Igniting minds

Teaching is the fine art of shaping young minds and honing skills and is not to be confused with training.

The lowdown
Teaching is the fine art of shaping young minds and honing skills and is not to be confused with training. Teaching involves a much greater level of involvement and interaction. Teaching is no longer restricted to the classrooms. Getting through the syllabus is only one part of a teacher’s job. S/he is expected to equip students with the power of making independent decisions and to instill in them certain virtues. The new-age teacher does not impose rigid rules on students; rather, s/he facilitates the process of learning, and through it, the process of living

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Clock Work
8am: Check attendance and proceed to the field for morning prayers with the students
8.30am: Check homework and start revising the lectures of the previous day
9.15am: Pick a light topic and explain elementary details
10am: Move gradually onto a tougher topic, make it interactive and try out new approaches
10.45am: Time for the sports break to enable students to get some exercise
11.30pm: Lunch
12pm: Start craft and other creative activities
12.45pm: Assess the students’ work and give them feedback on their work
1.30pm: Set down home work
2pm: See off students in their private vehicles/school buses and end the day

The payoff
After the sixth pay commission a teacher at the entry level earns from Rs10,000 to Rs20,000 per month.
With experience, one can expect to earn above Rs20,000 per month
The salary may vary according to grade and school

Skills/TRAITS
. A high level of patience and perseverance
. Ability to provide a comfortable environment
. Eagerness to keep learning
. Clear thought process and communication skills
. Innovative thinking to help children learn concepts in a different way
. This profession demands sincerety and dignity

Getting there
Someone with a bachelor’s degree in education (BEd) can start as a primary school teacher. A degree in home science also makes you eligible. A graduation score of 55 per cent is a prerequisite. A BEd may be followed up with an MEd. A Basic Training Certificate (BTC), Diploma in Education (DEd) and Teacher Training Certificate (TTC) are courses that can help you land a teaching job as well

Pros and cons
. A Secure work environment
. Comparative lack of workplace politics
. Chances of career stagnation
. Learning by rote can affect creativity
. Relatively low pay and few incentives
. It is a noble profession and keeps you young at heart
. It keeps you well informed with latest happenings and evokes in you a curiosity to know more and more of your subject matter so that you are never at a loss while answering queries of studnets
. It helps you grow both in modesty and intellect
. It helps you understand your own children better. You are never astonished by their actions and temper tantrums
. Gets you lot of respect from your studenst and their parents
. This profession gives you great satisfaction. You feel extremely happy when you see your students growing up into smart well-adjusted and and learned young men and women
. You have to be a responsible adult as you are accountable for your student’s academic future
. Good work life balance can be acheived in this profession