It's been a long time since Teachers Day has come back into prominence. So some stray thoughts on this day.
Do we know that there are more than 80 Teacher's Day across the world?
Twenty countries celebrate it on October 5, including Pakistan. That's because Oct 5 is designated as World's Teacher's Day as declared by UNESCO.
Does anyone know why most of the middle east countries and Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia etc celebrate Teacher's Day on February 28th? Please let me know if you know.
Does anyone remember that teacher's day in India is to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, India's second President and a brilliant academician and writer?
Having addressed the Children on Teacher's Day will our PM now address the teachers on Children's day, or continue to ignore them?
Wasn't Teacher's Day about fun, with we performing for the teachers, giving them cards or flowers, eating some savouries and going home early and not listening to speeches broadcast by a distant leader?
Have you thought how this Teacher's Day must have been torturous for the teachers? They had to reschedule the day, organise broadcast of the PM's speech, provide for power back up, ensured good attendance....I am sure they could have done without this Teacher's Day.
Spare a thought also for the Australian PM Tabbot whose visit to India has been overshadowed by the Indian PM's speech to children.
Come to think of it, I don't think we should feel sorry for the Australian PM. The reason our PM had to schedule his speech in the afternoon was because he was busy with the visiting dignitary in the morning.
Will somebody remember to check DD's TRP for today? It should be record breaking.
So after CBSE board sends a "read between the lines" circular to all schools and schools pulling out all stops (one reputed school even assimilated the speech in its examination assessment! see visual below) wasn't this a politically motivated move?
And will someone also do a reality check on what happened at the schools and children's reactions? I can tell you in my daughter's school all students from class 3 to class 12 were packed in one auditorium. The din and clamour of the students beat Modi's voice hand down. Result: She has no clue of what he said. Maybe if she had heard the speech at home with us it would have made more sense.
Finally, what do I make of the speech? I think he connected with the children by making it more an interaction than a speech. But he was confused (Google guru vs need for technology), ill informed (climate has not changed we individuals have changed), patronising to teachers without any concrete action point (why can't we export good teachers, restore respect for teachers) and if I may say so, was dishonest ( politics is not a profession but form of service to the nation). How many of his party members and ministers are in politics for service? At least their net worth does not indicate so!
But the highlight for me was while explaining about failure of dreams and therefore stressing on actions he said, when in Xth or XIth you realise that your dream of becoming a doctor or engineer will not happen and you will become a clerk, a driver or teacher....a teacher!? A teacher is a failed dream...Happy Teacher's Day indeed.
Bura na manna yaar, weekend hai!
Do we know that there are more than 80 Teacher's Day across the world?
Twenty countries celebrate it on October 5, including Pakistan. That's because Oct 5 is designated as World's Teacher's Day as declared by UNESCO.
Does anyone know why most of the middle east countries and Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia etc celebrate Teacher's Day on February 28th? Please let me know if you know.
Does anyone remember that teacher's day in India is to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, India's second President and a brilliant academician and writer?
Having addressed the Children on Teacher's Day will our PM now address the teachers on Children's day, or continue to ignore them?
Wasn't Teacher's Day about fun, with we performing for the teachers, giving them cards or flowers, eating some savouries and going home early and not listening to speeches broadcast by a distant leader?
Have you thought how this Teacher's Day must have been torturous for the teachers? They had to reschedule the day, organise broadcast of the PM's speech, provide for power back up, ensured good attendance....I am sure they could have done without this Teacher's Day.
Spare a thought also for the Australian PM Tabbot whose visit to India has been overshadowed by the Indian PM's speech to children.
Come to think of it, I don't think we should feel sorry for the Australian PM. The reason our PM had to schedule his speech in the afternoon was because he was busy with the visiting dignitary in the morning.
Will somebody remember to check DD's TRP for today? It should be record breaking.
So after CBSE board sends a "read between the lines" circular to all schools and schools pulling out all stops (one reputed school even assimilated the speech in its examination assessment! see visual below) wasn't this a politically motivated move?
And will someone also do a reality check on what happened at the schools and children's reactions? I can tell you in my daughter's school all students from class 3 to class 12 were packed in one auditorium. The din and clamour of the students beat Modi's voice hand down. Result: She has no clue of what he said. Maybe if she had heard the speech at home with us it would have made more sense.
Finally, what do I make of the speech? I think he connected with the children by making it more an interaction than a speech. But he was confused (Google guru vs need for technology), ill informed (climate has not changed we individuals have changed), patronising to teachers without any concrete action point (why can't we export good teachers, restore respect for teachers) and if I may say so, was dishonest ( politics is not a profession but form of service to the nation). How many of his party members and ministers are in politics for service? At least their net worth does not indicate so!
But the highlight for me was while explaining about failure of dreams and therefore stressing on actions he said, when in Xth or XIth you realise that your dream of becoming a doctor or engineer will not happen and you will become a clerk, a driver or teacher....a teacher!? A teacher is a failed dream...Happy Teacher's Day indeed.
Bura na manna yaar, weekend hai!
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