Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 21: School and colleges in the state remain closed due to lockdown. The managements have resorted to online teaching to keep students engaged and get knowledge. But the teachers have by and large been facing problems in getting adjusted to this new system. Many teachers from all over the state have also been expressing themselves strongly against this system.

In addition to technical hitches, the fear of having to face ridicule from the parents of the students is discouraging teachers who are not ready to sacrifice their self-respect. It is said that a large number of teachers of private schools in the state have told the managements that they are not prepared to take online classes at any cost.

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When the online classes are on, many parents have the habit of sitting beside their children. They then pass comments like the teacher does not take lessons properly, her pronunciation is not clear, there are spelling mistakes, rough style of talking etc. The teachers who are frustrated by these comments want to stay away from such classes as they get embarrassed by such behaviour.

Even the scientists and paediatricians have opposed the behaviour of the parents and school managements and have been backing the teachers. A paediatrician confessed that when operating on the children of his doctor colleagues, they often express interest to come inside the operation theatres and watch the proceedings. "I refuse such requests. In spite of the amount of skill or experience you are having in your profession, it becomes difficult when someone is observing such things or it is viewed online. Even simple things cannot be executed with the ease and confidence one shows in normal course. The teachers face similar situation," he explains.

Psychiatrist Dr Annapoorna, says that the teachers are trained to teach in school environment inside the classrooms. They know how to handle students inside the classes. But for teachers, online classes are a totally different experience. Many teachers do not have training in this aspect. It is normal for them to get nervous when facing camera for the first time. Under such circumstances, the parents are not right in criticizing the teachers," she explains.

D Shashikumar, general secretary of the Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka, said that it has often been observed that the parents criticise teachers during online classes. "Such a behaviour cannot be tolerated. Online classes are a temporary measure to tide over the current issues. This is not a permanent solution which the parents should take note of," he mentioned.