Conversation with Priyadeep Kaur 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.
My name is Priyadeep and I am an Art Teacher teaching at Saupin’s School, in Chandigarh.
What is your educational background, job history and work experience?
I am a double graduate in Fine Arts from the prestigious College of Art, Sir J J School of Art, Mumbai. I currently am working as an Art Teacher for a senior school in Saupin’s School Chandigarh. I have worked in the mentioned institution for the past 24 years.
Why did you pursue this career?
Because I love what I do. I love to spend time doing creative work and I enjoy teaching children at the same time.
What is the minimum qualification required to be an educator and what are the career opportunities in the teaching profession?
The minimum qualification required is a graduation with a B. Ed. degree. You can impart the knowledge you have to the children and help raise respectable citizens.
What do you find most frustrating about teaching?
The overload of unnecessary paperwork.
How do manage your classroom?
You need to have the student’s attention and interest in the activity done in the class by motivating them to try out different techniques, methods and mediums to create art.
How do you stay motivated at work?
I look forward to meeting my students every day, because they motivate me and I have so much to share with them.
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.
Usage of mobile has certainly increased after COVID-19, and for certain reasons, it has helped students remain connected with family and friends and their studies. But over-usage of mobile is going to take them away from meeting people personally and talking with real people. As well as it does affect their physical and mental health. They should have a limited time of using the mobile phone and that too if necessary.
We observed a lot of incidents happening due to stress and depression in young children. What would you suggest to control & monitor this issue?
I think the family’s support and love will help them overcome stress and depression. The family needs to understand the situation and help their children instead of just blaming their behaviour. If need be, they can always go in for professional help.
What did you like/dislike about the online education system?
I liked the idea that we had an opportunity to work from home. I disliked the network problems faced by students and teachers.
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?
Encouragement comes from motivation. If we give the students more opportunities to write and showcase their skills and appreciate them for the same I think it might help them.
What is the role of teachers in student’s as well as the country’s growth?
As teachers, we help mould the student’s minds into something which in future helps them to be better and good citizens having a satisfactory life. Teachers educate students to make them self-sufficient and have a career of their choice. Realization in doing what they do best can help them have a happy life.
What are the drawbacks of the current education system in India? Do you have any suggestions to resolve these issues?
There are some drawbacks to the education system like too much syllabus, having to learn subjects the student is not interested in, long hours in school etc. As a teacher, I can only work as per my institution’s system.
Image taken from here.
