Spry Saturday

I was witness to so many happenings today. In the morning, I got up a little early and went for a walk with father. He was comparatively cheerful, today. 

Around 10:00 AM I participated in a meeting which was aiming to transform teachers from good teachers to better teachers. I participated actively, responding to the resource person's queries. 

Around 11:30 I called up the carpenter to work on puja room door. The puja room or rather puja cupboard had been waiting for the past two years for a door. 

After having a tasty and sumptuous meal which included brinjal fry with tomato rasam. I took a short nap. 

In the evening, we went to visit our mama and my brother who came from Bengaluru. They also came to our place and visited my parents, my daughters were busy telling them about their encounter with caterpillars and butterflies and other occupations during this Covid-19 times. Then they had dinner which included dosai, rasam rice with appalam and buttermilk. 

Friday thoughts

Today, I had a good day, there was not much pressure from the students side. Every thing went as per plan. I saw the news item where our chief minister said, "parents only to decide whether students can go to school".

I was wondering, what if parents decide against sending their wards to school? The teachers will have tough time, trying to handle both online and offline classes. Already, in one news, the education minister has said, online classes are not good enough, the teacher must teach everything to students once they come back to school.

Now, let us assume that all the schools are private. Parents will have to follow what the management says. Ofcourse, there will be government orders for all to follow. There will be the right of the parent to decide whether the student should go to school or not. There will be competition among schools to excel in various areas. There will not be comparison among students, that this student is from government school or this student is from public school. At the job front also comparison among staff will get reduced. 

The parent will say my ward is attending NEET / IIT coaching from Aakash, or Byju, or fiitjee or some other coaching institute, how nice it will be to hear such things? 

A student coming from government school will have a low self esteem compared to public school student. A government school student will exhibit less confidence than his public school counterpart. A government school student will look for jobs at entry levels, whereas a public school student will think of becoming entrepreneur. A government school student will talk about hardships in life, a public school student will talk about having fun in life. The Government school student will always express shortcomings in life whereas a public school student will exhibit gratitude for every thing in life.

Robert kayosaki says, poor must be made poorer, only then the other can remain rich. In democracy, the capitalist is the King, the rich political class will only cater to themselves. I will not be surprised, if Mukesh Ambani becomes President of this country in a few years from now. The government will stop 3% cess for higher education. How nice!

Anyway let's enjoy the days.

Thunderous Thursday

Yesterday, we had parents teachers meet for the ninth standard students. Only a week before, they had finished an online cum offline exam. The marks obtained by some were encouraging, while others were highly discouraging. The reasons were, the parents took their own sweet time to procure books and notebooks for there wards. In spite of our repeated calls to them, they were dragging there feets. Because of the attitude of the parents, the students suffered. The students were very irregular. Some joined the online classes only two weeks before the exam. The result was there for all of us to see.

We started classes for IX as early as May 2020. The first test was conducted only last week. Most of the business establishments are running since July. But, for the interference of the government, things would not have been so bad. By now, they could have opened classes until grade seven, if only, they knew how to handle things during pandemic. The Covid-19 has definitely exposed our entire government machinery, failure to learn from our history has hurt us very badly. 

This is the right time to set many things right. The other day, I was wondering, why are we still persisting with our so called, 'Diversities'? If not for the shallow thinking political class, we would have been in a better position. In these, 70+ years of freedom, we have become more divergent, instead of coming closer as a nation, we are still bent on protecting those pillars which are creating differences among us. Gandhiji's idea of freedom was, A lady walking on the street in the middle of night, with all the ornaments on. How many of us will even think of sending our daughters in broad daylight to the shop in the street? 

One solution, could be to break up all states and divide them in to union territories. 

Secondly, privatize all the educational institutions. Why should we privatize schools? For the same reasons, which is prompting government to privatize, public sector undertakings. The presence of government schools is actually creating a barrier to better education. Ofcourse, the new education policy 2020 is attempting to address many issues, but with out structural changes, these will remain on paper only.

In the name of free education, the government is sacrificing development. How can we promote sustainable development, when we are giving a lot things for free? Of course, we end up paying more for some other things. Then, how can we provide quality education to so called under privileged people? 

