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A day to wish teachers well

Staff Reporter

Teachers' Day lost in the Onam revelry

KOCHI: `More than just a teacher' - this is what today's children look forward to in their teachers.

Teachers' Day (September 5) coincided with Tiruvonam day, bringing cheers to the homes of both teachers and children. For many of them, the day was lost in the Onam revelry. But many among the students remembered to call up their teachers and wish them on the day. The day, which is celebrated to commemorate the birthday of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, is set apart in schools and other institutions to honour teachers.

"For two years, children and their parents surprised teachers by welcoming them with flowers and gifts on Teachers' Day. They would have arranged something similar had Tuesday not been a holiday," says E.P. Piyamma, principal of the Government Girls' Higher Secondary School, Ernakulam. "Nowadays, many students are stressed when they join Plus-two classes. The fear of examinations and parental pressure often result in depression. Thus, it is increasingly becoming the duty of teachers to boost the confidence level of students. Mere focusing on teaching is a thing of the past, teachers have to be mothers as well," she said.

As Hazel Mary, a standard one student of St. Paul's International School, Kalamassery, says, "I love teachers who listen patiently, are at our service and help us out in studies and games. The teacher I love most is our class teacher, Indu miss, who teaches us computer."

"I am proud of the teaching profession. Teachers must love students and give them personal attention," says Teresa Sebastian, who has over three decades of teaching experience, and is now working at the Naipunya School, Edakunnu. She is delighted that many of her former students called her up and her husband B.O. Sebastian (who too is a teacher and worked as school principal) on Tuesday, to wish them well.

Charecter moulding

Principal of Bhavan's Vidya Mandir, Elamakkara, Jaya Jacob says that in these uncertain times, teachers have to play the role of mothers, while at the same time teach academics. "Teachers must spend a good share of their time moulding the character of students, to make them better human beings. In our school, a ceremony is organised on Teachers' Day in which students pay gurudakshina to teachers," she said.

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