Gratitude is the theme of every Teachers’ Day celebration. The dictionary would note that ‘gratitude’ is the “readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness” and that is exactly what most students aim to do on this day. A few years ago, while I was still a student, I was told by one of my professors that there is one foolproof way to show one’s gratitude. It is to IMITATE which is “the action of using someone or something else as a model.” However, that would necessitate teachers to be worthy of imitation by their students or mentees. It is not easy to be someone worthy of imitation in ways that could make someone else live with meaning and purpose. Here, I would like to demonstrate an example on how a group of teachers are doing just that.
To think of a government school in villages doing excellent is extremely rare, but I am convinced it is not impossible. I say this because it exists. In a village in Tamenglong, Manipur, a group of teachers are taking up a challenge to turn a non-operational government school into a proper functioning private-like school and learning space with minimum pay (I will not be talking about the non-operational matter or other intricacies involved here). After their pursuance of higher studies, they have come home with a burden of building their community and giving back to it in a way that would last a lifetime. These teachers focus on the needs of the students who are mainly from their village and neighbouring villages. They take up rehabilitation of some students and share a common goal in contributing their skills to develop a variety of co-curricular activities such as giving music lessons, coaching football, weaving and even teaching traditional games. They take the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” to a level where it is practised for each child admitted to the school. Moreover, the villagers are wholeheartedly involved in endowing the spirit of teaching and learning because of these teachers who are willing to sacrifice their time, comfort and better opportunities in life.
Why this is worthy of mention here is because these teachers are living lives worthy of ‘imitation’. When the students they teach experience this burden of building the community through their teachers’ lives, won’t they grow up with the same burden? Won’t they bear the burden to build up communities that crave for growth and advancement through meaningful education? I am convinced they would. They will show their gratitude by imitating what these teachers are exhibiting to and for the students.
Furthermore, there is a matter of concern to ponder upon this day where the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come forward to complete tasks performable by humans or equal to. There is a need for humans to stay teachable at any age. This is especially necessary for teachers now. Complacency should have no place in our learning spaces. If we are to be teachers worthy of imitation, this sustainable character to keep learning and willingness to be taught should be where the spotlight remains. To stay teachable can stem from humility which is one thing students care about when they learn from their teachers. Moreover, to teach and learn simultaneously is a privilege. In a song titled “Son of Man” by Phil Collins, the lyrics say “...in learning, you will teach and in teaching, you will learn.” Such is the dynamics of a teaching profession.
On this Teachers’ Day, may the students show their gratitude by imitating who, what and how their teachers are, and may the teachers show who, what and how by being worthy of purposeful imitation by their beloved students. These are universal essentials in our teaching and learning processes today.
Dizianliu Kahmei
Tamenglong, Manipur