In a city where most parents are young professionals working long hours, schools have become a home-away- from-home for Gurgaon’s children. Which is why, despite schools such as Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) Public School having electronic boards in their classrooms, it is not these technological advancements that attract students. It is to attend a favourite teacher’s class.
Rishabh Agarwal, a seventh grade student at The Shri Ram School, would have quit school, had it not been for his English teacher. “I like her because she treats us well. Her way of interaction with the students and style of teaching are both very good.”
Students want teachers from whom they can learn and also consider friends. And today’s schools seem to be waking up to this fact.
DAVP, for example, implemented a mentor-mentee system to cement ties between teachers and students.
Anita Makkar, DAV Public school’s founder-principal, recognises the importance of open communication. “Our system ensures that all children are taken care of and have a familiar face to turn to,” she says.
Shikshantar School minimises the gap by abolishing the word 'teacher'; everyone is called didi and bhaiya. Perhaps that is why, it has scored the highest in the ‘individual attention to students’ parameter in the Hindustan Times C-fore school survey.
But for some, teachers who teach well are what matter. Apna School has been catering to children from the economically weaker sections for the last 13 years. Shivani, 7, returned to it from one of the regular schools and doesn't wish to go back. “The big schools won't teach me. In the afternoon classes, the teachers didn't concentrate. At least here I learn”, she says.
{{/usCountry}}But for some, teachers who teach well are what matter. Apna School has been catering to children from the economically weaker sections for the last 13 years. Shivani, 7, returned to it from one of the regular schools and doesn't wish to go back. “The big schools won't teach me. In the afternoon classes, the teachers didn't concentrate. At least here I learn”, she says.
{{/usCountry}}Classroom lessons may be forgotten, but the bond forged between students and teachers does last.
Shubhi Vijay