TEACHING AND LEARNING - Myth No. 2 - Money Motivates Teachers

Continued from TEACHING AND LEARNING Part 1
TEACHING AND LEARNING - Myth No. 1 - The Higher the Qualifications, the Better the Teacher 
http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2011/12/teaching-and-learning-myth-no-1-higher.html

TEACHING AND LEARNING

Part 2

By

VIKRAM KARVE

Continued from TEACHING AND LEARNING Part 1

MYTH NO. 2 – Money Motivates Teachers

ARE THOSE MOTIVATED BY MONEY THE BEST TEACHERS?

Three Kinds of Teachers and 3 R’s of Teaching – Reward Recognition Respect

There are three kinds of Teachers:

Reward Oriented

Recognition Seeking

Respect Winning

Let us reflect a bit on each of the above types of teachers.

REWARD ORIENTED TEACHERS

In the first category are those who teach for Reward. 

For them teaching is like any other job, a profession rather than a passion, a means of earning their livelihood. They believe that if they teach ‘X’ number of hours they are entitled ‘Y’ salary. For any extra teaching load they expect what the industry bluntly calls overtime and for which academics use euphemisms like honorarium etc.

RECOGNITION SEEKING TEACHERS

Then there are teachers who are obsessed with Recognition. 

They strive for awards, titles, designations, positions, peer recognition, publishing papers, honours, fellowships – being recognised is all about fame. Recognition is not so much about getting credit as it is about being appreciated.

RESPECT WINNING TEACHERS

The highest category of teachers are those who win Respect – respect of their students, respect of their colleagues in the teaching fraternity and respect of society. 

For them respect is one of the most critical dimensions of their life.They are passionate about teaching and are loved by their students on whom they make a lasting impression.

In Which Category is Your Teacher?

So, Dear Reader, the next time you see a teacher, observe carefully and try to analyse in which category he or she belongs –reward, recognition or respect.

A Teacher who strives to win respect will always be more student-centric, stakeholder conscious and effective than Teachers who are greedy for rewards or yearning for recognition.

Are You a Teacher?

If you are a teacher yourself, please close your eyes and introspect and see for yourself where you belong and truthfully assess whether your metier is in teaching.  

It is quite simple.

After you finish a lecture ask yourself three sets of questions:

1. Is the lecture something you feel you have done well?

2. Do you feel you teach well?

3. Did you enjoy delivering the lecture?

4. Do you enjoy teaching?

5. Did you feel proud of the way you delivered the lecture?

6. Do you feel proud of the fact that you are a teacher or would you rather be someone else?

If the answers to all the six questions is YES – you know you are in the right place, so, Happy Teaching.

Whether you are a teacher, or a student, or a parent, don't forget the 3 R’s of Teaching.

EPILOGUE

So we have debunked the two myths of teaching, haven’t we?

Am I a good teacher? 

Have I won the respect of my students? 

Well, looking back at my teaching years, I trust I have succeeded in achieving this, and yes, I have been a good teacher.

Every time a course or training program ends, I feel a sense of pride tinged with nostalgic sadness as my protégés “fly” off to conquer great heights of success in their careers. 

It is indeed a delightful and unmatched experience to mentor young bright minds, to see them flower, blossom, bloom and flourish before your own eyes, observe them metamorphose from students into professionals.

I love being in the company of young talented people, full of zeal and enthusiasm, with a zest for living and a passion for learning. 

It makes me feel good and youthful, and as always, I “learn” more than I “teach”.

I feel sad, wanting to hold them back, not wanting to part, but I know I have to let them go to their destinies.

My dear students, as I watch you with pride in my heart, swiftly fly away, soaring high above me in the sky, vanish into the distance, to all my dear students, I will always bless you and sincerely wish you from the bottom of my heart: GODSPEED.

Godspeed – a wish for a prosperous journey and good fortune, my dear young friends, as you embark upon your first career, a new phase of your life.

Let me end with one of my favourite sayings - a quote from Indira Gandhi:

My grandfather once told me that there were two kinds of people.

Those who do the work and Those who take the credit.

He told me to try to be in the first group as there was much less competition over there.

VIKRAM KARVE 

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2011
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

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About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
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Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
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