Teachers on Leave

Just as the year is about to come to an end, people’s energy and synergy are dwindling. The main reason being that they have been so actively involved and working hard for almost nine months. It’s the time for a rest, a little drop off from laborious and taxing works. Because teachers’ job is so heavy that even the undertaker boxer will be able to lift only for a second. They need lots of free periods to deliver quality lessons. Another reason for the leave now-a-days is ongoing Moelam Choemo in Gedu, seven kilometers from Darla school. Many devotee teachers are attending the ceremony there.

Complying with hard works, teachers have begun to take leave from their works. Today, 12 teachers have taken casual leave; the whole of a Lower Secondary school. When such leaves are taken, substitutions come like battalions leaving one with no ways to catnap for clear teaching for the next class. While takers would have taken forty winks like naps, we are inflamed.

Today's List

Global Hand Washing Day

Darla's banner

Coinciding with International Hand Washing Day, Darla school celebrated Hand Washing day for three consecutive days. The school Health Committee invited HA of Darla Gewog to say a few words on the importance of washing hands. He highlighted a number of people dying due to not cleaning their hands. He also talked to the assembly of students and teachers, that, the main cause of any disease is not willing to wash their hands properly. Global Hand Washing Day underscores the importance of handwashing regularly with soap and water as one of the most effective and affordable health interventions. Hand washing helps to fight against many kinds of diseases and stay healthy. I feel the literal meaning of clean hand means washing away, it would also mean clean hand from stealing, touching unwanted things. In fact, we need a clean mind, so that we can have clean hands.

Anyways, there are many programs for the days. There are hand washing demos by class XB today. There are twelve techniques shown. And there is hand washing for every class.  Every class was asked to bring jerry cans and make T-P holes (tap holes) for the days and to be kept for the year. We did.

Here are some snapshots of what’s happening now:

My class IV B students

Jerrycans with T-P holes

True Faith and Love for God

I wonder people’s perception of religion. They take it differently. They think heaven and hell are somewhere. Their beliefs vary. Their faiths to Gods fluctuate then. I feel one needs faith in the god; you don’t have to worship the image or idol, no attention to any others, no litanies by the heart of verses; neither you need to obey the king’s commands, no eloquence in your speech, no good looks. What you need is confidence in the power of God, the will of God, only faithfulness to god.

Sometimes god brings tragedy, and sometimes deliverance.

People say God punishes them despite their belief and faith in God. They say that the God doesn’t see all tidbits of our lives. But this is not true. It is the magnification of man himself. And that the man doesn’t see his true heart.  It is in our own hearts, and we must think that God’s grace is always sufficient. God is not in another realm, and He is unknowable. And we think that there is no way to experience God directly. He is far away and you just have to believe that He exists. But the true God is in your heart. He exists, and let me tell about my own turn of life that God exerts deliverance, and it has its ways. In my training, I had to go to an unknown place for my teaching practice. As faith has acted upon me, there I met my life partner. It was a blessing in disguise. I asked for a reason, the reason I asked was beyond my imagination. The God gives everything, and He gives in the crossroads and it has milestones effect. I asked God for a blessing.

The basic principle of all religions is one and the same, that is Dharma ( Law of Self). So, I respect all religions. I hate none. Habits change. Rituals differ from one religion to another religion. I think no religion sustains for a long time. That’s why the guiding principle of religion is applicable to all ages. We can apply all Dharmas in our lives. What the world today needs is not religions with dogmatic beliefs. Man can live without religion. Dharma is important. Self-awakening is important. If a man lives without selfishness, he can become Divine. We want higher consciousness. It will increase with our prayer. The power of prayer is supreme. It leads the world. It saves the world from calamities and chaos.

Love is the basis for prayer. Prayer extends your canvas. Religion teaches us to become a conscious human, a good and compassionate human.

The seeds and deeds of religion are souls. Outward worship is conceited when an inner transformation is absent.

Annual Concert

The Twenty-seventh and eighth of September are the days when Darla school celebrated its annual concert day. The preparations of these days begun almost two to three weeks in advance with lots of rehearsals. The whole school remained busy and much more active. Since the Darla weather becomes pleasant during this time of the year, the enjoyment increases tremendously. But unfortunately, in the evenings it rained cats and dogs. That didn’t deter people from coming to watch the show. The MPH was full by 6 pm.

