To our Teachers, with love
John Xavier D’Souza
Goa ranks amongst  the highly developed states in terms of literacy. The critics of teachers forget that without teachers doing their job sincerely, this wouldn’t have been achieved. Whenever there are good results in the institution, the institution is praised, but the teachers are forgotten. There are some who are only interested in the salary which the teachers earn. But they turn themselves blind when it comes to the sacrifices and the hard work of the teachers.
Today, we have qualified people, if not in our own house, at least in our neighbourhood. Some years ago, this was not the situation. At present, the number of graduates and post graduates in the state is increasing. How did this happen? And the number has not just increased in terms of quantity, but also in terms of quality. There are students taking ranks at the board exams, at the university exams, and there are students who are also clearing various other competitive exams. Did our  teachers not  impart quality education for this to happen?
There are some people who are only concerned about the salary of the teachers. They never think about what work the teachers are doing.  What about the time teachers spend preparing for lectures, paper setting and paper corrections at home? That’s not all. As teachers, we spend time in our institutions  preparing for extra curricular activities. We spend hours devising cultural activities and even giving extra classes. Is this all being forgotten ? When the students do well in sports, cultural activities and in academics, we forget about praising the teachers. They are not even remembered.
This is not to say that all teachers are committed. We have - like in all professions, a few rotten apples in our basket. But, does that mean that all teachers can be looked at with contempt. Also, what has been done to improve the lot of teachers in terms of enhanced training? Are we kept abreast with times? Do we have a training regiment where  skills can be polished? Has the government envisaged a scheme where our own training aptitudes can rival the best? No ! After all, we are just teachers --- respected by those who see our pain and loathed by others who know little about education.A lot will be written and said about us. Promises, promises and even more promises. In the end , we just see the filth flung on our faces. Thats what we are --- your teachers.
After all , are we just another bunch of ordinary human beings. Why think about us like this? We teachers are doing our duty. We get real joy when we see our students achieving success. At that time, all forget all our sacrifices. Thank God , at least our students do us proud!