How far is teaching transactional?

     The voice of the Governor of Tamil Nadu from his 'Think to dare' series echoes his  retrospective moorings of the Gurukula system of education, which might fit into a 'think box' lifted from the attic. But clinging to this nostalgic, moribund system of education would be deeply incongruous to the fully developed academic scenario prevailing in Tamil Nadu. To say that the teacher's work has become transactional and is linked to payments, is nothing but the reflection of a regressive perception, equal to viewing the meaning of a word with blinkers.

  As per Merriam Websters,and many other dictionaries, the word 'transact' would not only mean "to enact an exchange or transfer of goods, services, or funds" but also "an act, process an instance of transacting a communicative action or activity involving two parties or things, that reciprocally affect or influence each other"

  Teaching in its genuine context would mean only such a transaction of ideas, information and facts of knowledge between the teacher and the taught, towards mutually enriching academic goals in terms of intellectual advancement and knowledge explosion. 

  At a time of proudly celebrating the Chandrayan's scientific victory,to talk about the Gurukula system of education, reminiscing the pupils 'pressing' the feet of the guru and passively listening to the guru 'without questioning', is nothing but an attempt at pulling liberal modern thoughts of education towards an anachronous, antique direction. As Helen Keller says,it is "more questions than answers that represent a well educated mind"

  In a densely populated learning scenario of the new world, even to refer to the Gurukula,will be equal to putting the birds into a nest instead of letting them fly independently to their desired destinations. Learning does not mean passively 'listening to someone without questioning'. On the other hand, it symbolizes the active participation of both teachers and learners in a mind-blowing activity through questioning and liberating the self, towards creating futuristic individuals with a binocular vision of the posterity.

  Teachers should certainly create academic standards of excellence. But this does not mean they should forego their rights for their own living standards. Teaching is a globally dynamic, inspiring, and mind-connecting vocation. To call the teachers  transactional agents in terms of monetary benefits, is a clear affront undermining their dignity as the torch bearers of generations .

  One cannot be a dignified teacher by simply occupying the pedestal of a Guru. Education is not enslavement. The foremost objective of education is injecting the essence freedom both personal and collective,so that the upcoming generations one after the other, learn to live together, by treating one another as equals,in the process of building the glory of modern world, without racial,religious and caste prejudices. 

  Teachers have the onus of triggering the youth to think independently,to invent and create a world of growth and prosperity at all levels,that would ensure the prevalence of  peace and harmony around the world. Above all,the purpose of teaching is not to let the wards fall upon the teacher's feet at the cost of each one's self dignity. 

  World teaching community treats its students as equals and makes them sensible and sensitive citizens, by inspiring them with exemplary models of discipline and dignity reflected by each and every teacher, in their profile and performance. I think William Butler Yeats is right when he says that "Education is not the filling of a pot but the lighting of a fire" It is the fire of enlightenment that spreads education as the eternal glow, for envisaging civilized democracies.

  Successful teachers are those who command respect by what they are and how they teach and not those who survive by commanding their pupils. Transactional teachers are far better than those who with a hierarchic mindset could create cringing batches of humanity.

Prof. P. Chandrasekaran. 

(Retired)

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