Happy Teacher’s Day

Date: 5th Sept 2009
As soon as I reached in front of the gate, it wasn’t that much big. There was a big holding above gate written “Vidya Jyoti School”, also written in Kannad language. But I remember my school days. I also used to go in such small schools. I called my friend Sayen. He was the one big link to me to do such kind of activities. He was taking one class there. He asked me to come in the school. I entered the school. Crossing the main gate, I saw a long queue of children. They were waiting for the lunch meal. I remembered its lunch time. Some students were running and paying. I reached first floor and met Sayen. He told me that there are three classes running currently. In each class two volunteers had been assigned. They all were teaching Computer and English. He was also busy in a class. Earlier I stood outside the class watching volunteers teaching and noticing students their behavior.
After 10 minutes, one class was divided in two parts. And second half went into another room. Sayen took me there. I entered in the last. Sayen started announcing. “See we all know each other. But tell me who is the one stranger.” All students pointed at me. Obviously I knew this.
He introduced me “Children, he is Rahul. He is also a Software Engineer. Who all want to be a Software Engineer?”
I saw no hands up.
“It’s ok. Nobody wants to be a Software Engineer. Everybody wants to become a business man. And that’s why everybody is here.” said Sayen.
I smiled at him.
“Rahul has come from ITBHU, who knows this?”
Again I dint see any raised hand. Obviously how can a seventh standard student know this.
“Who can draw India’s map on the board?”
Many hands rose this time. I pointed at one student and asked “What’s your name?”
“Sunil sir”
“Ok Sunil will come and draw the map.” said I.
He came and drew a map.
Now Sayen asked again “Where is Bangalore in this?” many fingers pointed at the location.
“Right” said Sayen. “Now tell me where is Banaras?”
“we don’t know sir.”
“ok who knows Kashi?”
“Yes sir it’s Lord Shiva’s place.”
“That’s correct but where is this place in the map?”
“We don’t know sir.”
“Ok Rahul Will tell about the location.”
I borrowed a chalk to a student. “Guys, Where is Utter Pradesh in this map?”
One student came and made the diagram.
“Ok well done. Now Kashi knows as Banaras or Varanasi is situated here” I drew a small circle inside the map.
“So, Rahul Sir has come from this place. He also has done his computer engineering from the same place. You all know how far he has come now.” He showed the distance between Bangalore and Varanasi. “He will start teaching from next class. Now we’ll start our study”
I stood at one side of the black board. Sayen told me that today we’ll be teaching what Operating system, Desktop, Icon and Folders are.
He moved to the students and asked “Last class I told you about operating system. What is it?”
Two students started speaking “Sir it’s a kind of software which is in every computers.”
“That’s good. Now we’ll learn what a desktop is. Somebody come and draw a monitor screen.”
Sayen chose one student to come and draw. He drew a rectangle. He drew some small squares for menu items, start button at the left bottom and a horizontal line for the taskbar.
“Ok, so this is icon. This is taskbar. Does anybody know how to create a new folder?”
Many hands rose. One student was asked to tell the whole sequence.
This all went 10 minutes more. After that class finished. I came out with Sayen. He introduced me to the event organizer. He asked me to come to the next meeting in which we will be told about the ways to handle naughty students. After the conversation of 5 more minutes I came out side of the school.
This whole became my first experience to attend a school as a teacher. Soon I shall also start teaching these students. I have a rough idea in my mind. I also have some plans to teach. Let’s see what happens next.