Starchild, Education and Me

Apart from teaching at the school, I had a small classroom in the building too. It was on the landing before the terrace. I had a standing blackboard, chalk, duster and a few students. The subject was Maths, of course. I seemed to have a flair for it. My students took me seriously and I thoroughly enjoyed my role as their teacher. The multiplication tables were given great importance. If my teacher said it was important, it was important for my students too. My Math teacher Mrs. Rodriguez said tables were very important and we must say them every day. So each of us had to chant our tables 1 to 12 (till 12 x 12, unlike today, where it is 12 x 10) turn by turn. How boring it was and yet, a challenge. Nobody wanted to get it wrong! If you did, you were left standing. Thus, the whole class, as well as those who peeped into the class from the corridor,  knew you did not know your tables.😅 Though my Maths was good, I found rote learning of tables extremely boring. For the long...

My passion for teaching began in school. Was it because I was a clever girl? Probably not, for clearly remember an incident which occurred when I was a child. My first school was Sunningdale, a small private school. I was admitted to that school as my cousins, Sanjay and Ajay attended the same school. However, the school was only upto  Std. 3 and soon, I had to seek admission in a new school. My father took me to St. Joseph's Convent, Bandra for an admission test. The school had two sections- ISC and SSC. To study in an ISC school was a matter of great pride and status in those days. I gave the admission test. I had to attempt a Math paper and another in English Language. In a few minutes, Sister came out and informed my father that I was good in Maths but not in English. The reason for this conclusion was that I was given 5 words and had to frame sentences using them. According to Sister, the sentences were not long enough and thus, I was refused admission.😞 I was sur...