| | | | | The time has come for us to develop in our |
| Abstract | | | | students a proper learning attitude. |
| Years of fruitful teaching and research done, | | | | On teachers |
| ought to make one feel immensely satisfied and | | | | - It is pathetic to see teachers fighting among |
| elated. Despite providing innovative solutions and | | | | themselves. Those who were expected to be |
| interpretations for issues both social and | | | | models are a failure in every sense. To top it all, |
| educational, sometimes we realize that all that we | | | | there is no real academic interaction even |
| have done is in vain. Our society does not | | | | between teachers who teach the same subject! |
| change and with a shock we realize that our own | | | | - Teaching aptitude is never considered during |
| nation is showing signs of perishing. This | | | | selection process of students for the BEd. |
| write-up based on a talk given by | | | | course. The result is that, our teachers have |
| the scholar-extraordinaire Dr. Mahesh Bhargava, | | | | failed to motivate students and those who can |
| gives the impression that in his mellowing years, | | | | teach with conceptual clarity is rare. |
| the scholar is deeply dissatisfied with his own | | | | - Many teachers are incapable of teaching |
| lot- the people he lives with and lives for! | | | | properly and they have reduced themselves to |
| * * * * * | | | | dictating old teaching notes in the class. Those |
| Dr. Mahesh Bhargava, the National President of | | | | who are able to make references to current |
| the Psycho-cultural Research Association, | | | | contexts are very few in number. |
| National Secretary General of the Council of | | | | - Emotional bonding and a close attachment |
| Teacher Education and Secretary of the Indian | | | | between the teacher and the taught, which the |
| Psychological Association, besides being the life | | | | Gurukula system perpetuated is conspicuously |
| member of about fifty professional organizations | | | | absent in India today. A majority of teachers do |
| holds several other positions. | | | | no have any real attachment or concern for their |
| | | | | students- This is the real curse of 21st |
| An author of over 150 research papers/ | | | | century education in India. |
| theoretical articles and 22 books, Dr. Bhargava | | | | On students |
| has won over 30 prestigious awards. Today (06 | | | | - Today we gaze in amazement at the |
| January 2010) he addressed the trainees and | | | | techno-savvy generation. But sadly enough some |
| faculty of the Govt. College of Teacher Education, | | | | of our students good at using computers |
| Trivandrum where I teach. This write-up of his | | | | can’t even write properly and have a |
| talk, gives the impression that this | | | | dubious linguistic command. We ought to make |
| scholar-extraordinaire has in his mellowing | | | | our students realize that “reading maketh a |
| years found that, the kind of education imparted | | | | full man and writing an exact man”. |
| in the republic of India is simply not the type one | | | | - Unfortunately the students of today do not |
| needs for survival. There is also a tone of | | | | have the habit of reading newspapers or journals |
| dissatisfaction with his own lot and for the ideals | | | | or even standard text books. They prefer to |
| he lived for. | | | | refer only bazaar guides in capsule form! It is a |
| On education | | | | pity that our students are not knowledge or skill |
| - Our educational system has reduced itself to | | | | oriented . |
| being diploma-based /certificate-based. It is all | | | | - The greatest plight is that, some of our |
| bogus. | | | | students are incapable of even making minor |
| - The umpteen seminars organized for quality | | | | social adjustments! |
| enhancement by those who do not have any | | | | The need of the hour |
| real quality themselves have turned the whole | | | | - We ought to help our students learn to make |
| enterprise into a sham. | | | | their life better. We have to make them |
| - The education we ought to give should be | | | | knowledgable, develop a positive outlook |
| related to our life, to the well-being of individuals. | | | | towards life, be tension free, sincere, committed |
| It should be one which helps develop ones own | | | | and devoted. |
| skill and personality. | | | | |
| On teaching | | | | “We keep running , running and running for |
| - It is a pity that most of the models of teaching | | | | nothing… We fail to enjoy what we have… At |
| which we employ in teaching in India are models | | | | least one ought to be a good human being, this |
| borrowed from the West. We have made the | | | | too we forget... We ought to teach our students |
| fundamental mistake of failing to realize that our | | | | to lead a satisfactory life. Only then can they |
| culture, values and attitudes are different. Our | | | | make any contribution to society. We should |
| society is family oriented and not individual | | | | make our students reflect on what they |
| oriented as in the West. The time has come for | | | | have achieved each day and plan for the |
| us to garner models of teaching from the great | | | | following day. Let us teach them to be sincere |
| scriptures like the Ramayana. | | | | and practical and to see and think from another |
| | | | | person’s point of view… The time has |
| - There is a bulky syllabus even for the BEd. | | | | come in India, for providing Life-based education |
| programme and we are not really relating it to life! | | | | ! |