Editorial – Page 5 – Teacher Plus

A crucible of ideas

Usha Raman
Home Science as a subject has for long been on the backburner in the practice of school education. The low numbers of students opting for this subject, since itis largely perceived as a course for girls,has not helped either. Be that as it may, sincehome science is an optional subject at the high school level in most boards, this issue of Teacher Plus looks at the theme broadly, both from the viewpoint of home science as a curricular subject and as a tool for overall development.

There but not yet there

Usha Raman
It has been a year since our world turned upside down. And now slowly but surely we seem to be trudging towards what we used to know as ‘normal’. But with every new situation, the one thing that remains constant is anxiety, which somehow seems heightned these days. From the adult world, anxiety is now spilling into the lives of children as well and as we tackle our own worries we must look out for our children as well.

Can we listen to the young?

Usha Raman
Stories of injustice, neglect and outright condemnation abound in newspapers and the social media. The older generation has lived with this lopsided world but today’s younger generation is beginning to raise its voice and fight for what is right. Instead of shushing them down, as their caretakes let us help them find constructive ways to intervene at instances of injustice.

Small steps can make a big difference

Usha Raman
According to the World Bank, India is among the top few waste generating countries in the world. Unless we take drastic measures, it is believed that India will soon produce double the amount of waste it is now producing. This month we bring you the stories of a few schools that have taken up the challenge of going zero waste, in the hope that they inspire many more to follow suit.

When – and how – things fall into place

Usha Raman
Deadlines may be a motivational factor for some, for others, it only instills a sense of fear – of not being able to work on a given task. The end result is delay and at a huge cost. So, how can procrastination be turned into a positive issue? When we establish rules for our children, it makes sense that we do not disregard those rules ourselves if we have to help our children. A bit of discipline and a gentle nudge is all that may be needed to tackle this problem.

Transformations big and small

Usha Raman
Education is supposed to help us evolve into thinking, inquisitive beings. Often though, in trying to reach this end, we falter and lose our way. It is in such times that alternative/revolutionary ideas are born. But even as we acknowledge the contributions of a Maria Montessori or a John Holt in education, we mustn’t forget the everyday battles that teachers wage in their classrooms around language, textbooks, assessments, etc. It is both the big and small contributions that ultimately lead to reforming a broken system.

Building a culture of care

Usha Raman
Within the confines of their homes and away from the boundaries of the classroom, how are children learning? Are they distracted, anxious and worried? Has the pandemic negatively affected their mental health? In times like these, how can teachers structure care and make learning a joyful experience for children? After all, teachers have always had an additional responsibility as careers.

Home/House-work

Usha Raman
Are we working from home or working for home? The boundaries are no longer clear. With COVID-19 still controlling how we live our lives, what once seemed like the ideal is now proving a difficult task. As we continue to work from home and also stay on top of our household chores, our pre-COVID lives with clear-cut boundaries seem more and more like a sweet dream.

We imagine, therefore, we invent

Usha Raman

With the dark clouds of Covid 19 still hanging over us, life seems to have come to a full stop. Each day brings with it several demands and expectations and people cope in the only way they know – by taking things one at a time. Even so, our thoughts never seem to leave us, and we try and plan for a future that we cannot see. In all this however, there are opportunities to rethink and reimagine, and schooling and education top the list. Teachers’ Day is just that opportunity for teachers to acknowledge and celebrate their own small victories.

Finding new ways to learn

Usha Raman
The past few months have been tough on everybody but more so on teachers. While online teaching has shown that learning needn’t stop, it has not really been the ideal solution either. With little time to adapt to a new mode of teaching, teachers are also battling new problems that online teaching brings–whether it is the lack of social interaction among their students or internet accessibility. And yet there is always something new to learn. There is always hope even in despair.

Category: Editorial

A crucible of ideas

There but not yet there

Can we listen to the young?

Small steps can make a big difference

When – and how – things fall into place

Transformations big and small

Building a culture of care

Home/House-work

We imagine, therefore, we invent

Finding new ways to learn

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