I have a peculiar habit: even before I embark on a particular assignment, I draw a mental sketch of the final outcome. I ruminate on how to proceed and about the end goals. I do certainly strive to achieve those goals. However, all too often, while passable, my achievements fall short of expectations and this saddens me. Perhaps, my ideals are set very high, not easily attainable in the very first attempt. But if my ideals are not set high a priori, how can I fathom my own potential.
In any event, in addition to my own, I expect others to adhere to some ideals as well. Such a tendency on my part, however confounding, is a fact. For instance, while I expect to learn the newest and complex concepts and theories from my teachers most zealously, I expect them, in turn, to also keep abreast with these developments and imbibe them quickly. Such an expectation from my teachers is only natural, since years of teaching in affiliated areas should endow them with a firm understanding and thus enable them to grasp newly evolved concepts and theories. I understand that this expectation is only rational. However, often, you find that these teachers sidestep complex areas, where an in-depth knowledge is a pre-requisite, and are all too eager to teach routine and easy matters. I have now become weary of pointing out that such an approach in teaching is utterly irresponsible. Such a bias is noted among the younger teachers too and this upsets me. If these teachers, who are entrusted with grooming the new generation, are not eager to teach latest developments and complex concepts in their areas, then how can they inspire and motivate the students to learn the same? What is perhaps more upsetting is the lack of curiosity in the teachers themselves to learn about new developments in their areas and grapple with complex concepts. A standard teaching policy is that the teacher explains just a little bit of the concept and then conveniently asks the students to follow up on the advanced arguments on their own and the whole class simply moves on to the next simple topic. This is not acceptable. You ought to explain. If you were to ever ascertain from the students that which is unclear, then the most likely answer you would hear is that they have not a whiff of anything. You ought to explain everything.
And why not? Take some pains. Do not bother if you make efforts and take the time and do not understand in the first attempt. That is acceptable. Please put pen to paper. Use your brains, (you stupid asses!!). Only then, things will dawn upon you. I feel like conveying these thoughts to the so-called educators. But alas! It is not I who is the all-knowing-one and so my message would be considered equivalent to a dolt educating the educator. Most regrettable is that this very same bunch of teachers ends up in our universities to suppress the students there too. They use tools such as attendance and submission deadlines to terrorize the students while threatening them with poor grading of their exams.
For these very reasons, I, at times of solace (that is, when I am alone), question my habit of keeping high ideals. These self-conceited people, who make far lesser efforts, are living relative comfortably with their day-to-day needs being met with great indulgence. Whether they achieve anything is their life or not, at least they are not bound by such high ideals and do not have to endure the ignominy of poor self-esteem. As they are without any ideals, they are not bothered about such issues. However, why should the society at large suffer due to their immoderate attitudes? How many people today genuinely regard teaching as a noble and respectable profession? In fact, the general refrain in today’s society is that these folks could not manage anything else and so ended up being teachers occupationally. In recent times, this perception is also reinforced by observing these teachers.
At any rate, the teacher is only an example that I cite and many such examples exist. However, I will not write about these other examples now. I am not a noble prize winner that qualifies me to comment on others. But it does cross my mind if my ideals are not too unrealistic.
