My teacher, My Inspiration!
My teacher, My Inspiration!
Mrs. Vinoda Harikrishna Rao has been teaching from the past 21 years. She has B.A. Hons. And Masters on English Literature. She also has a Diploma in Educational Management. She believes that teachers should constantly strive for adopting innovative methods in teaching to make learning approachable and desirable for students.
She is currently the Vice Principal of The Brigade School, Malleswaram
‘The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.’
-William Arthur Ward
The world is a school. Our parents are the first teachers. The art of communication, language and values are imbibed at home and the school is a first and formal portal of education and etiquette. In this place of learning, our teachers play a pivotal role in transmitting knowledge, moulding our behaviour, shaping our future and chiseling our destiny.
What better reward can a teacher get from his/ her students when they tread on the path of their teacher! ‘Teaching’ may be a ‘road not taken by many’ but for me it is a road by choice, not by chance. Learning is facilitated by many teachers in our schooling and college journey but one teacher definitely influences our life. I longed to follow the footprints of my teacher! My English teacher Mrs. Jayashree Vaidya, has sculpted me to be an English teacher like herself. I have mingled my avocation and vocation, turning my destination into my destiny. I pursued my dream of being a teacher with wakeful eyes. Mrs. Vaidya who taught English and Biology at Mount Mary’s High school, in the 1980s at Mumbai; is an epitome of knowledge and competence. I spent my schooling days, watching her with secret admiration, aspiring to be like her in content and communication. We were the fortunate batch of 1985, which was taught English Language and Literature by her, from class 6 to class 10.
A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.
- Brad Henry
The strong foundation of poetic devices in poetry is primarily because of Mrs. Vaidya. I bear the reminiscences of poetic devices, namely Alliteration, Antithesis, Personification, Metaphor, Onomatopoeia, Oxymoron, Repetition, Imagery and so on. Needless to say, the identification and explanation for the same is also etched in my mind which has been imprinted even unto this day. Her modulation of voice and articulation whilst empowering us to appreciate the poem ‘Daffodils’ by William Wordsworth is a nostalgic memory for me. At the subconscious level I have emulated the diction and demeanour in the facilitation of the content.
Learning nuances in the English language, finding relevant meaning to words and expressions in the given prose text; from the dictionary were some of the learning methodologies she adopted. She insisted that every student must have a pocket dictionary in the class.
Parsing and Synthesis of sentences, identification of clauses were taught in depth and with relevant examples by Mrs. Vaidya. A thorough reinforcement and revision of grammar was her unique selling point in teaching. I remember vividly every grammar concept taught by my teacher thirty six years ago. I can confidently state that I can identify clauses and synthesize sentences in a jiffy. I endorse the words of Michael Morpurgo-
It's the teacher that makes the difference, not the classroom.
A teacher is respected and looked up in awe not only for the content knowledge he/ she has but also the attitude that he/ she bears. Approachability is what a student seeks in a teacher. Mrs. Vaidya was accessible at all points of time. She used to stay back after class hours to clarify our doubts and repeat the explanation of a concept patiently. She was the star teacher of our school. Students used to buzz around her like honey bees. Her persona exuded radiance and grace. She was not only beautiful but she was also intelligent. What impressed me the most that she once told us that as a student, she had obtained 100 out of 100 marks in Mathematics at the Board examination She was a graduate in science but taught English with ease and confidence.
Mrs. Vaidya trained students for co-curricular activities and competitions namely elocutions, debates and creative writing. Her guidance in oratory and writing skills has blossomed the career of scores of students.
Mrs. Vaidya’s expertise in administrative work too was recognized by the management of the school. She did administrative work at school with adeptness.
My teacher has become an essential element of my existence. In my twenty one years of teaching career, I remember my English teacher each day. I walk into my classroom with positivity and poise to teach confidently and competently as my teacher would teach us three decades ago. I second the words of Eugene P. Bertin:
Teaching is leaving a vestige of one’s self in the development of another. And surely the student is a bank where you deposit your most precious treasures.
My teacher has shown me the path of the noble profession. She carved a niche for herself in my life. She endowed me with the treasure of knowledge in my mind and impacted my heart. I have walked on the path of teaching since two decades and endeavoured to create an impact on the student community, just my teacher did.
O teacher, you are the creator of my career and the designer of my destiny.
On this day and forever I salute you!
