Teacher Matters....

Sep 5, 2012
Teachers' Day

Every year the 5th of September, the birthday of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, our second President, gives us an opportunity to think about teachers; to reminisce our very  own favourite teachers who have touched our lives in a very  special way and to ponder  on the role played by teachers  in the moulding of humane men and women, especially in the strife - ridden, commercialized dog-eat-dog world we are  living in today.

What  I’ll try to do here is pen down a few random thoughts that inevitably cross my mind when I think aloud on the efficacies of what has been and will continue to be my chosen vocation.

Teachers all over the world belong to a unique species. They share the bond of an extraordinary profession. They have the onerous responsibility and the distinct privilege of interacting with their students not only as educators but also as caregivers, counsellors and protectors. As  Henry Adams puts it; “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”

A teacher is essentially a ‘Sakalakalavallabhan”, a veritable all rounder, a jack of all trades and master of all, someone who makes an indelible impact on almost all aspects of his students’ lives. The old adage aptly proclaims that the mediocre teacher  tells, the good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates and the great teacher inspires.

The teacher occupies a very exalted niche in the hearts and mind of his students. In the Indian context, the teacher is held in such high esteem that he is normally accorded the veneration that is reserved for gods, and in many instances even has the power to change the destinies of students. This makes teaching one of the most rewarding of professions and   also thrusts upon  teaching   the awesome status of ‘Gurus’. A ‘Guru’ is a guide who accompanies his  ‘shishya’ from ‘kevala’ to  ‘kaivalya’,  the ordinary to the extraordinary.  He enables his students to grow from mere knowing to  doing. In  the words of Johann Wolfgang  Von Goethe, “When we treat  people  as  if  they  were    what  they  ought  to  be,  you  help them  to  become  what  they  are  capable  of  becoming.”

Teaching  is  a  ‘calling’  and  all  teachers  are  missionaries  with  the  common passion  to  make their students ‘men and women for others.’ As  we  celebrate  Teachers’  Day,  the  evergreen  Latin  proverb  inspires  all of  us  teachers  to more  ahead in our chosen profession with renewed vigour and zest - “By  learning  you  will  teach;  by  teaching  you  will learn”. 

I’d  like  to  round  off  my  ruminations  on  teachers  by  presenting  a  poem entitled ‘An Ode to  Teachers’,  written  by  my  daughter  Rachel  last  year.  This  was  published  in  the  Golden  Jubilee  Souvenir  of  St  Mary’s  English  Higher  Primary  School,  Falnir.

An Ode to Teachers
- Rachel Priyanka Furtado, VII ‘B’
While  God  is  our Creator,
And  parents  are  our  Procreators,
Teachers  are  undoubtedly  our  Co-creators.


Teachers  enter  our  lives  when  we  are  small,
And  are  sensitive  to  our  every  beck  and  call.
They  mould  us  like  a  potter  who  moulds  the  clay,
And  accompany  us  to  ensure  that  we  never  stray.

Teachers  are  embodiments  of  selfless  sacrifice,
Beacon  lights  who  guide  our  student lives.
They  teach  us  reading,  writing  and  arithmetic,
And  are  adept  at  using  both  the  carrot  and  the  stick.

Teachers, by example, our values fashion,
Encourage, empower and channel our passion.
When we are hurt,  our  wounds  they  dress,
When we are troubled,  our  hearts  they  bless.

Teachers, I  believe,  are  gifts  from  heaven,
I salute my  teachers  in  2011.
Long live beloved teachers,  may  God  bless  you,
Hold you  and  keep  you,  and  your  families too.

Dr Furtado - Archives:

Dr Charles V. Furtado
Dr Charles Furtado is associate professor, St Aloysius Evening College, and is also a member of Mangalore Peace Educators Forum
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Comment on this article

  • samuel sadanand, balmatta/kuwait

    Fri, Sep 07 2012

    excellent article dr.charles.....

  • ROBIN REGO, MANGALORE/DUBAI

    Wed, Sep 05 2012

    You are the best Teacher in this world. Wherever I may go in my life, I will always remember that I had an excellent guide in the form of a teacher, because
    you are the 1st teacher of my life dear mom.

