Happy Teachers’ Day!

5th September. We loved this day in school – because we didn’t need to take any study books and there would be no lessons. We’d carry hand-made cards and flowers for the teachers instead.

It would be a day of entertainment, where senior students would take to the stage and the teachers, usually seated in the front row of the auditorium, would watch the show along with the rest of the school. The teachers would be treated to a special lunch in the school’s hostel dining room, and they’d often get some nice useful gift from the school management, on behalf of all the students.

Picture: The Learning Station

Advice from an 18 year old

September 20, 2019 – some very disturbing news. A friend from our neighbourhood in Mumbai lost his 18-year old son. How this exactly happened is yet to be ascertained, but given that he hadn’t been able to clear his Std 12 exams, he must have been feeling down. Whether a freak accident or an intentional act at home, the loss of a young life is heartbreaking.

While the family grapples with the situation, social media is abuzz with comments about the academic pressures on our high school children. I was reminded of a short speech by my son Siddharth a few weeks ago. Siddharth, like this young boy, did the Std 12 exams in March 2019. He was the topper in our apartment complex in Mumbai, in terms of marks obtained. On Independence Day, after the flag hoisting, our local apartment group generally recognises the achievements of children and this year he was honoured to be asked to talk to those present.

Garbage burning and science

While clearing up one of the shelves at home, I stumbled upon my son Gautam’s “Composite Science” worksheet of Std 3, done in March 2011. After looking through it, I realised why I had saved it.

Q7 Give reasons – The gardener was burning garbage and my mother got angry with him.
Answer: The garbage could have been put in a compost pit and be made into manure.

Happy Children’s Day!

“I like being with children and talking to them and, even more, playing with them. For the moment I forget that I am terribly old and it is very long ago since I was a child.” – Jawaharlal Nehru, 1949

I was happy to see Children’s Day featured on the front page of the Hindustan Times this morning. Maybe the landmark 125th anniversary of Jawaharlal’s Nehru’s birth got it the attention.

From crayons to perfume

Thinking of teachers, the ones that first come to mind are the ones who taught us in school. Some of the teachers were greatly inspirational, approachable and lovable. Some were discouraging and best avoided! There are happy memories and not so pleasant ones too.

I tried to remember the names of all my school teachers during the 14 years in Baldwins and turned out to be pretty successful. Not quite so for the next 8 years at Mount Carmel College, BMS Engineering College and Central College.

Memories of Ms Antonio, my first teacher in the nursery are only from the photograph.

Baldwin Girls’ High School, Nursery A, 1974