Japan does not have a welfare system.
  
  Work for it or do without.
  
  These are possibly the 5 best sentences
  you'll ever read and all applicable to this experiment:
  
  1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity
  
  
  
  by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.
  
  2. What one person receives without working for,
  
  
  
  another person must work for without receiving.
  
  3. The government cannot give to anybody anything
  
  
  
  that the government does not first take from somebody else.
  
  4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!
  
  5. When half of the people get the idea that they
  
  
  
  do not have to work because the other half
  
  
  
  is going to take care of them, and when the other half
  
  
  
  gets the idea that it does no good to work
  
  
  
  because somebody else is going to get
  
  
  
  what they work for, that is the beginning
  
  
  
  of the end of any nation.
  
  
  
  Whileall this is true, it is necessary toextend
  
  a helping hand
  
  to a person in genuine need,
  
  only to help him/herself,
  
  Whether it results in encouraging "ability" or
  
  perpetuates "disability" would depend on
  
  the character and the hidden agenda
  
  of both the donor and the recipient.