From Learning to Teaching: The role of Teachers in this Pandemic

“তোমার আদর্শ আর মহান সেই বাণী

করেনি পথভ্রষ্ট আমায় আজও মানি”

---Emon Saha

I want to start by wishing a very happy Teachers’ Day to all the teachers I've ever had in my life and those who are reading this right now. A teacher’s place in a student’s life is just next to her parents. Teachers are important in our lives as much as our parents. When a child is born, her mind is full of distractions. A teacher helps the child collect her thoughts and calm her mind. A teacher is the best guide a child can have. Teacher stands by our side whenever we fall and encourages us to achieve our goals. They help us find our way in life. A teacher can be an idol to a student and the students look up to their teacher. And that’s why teacher’s responsibility is also huge. We rely on our teachers with the purpose of gaining knowledge and being more conscious of our surroundings and seeking to build a better tomorrow. Teachers have a responsibility towards the development of a nation. A Teacher’s job is not only teaching the lessons or giving lecture, but also helping the students connect their lessons to their day-to-day life. Teachers introduces the students with the real world. They not only teach to cover the syllabus or to prepare the students for examination, but also to prepare them for the real battle of real life, the struggle for being a better human being. A teacher helps us to wake up as a new and better version of ourselves, everyday. And I must say, there is no substitute for education.

But the current scenario is somewhat different. The News was shocking when the government first announced that schools and colleges would remain closed because of the pandemic. As the sincere citizens we had to co-operate with the government. But as the pandemic started to spread faster and was attacking more people than before, the lock down has been continuing since then. Following that, schools and colleges are still closed. We miss those days when we used to go to schools/colleges and attend classes, interact face-to-face with our teachers. But has this pandemic affected our hunger for learning and knowing? Absolutely not.

We may be caged in our respected homes but the epidemic couldn’t discontinue our common need for teaching and learning. Many people have become more productive in this lock down. Some people are spending their time by singing and some are dancing, some are cooking and making different and new dishes and some are spending their leisure by reading and writing. People have adapted new hobbies. And teaching is also not held back. Teachers are providing online classes to the students. Some parts of India are not familiar with the virtual method of learning and the rural areas are not contented with technical advantages, but as per the ongoing situation, this method could be the new normal way for providing education. Though this is certainly not same as entering our classroom and sitting beside our classmates and learn and hear personally from our teachers, we have to accept the fact that it’s not safe right now to go out and study in the conventional way, and we should adjust and acclimatize to new ways in every aspect with the changing world. And we should remember that change is the beginning of something new breaking through the old rules and norms. Even in this new way, teachers are motivating us and making sure that we keep up our desire for knowing and learning. Even in this situation teachers are trying tirelessly to educate us.

A teacher helps us grow the wish and need to gain Insight and wisdom inside of us and value the worth of education as well as the self-worth of ourselves. They assist us in expecting our hidden capabilities. Sometimes, some teachers help us live again and live a better life.

Teachers are the pillars of a society and the leading light of a better future. We are more than grateful to our teachers for making us what we are today. We’ll be indebted to them for life.

🌸 Happy Teachers’ Day🌸

--Aditi Sarkar