[Kerala University English Teacher
Educator’s Forum ( KUETEF)]
The following are quotes on teaching and teachers by
Swami Vivekananda:
The first test of true teaching must be, that the teaching should not contradict reason.
(II :390)
All teaching implies giving and taking. (IV: 178)
He alone teaches who
has something to give, for teaching is not talking, teaching is not
imparting doctrines, it is communicating. (IV: 177-78)
Until the inner teacher opens, all outside teaching
is in vain. (VII : 71)
[Source : The
Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Advita
Ashrama]
In an
interview Laxman Gnawali of Nepal was
asked the question: “Are teachers in your country generally members of
teachers’ associations?”
This was the answer
given: “Yes, almost every teacher is a member of a teacher association but
these associations are trade unions. These associations use their energy in
putting pressure on the government for non academic issues. They hardly do any
professional activity.”
[Source : http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/blogs/laxmangnawali/laxman-gnawali-interview]
Are things different in India or in God’s Own Country, Kerala?
I have a nasty
experience to narrate: The Head of a leading Teacher Training College in our State, recently stated : At the Post Graduate Level, (MEd) any one (meaning
even a teacher with a background in Psychology) can teach the paper, Advance Methodology of Teaching English and
even assess and evaluate Seminars and Assignments
in the Paper!
What is pathetic about
the whole issue is that the ‘Head’ in
question is a teacher of English! It appears that the Head’s sole objective was
to grab a Professor’s post in the offing
should a MEd department be set up in the college in which the ‘Head’
teaches…
It is not surprising to
note that this finds a parallel in Teachers’ Associations in Nepal. The Teacher Educators Association which the ‘Head’ is an active member, pretends to be ignorant neither of the stance
taken by the ‘Head’ nor of the uproar it has created in Teacher Training
Colleges across the State which attempted to emulate the stance taken by the ‘erring
Head’ in question.
Let us vow to keep our
Forum clean of individuals with selfish
interests.
Let us pray that the minds of such ‘opportunists’ open up
through teachings similar to Swami’s quoted above...
A very warm
Teacher’s Day greetings to all KUETEF members…
Dr. C. Praveen
Secretary,
KUETEF
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