My Teacher
I write this article as a dedication to my favourite teacher,Mrs Jean Thomson
picture : Me,My teacher and my class leader in LKG(1991)
It was in the year 1990,that I joined in Mount Carmel High School,Bowenpally(Secunderabad-Andhra Pradesh).I was enroled in Lower Kindergarten section "B" where I was welcomed by my first teacher,Mrs Jean Thomson. I was thrilled to see her because I thought she was from America(she is an Anglo-Indian).
I wanted to impress her a lot,but I did not know how.I knew only one spoken language and that was Konkani(my mother tongue).I cried one day when I could not communicate with anybody around.She called my father to take me home and she just said one thing to me "Speak English daily"(to make me understand she said like that).She turned towards my faither and said,"Help her to speak English with everyone,this will help her to communicate"
Picture: My Progress Report
Right from the servant maid to the Milk man and the vegetable vendor,I started speaking in English.I would daily try my best to converse even with my parents nevertheless,I even started speaking to my grandparents in English, who barely knew the Language!In due process, I hardly spoke in my native tongue and people started addressing me as a 'foriegner'.My younger cousin even asked me once,"If you are from a konkani family,why do you speak only in English?" That was really hilarious! My teacher always told us to "imagine". I asked her once what was "Imagine";she said,"imagine" is to see things with a picture;like thinking of a picture of apple when we say the word 'apple'.
I always observed her and I found out that she had a good Human Relations skills.I say,she should have been a manager! This is so because I learnt excellent management principles from her,they are-
1.Keep a handful of resources at hand - on her table I found-a big box of pencils,sharperners,erasers and a set of chocolates. on her cupboard I found-our books, set of new books, charts, chocolates, scissors, cello-tape, stick(to frighten us!), ballons, ribbons, balls, bats, games stuff, towels and handkerchiefs, safety pins,etc
2.She used to remember the full names of each and every child present in my class as well as the class adjacent to ours(the "A" Section).This was really amazing as I used to think how can she have such a great memory,because many batches graduate and still she know each and everyone's full name
3.She always prepared the class,no matter what the obstacle;she took every oppurtunity and mistake to teach us and not to punish us.We used to "drop" our tiffin boxes while carrying them;she would scold us a little,yet afterwards demonstrate how to hold our tiffin boxes so they donot fall.
4.She used to reward us with new pencils,chocolates and claps everytime we said the near proximity answers.She has a good skill of motivation
5.She did not have any set of partiality towards anyone of us;for slow learners,she would give her extra time.And everytime she paid attention to them,her energy levels would not deplete.I always saw her active.
L.K.G was a little tough for me because I looked chubby and my school seniors would flock my class room just to pinch my cheeks.My teacher used to have a hard time driving them away and literally she acted like my body guard!
Picture:The class of L.K.G 'B' 1991
As I grew,I got attached to her and we shared a very special relation-that of friends.She would teach me the qualities of life-how to be fearless,how to speak up before wrong,how to be active.Most of the time I would visit her during the breaks and spend some quality time with her.She is like my second mom at school;she used to check on me from time to time;consult teachers if I scored less marks and also share a laugh with me.
When I was in 6th standard(1998),I was operated upon my ears for my hearing problem and doctors advised bed rest for 3 months.I was thinking a lot about my homework when I saw my teacher come home to see me with a big bag.She just gave me the bag and when I opened it, I saw all my books with the up-to-date notes written by her! That was the most wonderful moment for me;I am so greatful for having such a wonderful teacher.
She always taught me one thing;if you have to do some work,do it from your heart.I was inspired by her dedication and commitment in her work.Even now,after 19 years,I am still in touch with her,and half of what I have learnt is because of her.She is a woman of unending enerygy and spirit.
Dear Jean Teacher,I am proud to be your student!
Swetha Shenoy.
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