Teacup Heart U, Me and Coffee Talks...!!: October 2012

Coffee-Lovers So Far...!!

Coffee-Lovers So Far..!! --->

Wednesday 31 October 2012

Tuitions are a bane and not a boon


Tuition System - A BOON or A BANE...!!


There have always been 3 types of students in the Education system –
  • The crème genius lot
  • The average students
  • The weak students

A few decades back “The Tuition System” had altogether a different perspective. It was never a thing to be proud of. Infact, it was the thing to be ashamed of. The crème and the average students always paid attention well in the class and could cope up with the syllabus well. But since for the weak student s it was difficult to cope up with the syllabus by just studying in the school so it was mandatory for them to have extra coaching and thereby they were being sent to private tuitions. The school teachers have always been completing the syllabus in the school from that very time so that all could benefit. But only those who could not cope up with the syllabus required an extra dose of teaching.

However, these days the entire concept of “The Tuition System”has changed. An entire new psyche has developed for this system. It has just become a “Trend” in the fabric of education system.

More than education, The private tuitions are being used as the ‘Status Symbol’. The system has rather lost its track and the actual values and purpose has been lost. This system has become almost madness, a disease. These days every child good, bad or very weak all resort to tuition, in almost every subject. Infact, the heights is that the tuitions are being kept in languages also which is a shameful gesture. English is an International language must be known by the kid. Hindi being the National Language should also be well-taught. And the third one is the mother tongue which each child speaks in his/her own family for which tuitions are in vain. But still just because few other kids of the same class are going, parents send their child too. So it turns outta be never-ending cycle.

Let the subjects be aside, tuitions are being encouraged irrespective of the age. I mean I myself being a school teacher I too had got offers to take tuitions of students studying in Jr. Kg. and Sr. Kg. I mean what the heck are the parents upto?  And what do this kiddos have in their curriculum? Sleeping line, standing line, slanting lines, alphabets and numbers and colors, may be a few words and sentences. For that, you require a tuition. And the parents actually beseeched me and were ready to pay any amount of money for that. Although they were not ashamed of what they were asking for but I myself felt ashamed coz I found it Hogwash.

And what’s the reason behind it??? U ask and they will not take an iota of second to blame it on school teachers that the quality of teachers is not the same any more. Teachers don’t  teach properly and so on.  And all this is utter flimflam.


I being a school teacher know zillions of teachers and have worked with all reputed schools. It’s the fundamental duty or an oath of a teacher to complete the syllabus and teach in such a way that a child develops cognitively and every teacher does it to the core in her way. They are not appointed just in any haphazard way.  Because they have it in them, so they are there.

So its not at all about the teachers. Its either about the kids who are not able to cope up or its about the parents. Fathers have always been working few decades back and even now too and its not gonna change coz that’s what they are meant too. But housewives, they send their kids to tuitions coz they want to sleep in afternoon, they want to attend kitty parties, they want to gossip over phone calls and most importantly they want to see their daily soaps. If “Anandi” (balika vadhu fame) was allowed to study, you could have seen the happiness on these ladies’ faces. But when its about their own kid, tuition teachers will do the needful.  Howeva, there are exceptions of some working women but they are expected to balance their personal and professional life and take interest in the child’s academic progress too. Its highly shameful that a child is being sent to ‘n’ number of tuitions just so that u have ur own leisure time. 

Parents don’t understand that its not we teachers who are at loss, its they and their kids who are at loss. We teachers get our salary in school also and if we do tuitions we are gonna earn from that too. But think about the kids. They get exhausted at the end of the day when they reach home after being thrown from one tuition to another. And think about the abundance of money that u r throwing out impulsively in vain in the form of tuition fees.

The parents are restricting the cognitive development of their kids by encouraging the tuition system since a child becomes used to spoon-feeding.  Moreover, a child’s psychology is – In school thinks, if I don’t pay attention its ok because the tuition teacher will teach it and at tuition , the child thinks school teacher will teach. So ultimately the child gets distracted and doesn’t grasp as per his/her true caliber.