Terrific Tuesday

In the morning, I prayed for a perfect day. It was very calm, compared to yesterday. Today I had only two classes.

Later in the day. I went out buy something. It was very hot and humid. I was wondering about the future of private schools. Now that, a GO has come stating that it is not compulsory to attend online classes. It is the responsibility of the teacher alone to complete the portion for those students who are not able to attend the online classes, once the school reopens. 

The position of the teachers in a private school is always very bad. When will the Government lay some rules, so that, the teachers in private school are not harassed. The management always tends to make these teachers do some unreasonable work. 

The result is, the teacher leaves and creates a situation, where other teachers are required to fill in and do additional duties of the teacher who left. This further creates pressure on the already punished teachers. The situation now is even more bad, because every where private school teachers are facing the same issues. 

I read a news item today, a government school math teacher has bought 16 smartphones for his students in 10th grade. Ofcourse, the students are happy, teachers are able to cater to the needs of there students, they are happy,  creating happy classrooms. 

There are other news items, which suggest that since students are poor they can not afford phones. Why the teachers in these schools also can do the same, what is stopping them?

On the other hand private school is dependent on fees from the students alone. These teachers are getting only 50 % or less of their regular pay. How can these teachers create happy classrooms? 

When the government is making policies, it should be fair to everyone. If the private school has to survive, they need to open immediately, and see that students are engaged at school in a proper manner with all the SOPs in place. 

The Government must allow schools to open to stop further damage to teachers especially in private schools. Or they must allow fee collection for the online classes.

I hope some sense prevails. The media should also pay more attention to the schools and there condition, rather than highlighting one sided reports against teachers. 

Anyway, I need to leave everything to God.

That's all for today.

Thank you 😊.

Magnificient Monday

By the Brahman, for the Brahman, to the Brahman!

Today, in the morning, I prayed to God that, everything that I lay my hands on, should work for me. I should be able to complete the job with satisfaction. It should give me immense peace of mind. 

At first, I thought I was prepared for every situation. When I switched on the laptop, it opened and got connected to net. Then after completing the job I switched off the system. 

Later when the class was there, I switched it on. It didn't respond. Then I tried two - three times, it did not work out. So I used my phone and completed the class without any further problems. Then I went to buy vegetables, the shop was open with very no customers. I finished my purchase and came back on time for the next class. 

Later in the evening, I was preparing for the class, I forgot about a meeting which I was supposed to attend. Then later when I called up the facilitator, just to apologise, he felt very bad. And expressed his displeasure about my inability to attend. I also felt very bad, but whatever happened I cannot change. Anyway, I have to do something about my forgetting.

That's all for today.

Thank you.

Father's Birthday

By the Brahman, for the Brahman, to the Brahman

Sunday mornings are always special. Today after a long time there was no lockdown. In the morning, I and father went for the regular walk. 

After coming back from walk, Gayatri surprised my father by wishing him. Today is his 84th birthday. He was pleasantly surprised. Later in the afternoon we had Gulab Jamun and in the evening, Sakkarai pongal. 

Then after lunch, I and Tulasi, went to Kumbakonam city for buying something. We came back by 4:00 PM, as we were coming, it started drizzling. I decided to continue riding and reach home, before the rain picks up. Luckily, it did not pick up.

In the evening, after 7:00 PM only, it started raining, a bit moderately, it lasted for 30 minutes. 

So, overall, it was good day. We had enough fun for the day. I will give 80/100 for the day.

Thank you.

Teachers' Day

By the Almighty, For the Almighty, To the Almighty!

In the morning, I was very excited about the day. Wondering about who will wish, how many will wish, what they will express about me? 

Expectations always lead to sorrows!! I am also a normal person, who has every right to expect what ever he wants. But you see, I believe in that saying. I am also a rational thinker. 

Gradually, as the day progressed, wishes started pouring in, steadily by 9:00 AM, 30 % of my students whom I teach at present had wished me. It included last year's final year students. Some time later wishes from last to last year students also came. That saying 'Expectations...' did not come true today. I felt blessed, I felt grateful!

