World Teachers' Day

 Teachers' Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers, and may include celebrations to honor them for their special contributions in a particular field expanse, or the community in general. The inkling of commemorating Teachers' Day took root in many countries during the 19th century; in most cases, they commemorate a local educator or an important milestone in pedagogy. This is the primary reason why countries celebrate this day on different dates, unlike many other International Days. For example, Argentina has commemorated Domingo Faustino Sarmiento's cessation on 11 September as Teachers’ day since 1915. In India the birthday of the second president Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (5 September) is celebrated as Teacher's Day since 1962 and Guru Purnima is traditionally observed as a day to venerate teachers by Hindus. Many countries commemorate their Teachers' Day on 5 October in conjunction with World Teachers' Day, which was predominant by UNESCO in 1994.

Despite all his achievements and subsidies, Radhakrishnan prevailed a teacher throughout his life. Teachers’ Day is commemorated to honour the remembrance of India’s first Vice President and to commemorate the importance of teachers in our lives. He was a bright student and through scholarships obtained his studies. A great scholar, philosopher and a Bharat Ratna recipient, Radhakrishnan was the first Vice President and second President of independent India. During his tenure as a President of India, his students and friends requested him to celebrate his birthday. He replied, “Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would be my proud privilege if September 5 is observed as Teachers’ Day.” Since then, his birthday has been perceived as Teachers’ Day. Radhakrishnan graduated with a Master’s degree in Philosophy and authored the book ‘The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore’ in 1917 and placed Indian philosophy on the world map. He went on to teach at Chennai’s Presidency College and Calcutta University. As a professor at the Presidency College in Madras and the University of Calcutta, he was seen as a brilliant teacher by his students. He later served as the Vice-Chancellor of both Andhra University and Banaras Hindu University and was recognised by the Oxford University when he was called to fill the Chair of Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions. In 1939, he was elected fellow of the British Academy.

Radhakrishnan became the first Vice President of India in 1952 and took on the role of the nation’s second President in 1962 until 1967. He was awarded India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna in 1984 and the British Order of Merit in 1963. He passed away on April 17, 1975, and has so far been nominated 11 times for the Nobel Peace Prize. Despite all his achievements and contributions, Radhakrishnan remained a teacher throughout his life. Teachers’ Day is celebrated to honour the memory of India’s first Vice President and to commemorate the importance of teachers in our lives. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru once said on Radhakrishnan, “He has served his country in many capacities. But above all, he is a great teacher from whom all of us have learnt much and will continue to learn. It is India’s peculiar privilege to have a great philosopher, a great educationist and a great humanist as the President.”

An interview with Ana Kamath who started her teaching career in India and immigrated to the USA, where she continued to teach. She has retired this year after 37 years in the classroom.

1. Can you tell us about your teaching journey?

I grew up in Fontainhas, Panaji, Goa. I went to Mary Immaculate Girls High school and completed a B.Sc in Chemistry and Physics at Dhempe College. I decided that I wanted to explore teaching, so I enrolled in the B. Ed program at Saint Xavier’s College of Education in Churchgate, Mumbai. I started my career in 1979 at Greenlawn’s High School in Mumbai, teaching Math.

In 1980, I got married and followed my husband, Jolyon Kamath to the US. We settled in a small town (Orange), in western Massachusetts. I completed the course work to get my teaching certificate in the US and started to teach at the local high school. Subsequently, we moved to

the Chicago area where the bulk of my teaching career was spent. I also went back to college to do a Master’s degree in Curriculum Development. We moved around the US, so I had an opportunity to teach in many communities. My first job in the US was in Orange, Massachusetts at Ralph Mahar Regional High School or 2 years. I also taught at Quabbin Regional High School in Barre, Massachusetts, before we moved to West Virginia and then to the Chicago area. The kids were small and I wanted to work closer to home, so I started working at a local Junior High. I taught in Palatine, IL, which is a suburb of Chicago for the next 33 years.

I retired this summer from Plum Grove Junior High, after 37 years in the classroom, ending my career with the chaos of e-teaching from March to June 2020! I do think that e teaching has shown us that school is so much more than just a place to learn and that e-learning at the

younger ages cannot effectively replace face to face learning.

2. What were the main differences about teaching in the USA versus India?

Teaching in the US was an adjustment. The students and the methods of teaching were quite different from what I had been accustomed to. The curriculum is very student-centered. It is taught with a lot of emphasis in practical applications through hands-on experiences both in Math and Science. Within a class, the curriculum is differentiated to address the learning styles of students and to accommodate differences in learning ability. Students progress with their age peers but maybe at a lower or higher level curriculum than the average.

3. What motivation or inspiration kept you going? What kind of things mattered to you most?

I have never regretted my choice of career. I love that teaching is ever-changing, always interesting, always challenging. Every child is an individual with their own strengths and weaknesses. I think as a teacher, what mattered most to me was to get to know the kids, understand their needs to enable them to learn and be excited about it. I also enjoyed sponsoring clubs like Scholastic Bowl, Science Fair, Math clubs that were after school. It was fun to interact with kids who were there because they enjoyed the competition.

4. What was your proudest moment?

You asked what was my proudest moment. I can think of many proud moments when I felt like I was making a difference in a student’s learning or when a student comes back as an adult to say that he/she enjoyed my class and that it was instrumental in their career choice.

5. What are your hobbies?

I also love to travel, go on nature walks, read, go to the theater, watch comedy, get together with friends, explore world cuisine.

I have 4 grown kids and 6 grandkids Now that I am retired, I hope to spend time getting to know my grandkids who live in different cities around the US.They keep me young and they teach me so much!.

6. What advice would you give new teachers?

As far as giving advice to a new teacher, I can share that what helped me is to keep an open mind and to always be willing to change your approach as needed. Every day is a new day and an opportunity for a fresh start.