Instead, encourage and inculcate the attentiveness and concentration power in the kids so that they pay sufficient attention in the class itself and grasp every single word of the teacher in the class-room. These days there are various activities n teaching aids used in the smart schools here and there. May it be audio-visual  technique or labeling or smart boards. The child can learn the best if knows how to make use of every resource and pays active attention.

Howeva, I don’t blame only parents or kids. Even for few Non-smart schools or inactive teachers, there is an urgent need to inject life into dull classroom teaching before schools become a grotesque appendage to the educational system. Once this is done, there will be no need for the student to be tutored. If some of them still need it for one reason or the other, there is a huge army of unemployed graduates and post-graduates who can take care of them. This will not only enable the unemployed to earn a living but also supplement what has already been taught in classrooms.



The law has also been defined which says “Private tuition imparted by serving teachers is a serious educational malpractice which deserves outright condemnation by all the right-thinking individuals, most of all by serious academicians”. Hence, being one educator I feel it would be good if the other educators too discourage the tuition systems and infact create a better classroom so that students don’t get diverted to this total “waste-of-time and money” system.

Its lyk U are married to ur husband/wife just for the permanent security else you can go ahead with ‘n’ number of extra-marital affairs.  Is that acceptable in the society?? Same is the case with this too. U are committed to a school just for the certificate and gradecard that u get, else you can go ahead with ‘n’ number of tuitions. Can this be acceptable..

The parents and the teachers should together contribute to discourage the tuition system and actively participate in the Cognitive Development of the kids…!! That’s what I feel.

TUITION SYSTEMS ARE NOT A BOON FOR ME- THEY ARE BANE...!!




Saturday 27 October 2012

Bombay-- Now MUMBAI...!!!

B-O-M-B-A-Y now called "M-U-M-B-A-I"






Few Things About this City That Amazes me...:

Bombay has No Bombs and is a Harbour, Not a Bay.
Churchgate has Neither a Church Nor a Gate. It is a Railway Station.
There is No Darkness in Andheri.
Lalbaag is Neither Red Nor a Garden.
No King ever stayed at Kings Circle.
Nor did Queen Victoria stay at Victoria Terminus.
Nor is there any Princess at Princess Street .
Lower Parel is at the same level as Parel.
There are No marines or Sailors at Marine Lines.
The Mahalaxmi temple  is at Haji Ali, not at Mahalaxmi.
Teen bati is a Junction of 3 Roads, not 3 Lamps.
Trams used to terminate at Kings circle, not Dadar*TramTerminus. (Dadar T.T..).
Breach Candy is not a SweetMeat Market, but there is a Hospital.
There are no Ironsmiths at Lohar chawl.
There are no pot-makers or Potters at Kumbhar wada.
Lokhandwala complex is not an Iron and steel market.
Null bazaar does not sell taps.
You will not find ladyfingers at Bheendi Bazar... 





Yet its MUMBAI - A city of Dreams... Or shall I say - A city of Shattered Dreams..
Or short-term Dreams....!!! 
Where life is sooooo fast... That if U dont Cope up.. U r left behind even by Ur Near n Dear ones...
Where whateva U earn gets spent in that very city...
Where To Build Up Page-3 Reputation is much more important 
While Ur Family Life is Shattering or Either Most of the Time Under Construction...
Where People keep brooding in the Day about their funds and debts
And the same people enjoy the Night-Life to the Fullest...
Where the Sea gives Symapthy to Many Broken Hearts...
And same Sea is the witness of Public Displays of Affection...!!
Where the Rain is Praised at Nariman Point .....
And the same Rain is Cursed in Traffic Jams...!!
Where the Childhood is Spent in Essel-World
And The Adult Age in Hard-Rock Cafe...
The City that is Over-Crowded
But Still None has time for another or bothered about other...!!!
The City Where Celebrities Reside... Settle  
The City of Glamsham,,,, Where the Stars Sparkle
And the same City leaves them with a void and Darkness during their Downfall....
The City Where People Enter to Earn Name and Fame...
And after Few Decades Even their Words Sound Lame...!!
The City that is responsible for Economic Growth of the Country...
But just once visit -Dharavi and you will unfold your own myth.....
Still at the end of the Day -- Its AAMCHI MUMBAI...!!!
A city of Pride n Pleasure...!!!