We teachers tend to be very grateful when someone wishes us. I was wondering, what will happen if every day was Teachers' day? Then a thought came, maybe we will loose respect? We will not feel the importance or elation or greatness that we feel on this day. Again it is never the others i.e., students who are responsible for this feeling, it is us, the teachers alone, who are responsible. Another thought was, people will stop pretending to do what they willfully do on this day. Again, if someone is doing something for the sake of showing respect to a teacher, then it would again be a problem with the teacher only.

On this day, we tend to forget and forgive what ever ill feeling, we might have towards a student who may have shown disrespect to us for some reason. 

What a day! Definitely there should be only one day in a year when a student may remember that teacher, who has touched the heart of that student. 

There was a program by our school students today starting at 10:00 AM, it went on until 1:00 PM. The program was conducted on zoom platform. But I missed a good 1:30 hours due to network issue. Anyway I enjoyed the day. 

Thank you All.

An Average Day

The morning was hectic compared to the rest of the day. Until 11:00 AM, I was very busy. Trying to complete, all the tasks on time. 

Later during the day, things became more relaxed, as I was mostly prepared for the events. Moreover, I had only two classes today, usually I will have three classes. 

In the evening, two students came for clarifying their doubts in science for class X. So I was occupied with something, which I was doing after a long long time, studying physics.

Today the classes resumed for my daughter's after the pre half yearly exam. The elder daughter had 6 classes including 3 math classes. So they were also very busy. 

Father was preoccupied with television serials.

On the whole, I will give 70 on 100 for the day as I was unable to attend to one task involving preparation of video for my classes.

Online class - A student's take

All over the world, classes are going on in online mode. It is definitely a boon for the teachers, to be able to work from home and complete the portion, rather than going to school. Specifically, during this Covid-19 period. 

No one is giving a thought about how the students are coping with studies during this period. Most of the time, the students are required to stare at the screen and try to understand what the teachers are saying, first of all, during regular class before Covid-19 it was so difficult to follow what the teacher is saying. Now, due to wonderful network the teacher appears to be singing very fast, some times and very slow, some times. Sometimes, the voice breaks as if some crackers are bursting. You can imagine, how difficult, it is to pay attention.

Sometimes, the screen will show some slide and the teacher will be talking about something else. 

When the teacher is using paper to display the problem and it's solution, the size of the content will be so small or illegible, but can we complain? 

Yes, we do switch off the video. Just to save the teacher from wasting precious time, you know, we will be doing something else like drinking water or eating a chocolate. The teacher will get distracted and topic will go to discipline. 

We are expected to sit facing the camera against the light so that the teacher can see our face. We get tired looking at the screen and that too for hours. Teacher may or may not be looking at the screen, but we have to do it. Is it fair?

We will log in to the meeting early, but the teacher will come late. Since, they are the hosts, we will keep waiting, some times even for Five minutes. Sometimes, just because of network issue or mobile issue of the teacher or ours, we loose almost 20 to 25 minutes of the time. The  data is not cheap nowadays. The mobile also is losing its charge very quickly, but we can't complain, can we?

The amount of written work that we receive is nothing short of a mountain, the deadline for submission, is very short. Each teacher thinks for his or her subject only, but we have to complete work given in all the subjects. In case of failure to complete the work on time, the teacher feels that we are not giving due importance to that subject. Again I ask, is it fair?

The teachers don't think twice before complaining to parents or higher officials, about our mistakes, for which we are not at all at fault. We end up asking what I did sir??

On seeing our performance report, our parents who are spending for our smart phones, data and laptops, surely loose their cool and you can visualise what happens next!

No wonder, our health is deteriorating, not only physically, but mentally also. 

I hope the day is not far off when we shall go back to school as someone said " we shall overcome someday, deep in my heart, I do believe, we shall overcome, our ordeal with the online classes".

Thank you.

Work From Home - A Relook

Today, when the whole world is trying to get their work done online, the concept of work from home is definitely welcome.

