Conversation with Ms. Anu Sharma conducted by Harit Khattar, a class 11 student of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Chandigarh, and Emerging Leader with NoticeBard.

Please give me a brief introduction of yourself.

I (Anu Sharma), a Maths teacher by profession, work at Saupin’s School, Chandigarh.

What is your educational background, job history and work experience?

M.Sc. in Maths, and teaching for the past 14 years.

Why did you pursue this career?

Family background in this profession.

What is the minimum qualification required to be an educator and what are the career opportunities in the teaching profession?

Graduation with training courses like B.Ed. Career opportunities are less.

What do you find most frustrating about teaching?

Nothing as such.

How do you handle classroom management?

By establishing the rules, set the tone and connecting with the students.

How do you stay motivated at work?

Working well as a part of the institution. It’s a teaching and learning process. So we also learn new things. Scope of personal growth. Surrounding myself with motivated and supportive people. Staying away from negativity.

After COVID-19, mobile usage is very high in the younger generation, and they are starting to live in the virtual world. Please give some tips to reduce their screen time.

Regular counselling about how to limit screen time and different ways to maximize spare time. Keep track of screen time. Avoid spending long periods on video games or calls. Involve yourself in any activity/hobby. Keep your phone away from yourself.

We observed a lot of incidents happening due to stress and depression in young children. What would you suggest to control & monitor this issue?

Again, regular counselling with the students is very important. A healthy discussion/interaction with them, listening to their thoughts and giving the right feedback. Some other ways are:

  • Take proper sleep
  • Introspect yourself
  • Do any physical activity
  • Balance work and play
  • Plan your day
  • Ask for help when required

What do you like/dislike about the online education system?

A big no to the online education system. No/less interaction with the students which slows down the teaching-learning process in many ways.

Nowadays reading and writing skills are disappearing from a student’s profile. How can you educate and encourage them, as it is helpful to improve concentration and sharp memory?

Inculcating the habit of reading at least 10 pages of a storybook before going to bed and summarising it in writing the next day.

What is the role of teachers in student’s as well as the country’s growth?

Along with providing education, we have to inculcate good habits, and values and help the students to become good and responsible citizens which as a result will help in the country’s growth.

What are the drawbacks of the current education system in India? Do you have any suggestions to resolve these issues?

Improper teacher-student ratio due to which the purposeful engagement of every student is absent.

Image taken from here.