Jay Hind...!! Jay Maharashtra....!!!! 

With a Cup of Starbucks Coffee ...Looking at the Sea-Face....
I still Remember a Song of Late. Rafi....
"Aye Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yahaan.....
Zara Hat ke... Zara Bachke ...
Yeh hai Mumbai Meri Jaaaan...!!! "




P.S.- No offense Meant...

Tuesday 23 October 2012

My Mentor - A Best Friend, Philosopher, Guide




My Mentor- My Mummaa (That’s what I call her)….Is My Blessed Gift..!! 

There are many people who have inspired me in many ways. But, My Mentor, however, inspired me the most. This lady that I am talking about is a very hardworking, truthful and a caring person. Besides that, she is extraordinary perfectionist. I am very blissful to be a part of her life and I am overjoyed that she is a part of mine too. I would absolutely idolize her as my role model who has a very strong willpower. 

As we all know, a good mentor is every child’s gift and each and every one of us deserves one. No one’s life is ever complete without a mentor somewhere throughout their life. In addition to that, I am extremely blessed to have her in mine and I also feel very lucky to have her helping me and supporting me with my career and life.


Furthermore, whenever I look at her, I love her with all of my heart and I would never abolish my relationship with her. It is very hard for me to express my feelings about her just in words because there is so much to say that’s hard to explain. As long as I understand, I feel overjoyed. Satisfaction never runs out in my life while my mentor is still here with me... 


A dreamer, an ardent leader, for no two days the same, Who is she? Just imagine it's more than a name.
She's a pleasure, a treasure, a comfort each day, Loving and sweet in her own special way.
She's a sense of contentment felt deep inside, Bringing a lifetime of pleasure and pride!
And she came as a pioneer and a bit later became a trendsetter.
The love she showers is like a spring that never stops flowing.
From which you can draw water, Make the best use of this water, And be careful not to make the spring cloudy.




She wears many hats with confidence and grace – be that of an obedient daughter, responsible employee or a caring mentor. We have heard this zillion of times and will continue to. For me, a woman is akin to a butterfly that represents freedom to fulfill her deepest aspirations and dreams. For me she is the most beautiful and tender butterfly who has faced life’s trickier moments boldly and I wish she continues to do the same in future too.
 
She is actually an ordinary person with a lot of admirable and trustworthy personality. She has been through a lot in taking care of me since long. Right up to now, she has never given up on me and I am sure, a mentor never does. In my own eyes, I have always seen her as a very special and unique person with a lovely and altruistic soul.



My mentor and I are almost like best friends. I nearly share every moment of the day with her like going shopping, hanging out at the cafe or just at home. Even though I have a really good relationship with her, we sometimes have the bitter times too. For example, we argued about things we both don’t agree on or I complain when she doesn’t give me sufficient time. If u remember I have talked about her on Friendship’s Day too. She is the same who taught me LIFE means:
L- Laughter in times of sadness and woes
I – Integrity in one’s own belief
F – Fortitude to be independent and an individual
E – Enjoyment in content in life without Expectations

Different ppl myt have learnt to work from her, to be professional, to educate, etc.. But for me she is  a person who has taught me the meaning of word "LIFE"... I for surely got a goal and an ambition in lyf after her guidance...!! A person who taught me how to accept the negative things that are happening in life.. How to maintain the positive things happening in life...!!  She is a guiding light for me... An angel god has sent in my life who actually has proved to be a Friend, Philosopher, Guide and Maaa....!! 

