Teachers – Trending Entrepreneurs?

In India, teachers are regarded and treated as a Guru. From the beginning our parents have taught us to respect teachers, since teachers are the primary source of knowledge. Apart from teaching various subjects, techniques, and discipline, teachers guide us to succeed in life, face challenges and be better human beings. A good teacher is expected to have the following important qualities: effective communication skills, strong listening skills, friendly attitude, lots of patience, strong work ethics, efficient organizational skills, good amount of preparation, positive discipline techniques, appropriate teaching environment, and respectful attitude. In today’s world I see very few teachers having all these qualities.

I completed my nursery and pre-primary education from a local school close to my house in India. Basically, my parents got me admitted in the school at a tender age, because I was a bit fussy about eating. So, my parents felt that if I mingle with more children, I may not throw many tantrums. And they were right about this decision. My nursery teacher was a gem of a person. She herself told my mom to send milk and a good balanced meal in my tiffin and she made sure that I finished all of it. She never forced me but just like a mother sat with me and told me how my mom takes pains to make tasty food specially for me. In primary school I had a teacher who was very loving and friendly. She used to have her break with me sitting right in front of me. We even shared our food at times. The school was known for its caring and dedicated faculty. But my mathematics teacher in grade 4 was a bit strict – I guess she was the scariest person in my life that time. Once it so happened that my mom addressed an issue to her, because I complained about her. And I still remember clearly what happened after that – she made me stand in the class and simply asked me to point one finger towards her and then she remarked “Before pointing a finger towards anybody see that three fingers are pointing towards you”. That incident hurt me. But at the term end, when I scored well in Mathematics and the same teacher was so happy and proud of me, I realized and understood that whatever our teachers do is for our benefit. I also received an award for academic excellence that year.

After a few years, I moved to Dubai and got admission in a renowned school. But there was a drastic difference in the behavior of the students. I could feel a lack of respect from the students towards the teachers. And the worst part was that it didn’t matter to the teachers. In my opinion, it should be a teacher’s primary concern to develop a sense of respect in her/his students towards every teacher, educator, and source of knowledge. In doing so, a huge part must be played by all parents who mustn’t abuse or talk rudely to their children’s educators. As is rightly said “Give Respect, Take Respect” – this phrase is apt for everybody whether that be teachers respecting their students’ views and ideologies, or parents showing respect to their child’s teacher in front of their own children. And at the end, during the five years in high school I was not close to any of the teachers. I liked some of my teachers, but I didn’t share a bond worth remembering.

When I joined university, I noticed the environment was entirely different. Since it was a UK University, the professors finished their lectures and we students never got an opportunity to exchange our views as happens in most Indian educational institutes. Although some of our professors became friendly with us during four years of graduation, but there was still a gap which I could feel prevented them from being the TEACHER figure that I had in mind since childhood.

Unfortunately, from middle school till my graduation, I could not find a guide or role model.

And finally after graduation when I started working in our family business of nurseries, and I began interviewing, supervising and working closely with teachers, I realized how rapidly the profession of teachers had shifted from an ardent, revered and knowledgeable one to a money-making and self-centered profession. And I don’t say this because I have any personal enmity with anybody, but because I have had infinite bad experiences involving teachers.

To begin with the strangest experience – I find it impossible to find a qualified teacher nowadays. We regularly have openings for nursery teachers, for which we receive hundreds of resumes from MBA graduates, engineers, accountants, housewives, etc. but a handful from qualified nursery professionals. So basically, these days any woman searching for a job or tired sitting at home applies for a teaching job. And when I interview candidates on their teaching methodology, experience, etc. the most common reply that I get is “I have handled my own kids at home” or “I run a daycare/babysitting facility at home”. So, my first question is “Is teaching such an easy profession that no skill, experience, specialized education is required?” And to find the answer to this question I myself tried teaching a class of naughty and innocent nursery children. And I must admit it was the most challenging task for me. I can therefore conclude that teaching is not everybody’s cup of tea.

In a second instance I realized that some teachers have turned to be disrespectful. This happened in our nursery as well, when we had appointed a teacher and she resigned from the job abruptly without any notice. It was a difficult time for us because our annual graduation day was nearing and since nursery children take their time to adjust with a new teacher, we were busy looking for a good teacher. The salary that was due to be paid for the teacher, who had left without thinking about the innocent children, therefore got delayed from our end. I know that nobody can force a person to work at a place where he/she is not comfortable, but ethically a notice is compulsory before disappearing one day suddenly. We never deny or stop any employee’s salary, but that teacher started blackmailing the management. I have included a screenshot of her message. Now my second question is “If a teacher speaks and reacts in a rude way or threatens others, what is such a teacher going to instill in her students?” And just for information, we cleared her dues not because we got scared of her threats, but because we don’t believe in keeping anybody’s hard-earned money.

In a third scenario I realized the uncaring, inconsiderate and selfish nature of some teachers, which was quite recently during the Covid-19 lockdown. All the children were drastically affected by the closure of nurseries, schools, universities, colleges and educational institutes, especially those students who had their entrance exams and final exams. And some teachers were only worried about their pay cuts, lay-offs, and delays in salaries. I don’t say that it’s wrong to be anxious or question the employers, since it’s a serious matter of survival for some, but a pandemic, wherein nobody is in control of the situation, should be dealt with consideration. So my third question is “If the teachers, who guide us our entire life and who teach us moral values, start acting so insensitively and selfishly, without thinking about the welfare of their students, whose career and future is under strain, are they fit to be called a GURU?” All the Facebook groups had posts from teachers forming committees and complaining to government authorities regarding their salary cuts. This brings to my mind another question “Are teachers the only ones who are helpless and suffering in this situation?” I have included a screenshot of a Facebook message by a teacher. So according to this teacher the nurseries/schools etc. earn profits the entire year and she knows the business quite well. But does she realize that some small business owners have huge debts, high overheads and many other problems. Some small business owners can themselves just make ends meet. If it was so profitable and easy to run a business, everybody would be an entrepreneur today. At least the teachers get their salaries regularly but what about the business owners who sometimes must bear all the expenses from their pocket or by taking loans.

After experiencing all these scenarios, I feel that teaching has now become the worst profession of all. Teaching has become more of a business and less of a noble service. I don’t mean to belittle teachers or create a sense of hatred in the readers’ minds towards teachers, but money shouldn’t be the one and only concern of a teacher. From what I have read, learnt and heard, every student must offer Guru Dakshina or repay a teacher as a token of acknowledgement, respect, and appreciation for the teacher’s efforts. But that doesn’t mean the teachers should shift from their foremost duty of imparting knowledge and values to chasing after money.

I would like to thank one person – Tushar Sharma (my cousin brother) – who is not really my teacher but is a great guide. He helps me, corrects me, teaches me and supports me always. I have learnt a great deal from him, and I can’t thank him enough.

Last but not the least, I would like to stress on one point – I know all teachers are not the same and I am so grateful to God that I had some wonderful teachers and many selfless teachers still exist in the world. What I wish to convey is that those teachers who lack some qualities should introspect and earn back the respect of their students, parents and society.

Thanks for reading!