REACHING OUT TO STUDENTS 

The single most important factor in an individual's education is his teacher. Most of us remember particular individuals as teachers, who inspired, guided and gave direction to our lives.

It happened way back in my post-graduate years in Calcutta University when I was a student of Philosophy in the department, once headed by Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, the great philosopher. My Philosophy class was engrossed in professor's discourse on Kant's Critique of Pure Reason. I stared blankly at my professor, Dr. Das, during his entire presentation. At the end, he stopped, pointed at me and asked me, "What is your problem?" In utter desperation, I replied, " Sir, I am unable to understand your explanation of Kant's premise". He asked me to see him after the lecture. When his lecture finally ended, he looked at me to ensure that I was following him into the staff room. While there, he explained, "The Critique of Pure Reason concerns pure reason. For Kant, 'pure reason' often signifies just pure theoretical reason , which determines the realm of nature and of what is. But Kant also believes that there is 'pure practical reason', which determines a priori, independent of sensibility, the realm of freedom and of what ought to be. Practical reason, in general, is defined as that which determines rules for the faculties of desire and will as opposed to the faculties of cognition and of feeling". He went on, " The task of this Critique is to exhibit what a priori judgments enter into pure mathematics and natural sciences and show how they are possible. It also examines the claims of metaphysics, which deals with the nature of reality". His lucid explanation that day, not only helped me comprehend the crux of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason but also overwhelmed me with respect for Kant--a brilliant philosopher ahead of his time. During Dr.Das's next lecture the following week, the professor often looked at me, trying to assess my level of understanding. When the lecture ended, he gestured me to follow him to the staff room, " Am I being clear to you now?", he asked. I nodded gratefully. I had a few questions on his presentation that day which he explained cheerfully. "Whenever you have problem in following me, do come to me. You are the reason I am here," he said . His last sentence echoed within me throughout my teaching career. A student of mine, once remarked, "Are you a new teacher, Madam?" "Why do you ask?" I asked. "Because it is only the new teachers who are helpful!" he added. My professor's profound words rang through me, "You are the reason I am here."

Later in my teaching career, while teaching 'Freedom and Authority in Education' in my M.Ed. class in Bombay University I came across an aggressive student who kept arguing in the class on the relationship of Freedom & Authority in education. On several occasions he defiantly attended my lecture late, to find out how freedom and authority in education are reconcilable. I explained to him in the class, "Authority is like a picture-frame which enhances the value of freedom. I am, in authority, to help you learn if you are willing to exercise your freedom to learn. It is for you my doors are wide open." I could see the behavioural change in him in the days that followed.

To touch the minds of young learners, we need inspiring teachers, who will open the world to things they had not seen before, will give their lives a meaning it did not have before. A Universalist prayer that pictures the learning environment is what we need to restore, "Come into this place of peace and let its silence heal your spirit. Come into this place of memory and let its history warm your soul. Come into this place of prophesy and power and let its vision change your heart." 

Dr. Namita Roy Choudhury
Hon. Professor, H.J.College of Education, Mumbai

Tags: let us learn, unlearn and relearn.