She taught me to maintain self-respect.. She taught me to neva take revenge... She taught me to save money.... She taught me to control and suppress emotions at time.. She taught me how to handle my ownself when no1's around when u need... She taught me to lift my ownself up.. 

U know people have different ambitions.. Some wanna become doctor, engineer, entrepreneur, lawyer, good individual, etc... But I have just 1 ambition, I wanna be like 'HER'... I cannot be 100% HER but even if I be 60% like her I would be more than happy....

I mean totally like HER... 
The way she carries herself,
The way she dresses herself, 
The way she walks with elegance, 
The way she handles her saari.. 
The way she doesn’t  say anything but her eyes speak it all.. 
The way she cares about every1 so much although without expressing much.. 
The way she is soooo down to earth,,, 
The way she handles herself in pain 
The way she handles her happiness and controls her emotions
The way she becomes strict and yet generous at the same time..
The way she does soooo much for me but still prefers to be like Undercover…
and it goes on...!!


Its really tough to be HER.. but still I strongly aspire to be like HER... I am gonna blindly follow whateva she says without reasoning as i neva need to do that in her case coz I have some kinda blind faith.. And i vl neva let her down....And m always gonna b der for HER.... No matter what...!! I still say she’s kinda Morrie for me from “Tuesdays with Morrie”.. and I wish I had Tuesdays with her.. 

Here's a small poem that I wrote for her:

"You are a Strong Woman who knows how to keep her life in line..
Although u may be in Pain but Still U manage to Say, I m Fine
You were there for me since the very beginning and saved me countless tears.
The pushy and wise advice you gave will carry me through the years.
With my every mistake or wrongful deed,
you were always there to understand my need.
You put no limits on my dreams or anything else I wish to do.
You never say you care but ur actions actually do.
We have had a rocky road through triumph and catastrophe, hard time and despair,
But not a single moment where I would not like to share..
You have always put in your last with love and my whole life is not enough time for me to repay you.
We always put our disagreements to the side and manage to make it through. 
I know that my many gestures may have driven you crazy but you have guided me with assurance along the way.
You have given me comfort and certainty with every breath I take within the day.
I have my whole future ahead of me and you are the women that has leaded me and guided me towards the proper path.
How can one simple day prove that much thanks and love to someone who has pushed this far and still is working her way?
I want to be with you, But you’re millions of miles away.
I wish you would call just to ask about my day.
It would make things so much better if I could hear your voice,
I guess I can’t complain too much, it just wasn’t your choice.
The path of life shall guide you, And move you swiftly on,
But don’t forget there is some one here to waiting for u on the horizon
There are new things for U to discover, And unseen sights to see,
But always I’ll be waiting, For when you return to me.
The road stretches before you, No one knows just how far,
And whatever may befall you, Just remember who you are,
A Mentor For Some, A Dictator For Few….
But for me U r an Angel and Mumma that God has sent who made me Grew…
I still say Believe in yourself and Neva Underestimate Yourself..
I m the person who wants to be U and forget my Own self..
There may be miles of queue and tons of crowd around U..
But I wish I could just borrow u for a second and have a word with U..
At times, I envy those people who hug U now and then
Coz For that particular moment they are holding my Mummaa and don’t let me spend a nano second with u all over again…
Just remember one thing I am gonna be with U, for U and take care of U forever..
Irrespective of geographical location, M gonna keep in touch with u forever…!!
I am proud of all the things that you have done
I am proud of all the victories you've won
I am proud, I celebrate You
Even if there is nothing else that you would ever do
I celebrate your existence Just for Being You!
I Am Glad you're here, I'll ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOU...!" 

For Me- She is A Woman Of Substance and Dignity.... Her attitude depicts her Elegant Personality..!! Kudos to Her as a Mentor, As a Person...!!

Needless to say this is how I would like if I be like her:








Singing Heart Singing Heart