It’s been 2 and some
years that I started my teaching career and I have to say I’m loving it!
As
a person who’s worked crazy hours on projects in a bunch of production houses,
this career choice was most unlikely. I met a friend recently,
who couldn't believe I was teaching. Why?!? Because teachers, to a
whole lot of people, are strict old people with spectacles and a stern look
in their eye. Some memorable, some not as much, but all by the book. My friend
was very curious to know how someone like me ‘teaches.’ “Are you the stern
type? Do you make them stand outside class if they don’t do their homework?
It’s so much power right?!?”
It is a lot of
power. Power because a ton of young people look up to you for not just getting
knowledge and helping them fine tune their creativity (we are a ‘Creative
Field’ institute after all), but also to help them believe in
themselves. My ‘job’ is not to just impart knowledge and then walk out of the
room. I need to be sure that every kid in the class stays on track and also
stays engaged. My challenge is not just knowing the topic that has to be
taught, but also how to make it so interesting that no kid ‘phases out.’ The
days of talking down to the student are long gone. Interaction is the key word
now.
And then there is the other role. The one of mentor,
friend, confidant. To not just be a facilitator of knowledge but also someone
who can be counted on. A shoulder to cry on. Someone who can help their
parents understand that what they are doing is actually a valid career choice.
Someone who can talk them ‘off the ledge’ when they feel disappointed about
their work. Someone to be trusted.
It’s been quite a joy ride so far, challenging and
exhilarating at the same time and I can’t wait to see how the story unfolds
further.
[Ruth Mapgaonkar is a full time CG Animation faculty at FX School. When she’s not teaching kids in classrooms,
you can find her in the institute’s café competing on the latest Sony
Playstation video games with the kids she teaches.]
Not Another Brick in the Wall is a message telling us about the uniqueness and opportunity that the school system need to provide for its students. This idea is particularly important in the context of Pakistan where there is a tendency in the education system to focus on conformity as opposed to creativity. This notion should be thrown into a pot boiling all together. D. Advocating for student-centered education in the context of Pakistan could open up a meaningful dialogue on educational reform and novel approaches to learning. Hence, by defeating the conventional "stonewalling" attitude, phd thesis pakistans will manage to support the development of open and inspirational education methods nationwide.
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