Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 5: "The birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the second president of India, who was a profound philosopher, a reminiscent teacher and a great humanist at heart is celebrated on September 5. His birthday has been celebrated as Teachers’ Day in dedication to all the teachers for their immense contribution in nurturing leaders, visionaries and responsible citizens of our nation.
"On this day, I thank our Lord Jesus Christ for all the teachers all over for their lives of great service to the nation and humanity at large. The gentle gesture of holding a hand and guiding and the noble way of enlightening young minds simply bestows upon them the characteristic of being the most influential person in students’ lives. Teachers impart good values to children and turn them into accountable, empowered and caring human beings. Looking back on the years gone by, we all are grateful for the vital role our very own teachers have played in shaping our lives. Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Prize laureate has aptly said, 'One book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world'. Indeed, the positive influence of teachers lasts for generations to come. They are the nation builders, the architects of our society.
"Today, with the emergence and rapid technological advancements, the landscape of education has changed. Consequently, the role of our teachers too has changed over time. Speaking about integration of technology in education, Bill Gates has beautifully stated, 'Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is most important'. Technology is here to transform edcuation and not to replace educators. It is the role of the teachers to use it fruitfully to transform lives and enhance learning outcomes. I strongly believe that while technology does its bit, teachers as facilitators add the desired human touch and instill values for holistic development and uplift the essence of education.
"Teachers are an integral part of the educational system and in this ever evolving globalized world, teachers cannot afford to remain stagnant or old fashioned in their teaching pedogogy. Teachers need to constantly upgrade themselves in order to keep pace with ever evolving learning patterns and diverse learners themselves. John Dewey would say, 'If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow'. There is alwaays something new to learn and if teachers fail to do this, they are doing injustice to their noble calling. Education system demands teachers to be resource persons who as facilitators will be able to provide or guide students in getting the right information they are looking for. Although things are available in just a click of a mouse, students need support from their teachers to understand and learn new concepts and skills. Students look up to teachers as mentors and role models who inspire, encourage and boost their confidence to always strive to bring out the best in them and live life to the fullest. Finally, on this Teachers’ Day, dear teachers, we acknowledge and appreciate your valuable contribution to society. We urge you to continue to live your vocation to the fullest and pray that God bless you and keep you and be gracious to you.”