The function began at 6 p.m. as per the schedule. First of all, our cultural coordinator welcomed the Chief Guest, and other guests and the audience. He also spoke about varieties of interesting items lining up in the program. The two-day varieties show went on to the next day. There were Boedras, Zhungdras, Rigsars, English dances, Hindi, Nepali, Bamboo dances, fashion shows, etc.

The program would have been interesting if the emcee told a short but very hilarious speech full of anecdotes in-between, which everyone would like the most.

The concert was conducted to incalculate wholesome education.

The audience must have enjoyed the concert tremendously, judging from the loud applause as the curtains dropped. The Bamboo dance performed by class VI boys and girls was very beautiful. The music was loud and appeasing one.

Looking at the audience response, everyone enjoyed the concert very much. I am very surprised that there were so many talented students in this school.

It was a well-organized show; students, teachers, and students parents also admired it.  Though the cost of the ticket was a bit costly. Every student had to pay nu.80 to watch an evening show, which is par beyond some disadvantaged parents.  All of my class four students couldn’t watch the program, as they said that nu. 80 were too much for all of their brothers and sisters to watch. I really felt sorry for them.

Teachers’ Crumb

People summarize that every Tom, Dick, and Harry can teach. It doesn’t comprise the components of who really is a teacher. There are teachers who just teach and who truly teach. And there are teachers who teach only in their lesson plan, and who plan the lesson for teaching.

Sometimes, educationists, even themselves unjustly stereotyped their mates. For example, I have my previous heads, who, otherwise could have to inspire, come with obscure remarks, “Anyone can teach.”  This in- fact make teachers wobbly and morally dishearten. A good teacher who, whole-heartedly has been teaching effectively in the class using varieties of instructional materials and teaching approaches, who tries to change the life of each student better is categorize in the same with those who even do not go to the classes.

I feel this leads to unrefined, unpolished, raw teachings. The whole process of teachings becomes casual and at last, lost his/her good rapport with his/her students and the school and the communities.

In Bhutanese culture and traditions, and as per the sect of our religion, and its perspective, Bhutanese teachers were always kept high above their status and always looked upon as moralist and kind of genius by our society, which therefore had an adverse effect on the quality of education.

But this regard of high esteem and honor has disappeared. Some people see this as the outcome of development and the change of time. The credit to be individually acclaimed and forget about who curves and shapes their lives. We must assimilate our respect to the person for what he/she does then what he/she has. The nation, sometimes never inquired that who is behind everything to curve and build up.

I would like, therefore, defense tersely here that the teachers should have space. A good space, who clean the muddle channel, and drain to create a good space for every individual.

Teachers must be uplifted and preferred as they are never relieved of his/her responsibilities even in their vacations. Besides daily lesson plans and eight hours of teaching, paper corrections, assessments,  numerous activities line up; sports, cultural, SUPW, literary, etc. The lists go on. They are parents, guides, exemplars, etc. They must remain in formal dress and discipline throughout their lives. It is like more work, less reward. Actually, only exclusive teaching could have been the only teacher’s job.

A teacher is seen as a silent and very minute-thing- in the kingdom of various jobs, and by and by considering less important that “Everyone can teach” is shockingly taken unquestionably true and legitimate by many people. If we look at ourselves judiciously, the teacher is upon exhibition observed by thousand of curious imitating eyes called students. Teachers, therefore, have great personalities and they are paragons like our great leaders.

The school is a microcosm in society and teachers are spirit in it. They are governed by a strong adherence called code of conduct and ethics.

Besides imparting knowledge and information, a teacher makes their world a better place to live in. A good philosopher that he/she understands life and furnishes leadership measures in society.

A teacher is a master of teaching and at the same time possesses the fundamental knowledge of all subjects. John Adam said, “The verb of teaching governs two accusatives-the subject and the pupils.”

Teaching demands high intelligence and intellectual curiosity. He/she should reasons, tackles and solves problems successfully.

For these motives, a teacher should be fluent in expression, good in writing as well. A teacher is always enthusiastic in three ways; in child study, in his subject, and in the matter of method, as he/she lives with them.

Teaching is a deliberate, intentional act requiring strong professional and personal qualities? Does he/she have professional enhancement from time to time? Not so. He/she supplements the role of parents in the school. A teacher's influences last eternally and his/her effects are always constructive to bring social change.

Hence in short, a teacher advises guides, teaches, etc. He/she is the most useful tool to his/her social life; he/she is trustworthy, qualified, hardworking, intelligent, cooperative, disciplines and helps the school’s students, administration and the society as a whole.