TEACHING IN TODAY'S INSOLENT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Published on March 21. 2012

Time was when ‘Acharya Devo Bhava' - treat your teacher as you would treat God – was the innate philosophy. Educational institutions were revered as temples of learning and teachers literally worshipped for their esteemed role in imparting knowledge.

A far cry from today's defiant times where students care two hoots about respect for authority. Educational institutions have jumped on the commercial bandwagon and are big money-spinning machines, nothing more! The irony here is that quality education is still reckoned invaluable; yet the means of acquiring the same are treated with much contemptuous disrespect.

And the damaging consequences are more than apparent for all to see. The focus is on marks and toppers, never actual learning or knowledge. Zero interest in studies, deteriorating moral and ethical values, apathy, bad behaviour, ineptitude and waning motivation spell the sign of the times.

And who's to blame? Teachers are constantly getting the short-shrift what with educational institutions charging them to finish curriculum quickly and garner top results on the one hand and parents deeming them as paid hands to serve their children! This audacious attitude is bound to rub off on the impressionable students who start failing to follow rules and directions.

Education in a crisis

Teaching was never easy, now the erstwhile ‘noble profession' has been reduced to a thankless job as well! Let's pause a moment and reflect on the passionate - yet hapless - teacher who is imperceptibly lost in the shuffle and emerges as the miserable victim of the entire affair. The smouldering fervour to not just teach but educate, mould students the right way and shape the minds of the future goes largely unrequited. The sad part of being a good teacher today is that while professional satisfaction remains an elusive dream, they end up feeling utterly helpless and dejected. As the Director of A.G and S.G.S. Junior College, Vuyyuru laments, “As a passionate teacher, if I am not allowed to take appropriate action, I feel defeated and failed to do justice to both my job and profession!”

Teachers' professional status and value is constantly undermined by both parents and administrators. Their hands are allegorically tied due to lack of management support and they are unable to take appropriate action against disruptive/undisciplined students, cutting away their effectiveness even more. Rajeev Ranjan, Assistant Professor, Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Indus World School of Business rues further, “Its the attitude of parents more than the student that acts as an obstacle to discipline students!”

Reinventing the wheel

The teaching community has to take the lead with conscious efforts to win back the respect and recognition they so richly deserve. Making the classes more interesting and engaging is a step in the right direction. Teaching styles should be adapted to students' learning patterns and preferences and be discussion-based or other creative approaches to kindle a true love for learning.

Subtle disciplinary steps are bound to raise cooperation and keep disobedience in check. As the Director continues, “Based on the situation prevailing in the classroom, I try to implement my own methods to correct the students. I cite various examples related to discipline, values and importance of studies which may help them to change their attitude and divert their attention back to studies.”

Befriending students and maintaining frequent interactions will also help create a sense of community and instil deep respect and trust not just as a teacher but also as a friend, philosopher and guide. Mr. Ranjan elaborates, “Teachers should be more like the facilitators of information- seeking and exploration by students. With an element of mentoring/life coach thrown into the equation, the relationship goes beyond the in-class interaction.”

While teachers should learn to be more assertive with the management, educational institutions in turn should stop being presumptuous and empower/support teachers to lead with innovative policy initiatives. The administration should become more accountable and interact well with staff and students. Parents need to stop the blame game and synthesise their efforts with the teachers. Good education begins at home and it is imperative that parents set a good example and behave responsibly. To sum up, young minds are still receptive and can be moulded with quality teaching. Inculcating respect is the key – respect for each other, respect for the teacher and above all, respect for learning. The result will be caring and motivated students with a fiery desire to learn!

Payal Chanania

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-opportunities/article3018525.ece 

COMBATING JOB MONOTONY

Published on March 21. 2012

It is true – you can actually be bored to death in a monotonous job! According to a recent report, “Those who are very bored are two and a half times more likely to die of a heart problem than those who aren't…”

What's more, various surveys peg that only 15-20% of workers are truly satisfied with their jobs; the rest fluctuate from discontent to jaded to down-right frustrated!

Everyone wishes to have a challenging job where they can experiment and have fun every day.

Yet, many people end up doing the same boring tasks again and again. They feel trapped as the drudge work seems to drag on forever. The result is plummeting concentration, performance, commitment and morale.

Sometimes to the extent that people start dreading going to work and even end up in severe depression.

While no job can let you do new things every day or not get mundane at any point, you don't really have to resign yourself to unending boredom.

Looking for a new job to end the dreary tedium is not a solution either. ‘But there's nothing I can do about it', is the common refrain.

Instead of just cribbing about the boredom, analyse what the root problem really is. Is it that what used to be interesting work has lost its lustre or is the routine creating disinterest?

Or does the problem stem from lack of connection with supervisors, team members or co-workers? Change in your own priorities can also lead to job frustration.

Also consider if you are operating from unrealistic expectations.

And while you are at it, stop hanging around other bored colleagues who cannot stop ruminating over the negative aspects of their jobs.

Needlessly dwelling on the tedium will only compound your dissatisfaction and prolong your agony even further. The rising negativity can even rob you of energy and not let you think straight.

Instead, try to cultivate a positive attitude and start associating with more optimistic people.

Adding a touch of humour can also make things more lively right away. As it has been rightly said, “Sometimes only a change of viewpoint is needed to convert a tiresome duty into an interesting opportunity!” It is all what you make of it.

Now think of creative ways to deal with the ennui. Listening to music can lift your mood and make routine or repetitive tasks feel less mundane.

Taking a quick break now and then to stretch yourself, have a cup of coffee or stroll to the water cooler can clear your head and make work seem more bearable.

Dividing the work into sub-tasks and concentrating on one chunk at a time is another time-honoured technique.

Complete the less-appealing chores first before moving to the more interesting ones or try swapping tasks with a colleague if possible.

Setting targets like time-limits or doing things in a new way will add an element of challenge to the otherwise dull job.

Seek to understand how your job fits into the bigger picture of the organisation. Connecting your role to interesting goals can improve your perspective. Take matters in your own hands and seek newer opportunities.

Volunteer for additional tasks, request more responsibilities or start aiming for a promotion.

This will also help you gain recognition and approval. You can even seek a lateral transfer, job rotation or job redesign.

Bosses are known to accommodate reasonable requests in the interests of job enrichment.

Or, seek further training to improve your skills/learn new ones to not just enhance your job but also advance your career.

Sometimes, all you need is to take some time-off with a holiday or sabbatical as a much-needed respite from the monotony.

Relax your mind and body or have an adventure trip and you are sure to return refreshed.

Get a life! Things have a tendency to fall into a rut while we are not looking.

Pursuing creative activities, socialising with different people or even exercising in your off-time can reenergise your batteries and keep you raring to go at the same job.

If nothing seems to work and you have truly exhausted all options, the only solution is to look for another job.

Payal Chanania

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-opportunities/article3018521.ece