The reasons why WFH is the need of the hour are as follows:
1) The safety of staying at home and completing the job.
2) Travel time is saved, we can spend more time with family.
3) We can avoid, face to face meeting with known and unknown clients and acqaintences.
4) We can save on petrol and diesel, to give environment a chance.
5) Enjoying the time with the loving family members, relieves stress.
6) We are happier, that no one from the office is watching us.
7) We can avoid contracting Covid - 19.

The counter points for the above list are as follows:
1) With the corona virus, attacking us left, right and centre, at the slightest chance, we can't say, staying at home is safe.
2) Instead the traveling, we are spending time on whatsapp, Facebook and other social media and ignoring the family.
3) We are spending hours on end on calls with these so called clients and acqaintences, that we are seeing a new problem called stress.
4) Instead of petrol and diesel, we are spending on gadgets, data, etc.,
5) The demands of our loving family members are not so easy to meet, many times it results in emotional burnout.
6) We are constantly being watched not only by our family members but our own conscience.
7) Other than Covid-19, many more equally lethal diseases are there, which get activated by the lack of immunity due to stress.

Hence, the conclusion would be to realise our requirements, and act accordingly, the almighty has provided us with enough intelligence that we will correct choices, which are the best for us.

Unlock 4.0

Early in the morning, I was expecting a lot of traffic on the highway. It was there, two wheelers, were clearly the leaders, followed by 4 wheelers. Yes public transport was visible but not frequent as it used to be before lockdown.

Later in the day when I went for vegetables, the situation was much better. Then the usual online classes were there to keep me busy. Soon after the late morning class I went to the milk vendor for the tokens for this month. I thought I will be back in 20 minutes. I reached the place on time, but unfortunately, the person had gone for lunch and I had to wait for half an hour until he came back. There were people checking temperature and administering sanitizer to all the people who came there.

The highlight of the day was the evening, when, suddenly, heavy winds accompanied dark clouds and started pouring. Before the rains, the trees seemed to be in a very happy mood, they were dancing to the tunes of the winds, as if they were welcoming the rains. Even the rain drops were dancing initially, when the winds were playing along with rain drops.

The rains started, as soon as the BBC (Banaburiswarar's broadcasting corporation) started releasing melodious songs. 

The day was above average as I could not complete some tasks which I had planned for the day. 

Thank you

The last Corona August Sunday

Being a Sunday, almost all the shops were closed today, including grocery stores.

Our morning routine was as usual. Tulasi accompanied her grandmother for a short walk. 

In the afternoon, Tulasi and Gayatri harvested the Turmeric and got a yield of around 500 g of Turmeric.

In the evening, the gas stove which was having problems for the last six months got a new life. 

Hopefully, September 2020 will be better on all counts.

Let's pray for a better tomorrow.

Thank you.

Rising Corona Cases

 "We don't live in flats, bungalows, farm houses, but we live in our minds"

I don't know who said this, but it does make a lot of sense to me.

Look at news headlines, a lot of time is devoted to only corona. 

5 months ago, we believed that corona will be conquered in 21 days. But see, it is still there.

4 months ago, we believed it will leave our states in a matter of 15 days. But that was not to be.

3 months ago, we realised that it will remain for at least 6 months or until the vaccine is found. This realisation came too late, in fact, it came only after we found that economy is at a greater threat.

People are throwing precautions out of the window, because hunger and other allied stress related diseases are affecting them and what else does corona virus want? It wants people to come out without any shield. 

It is one matter, that all of us know, what is corona virus?, or how to protect ourselves?, Or what is sanitization?, Or what is social distancing? Or what is quarantine? But, you see we are the human beings who don't practice what is preached. Practicing the precautions is another. And the result is what we are seeing.

The policy makers are looking at short term goals but they seem to be forgetting the long term effects. We all are aware that testing, identifying, quarantining is the only way to contain and eradicate the pandemic. But why are we so slow. We lost the initial three months when majority of people were at home. The so called carriers were allowed to move around then tracing and tracking them then home quarantine because beds were not enough in hospitals. Of course, there were lot of loop holes. 

But now what do we do? Recently, a relative of mine has tested positive, he and his wife have tested positive, now what about the young children? It is so worrying? 

We can't blame anyone but ourselves for this position. 

Thank you