  • faizal faiji, Katipalla

    Wed, Sep 05 2012

    “ No technology can come near to our Teachers
    In sharing education and values together ”

    “ A good teacher is like a candle - it
    Consumes itself to light the way for others “

    @ WISH U HAPPY TEACHERS DAY @
    Miss you all teachers
    @ keep smiling @

  • Bulsam, Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 05 2012

    I believe we need a new crop of teachers who need to teach responsibly and impart a value system to students. They need to be role models. They need to impress upon students the importance of purity of life and knowledge. By: - APJ Abdul Kalam
    The teacher should regard the pupil as his child. The pupil should regard the teacher as their parent. By: - Vinaya Pitaka
    Those who educate children well are to be honoured more than parents, for parents only gave life, and the teachers, the art of living well. - By: Aristotle
    While there are many issues to be addressed by and for an oppressed people, a chief issue for our educator is one of access to a quality education for our children. They really are our future and we all have a role to play.
    I wish all the teachers ‘A HAPPY TEACHERS DAY’!

  • faizal faiji, Katipalla

    Wed, Sep 05 2012

    You are the best Teacher in this world. Wherever I may go in my life, I will always remember that I had an excellent guide in the form of a teacher, you. -

    Happy Teacher's day

    Guru Brahma Gurur Vishnu
    Guru Devo Maheshwaraha
    Guru Saakshat Para Brahma
    Tasmai Sree Gurave Namaha

  • Thomas Valder, Bahrain

    Wed, Sep 05 2012

    Wishing each & every teacher a very specail teachers day. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all my teachers who shed light on my path. Also, pray for the soul of our Principal late Rev. Fr. B.L. D' Souza & Bro. Harrison, who were great inspiration to all the students. May their soul rest in eternal peace.

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Wed, Sep 05 2012

    Nice article and very well written. Teachers plant seeds of knowledge that grow forever. Happy teachers day!!

  • Paul D Souza, Mangalore/Sharjah

    Wed, Sep 05 2012

    Good Article, HAPPY TEACHERS DAY

  • Ramdas, Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 05 2012

    "Sri Gurubhyo Namaha".
    Let us remember all those teachers with gratitude, who made us what we are today.
    "Happy Teachers Day"

  • Dinesh Inland, Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 05 2012

    Wish to all Teachers for the "Happy Teachers Day", A Good Teacher is like a Candle - It consumes itself to light the way for others.

  • Ibrahim, Ira parladka

    Wed, Sep 05 2012

    I wish to all teachers 'Happy teachers day,

  • John, Udipi/Mumbai

    Wed, Sep 05 2012

    To All Teachers
    God Bless You and also parents who are our First Teachers

  • shahnawaz kukkikatte, dubai/udupi

    Wed, Sep 05 2012

    To all teachers of the world.
    A happy teachers day to you. Its not only school teachers, but also who teaches like mother, father, friend, neighbour, trainer etc.

    Guru devo bhava -LOng live teachers...and their household.

  • alice, kirem/new delhi

    Wed, Sep 05 2012

    I too salute my teachers, who made me what I am today. May God bless them all with loads of happiness and good health.

  • JOEL, MANGALORE

    Wed, Sep 05 2012

    SUPERB ARTICLE SIR...,.
    HAPPY TEACHERS DAY

  • WALTER MONTEIRO, BELMAN/ABUDHABI

    Wed, Sep 05 2012

    HI MY FELLOW TEACHERS, I WISH YOU A BEAUTIFUL WONDERFULL AND HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY. I MISS THIS DAY IN MY LIFE. NICE ARTICLE. ALL THE BEST. FROM WALTIMASTER, RETIRED TEACHER BELMAN

  • Juliet Mascarenhas, Bejai/Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 05 2012

    Wishing all the teachers throughout India "A Very Happy Teachers Day"

  • Rakesh shetty, mangalore

    Wed, Sep 05 2012


    GOOD ARTICLE. WELL NARRATED.

    TEACHERS ARE JUST LIKE OUR PARENTS. THEY ARE ROLE IS MOST IMPORTANT IN STUDENTS LIFE.

    TEACHERS ARE ROLE MODELS IN CHILDRENS CAREER.

  • S. M. Nawaz Kukkikatte, udupi

    Wed, Sep 05 2012

    Nice article "Happy Teachers Day"


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