Torchbearers
Teachers are the ones who can pull out individuals from the darkness of ignorance into the light of knowledge. Every student at some point in their life has had a teacher whom they looked up to. Teachers use creative and innovative methods to help students concentrate better.
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The success of teachers depends on the achievements of their students. Teachers are like friends to every student nowadays.
Recently, the Goa Board has declared results of SSC students wherein 92.75 % students cleared the exam. Teachers and students have struggled amid pandemic even though the results depict a successful beginning and better journey ahead. Sometimes unknowingly students tend to hurt the sentiments of a teacher or professor but they are so kind-hearted to forgive. Their efforts to provide the best for their students are remarkable. Teachers don’t give up on their duty as instructors to students amid pandemic. The teacher-student relation is seen from ancient times i.e. the Gurukul system of India. A teacher is an important pillar of a student’s life; a valuable and inspiring teacher builds the future and social development of a student.
Sarvashi Naik, Curchorem
Vultures feasting on the dead
The death of Krishnakumar Kunnath, popularly known as KK at a concert in Kolkata has sparked a vitriolic war of words between the opposition comprising the BJP and Congress and the ruling Trinamool party. The opposition blamed the State administration for critical mismanagement; not making emergency, security or medical arrangements at venue which witnessed thousands of attendees. They demanded a fair and impartial probe into what was essentially a natural death as the singer had been suffering from chronic liver, cardiac and lung issues. Not one to be put on the mat by the opposition, the West Bengal government gave the late singer a gun salute with the CM herself in attendance laying a wreath on the coffin, an honour which is normally accorded to national dignitaries (not taking anything away at all from the stature of the popular vocalist though) and persons of international repute. The moot point here is that nothing is sacrosanct for these vultures masquerading as politicians, they lose no opportunity to score points even over the bodies of the dead. They are still feasting on the corpse that is the country.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Making schools attractive for children
Every morning, parents may have to confront their primary-school going children as their wards show reluctance to go to school. One reason for this could be that children find it a monotonous activity to go to school every day as they find no charm in doing so. Going to school needs to be made attractive to the little children. It is learnt that a rundown bus is now a two-level classroom and the decked-up facility with amenities like air-conditioning is all set to facilitate learning and recreation for students of a government Lower Primary School in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. The classroom that appears to be a double-decker bus has been built from two buses which were among the hundreds of buses meant to be scrapped by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation. The bus has been modelled to provide a new ambience for the students to learn. The upper level of the bus has been designed for reading and recreation. Converting a bus into a classroom could cost much less than building classrooms from scratch. To keep little children interested in their school so that they do not throw tantrums every morning there needs to be out-of-the-box thinking on how to make the classroom more attractive. Government and private primary schools in Goa could also come up with such ideas so that children look forward to going to school every day.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Creative cartoonists
Cartoonists are creative people with exceptional courage. Their works on politics, corruption and other sensitive issues give them a witty look, laced with satire and parody, and that calls for a great amount of intrepidity. The critical voice of a cartoonist, especially a political cartoonist, can provide a vital safety valve for a society. By mocking politicians for their excesses and failings, cartoonists hold them accountable. A caricaturist provides insights into power relations, key social issues and events. Many powerful political figures have been skewered by a cartoonist’s sharp pen over lies, machinations and crimes. Cartoons are both a strong plea and a stress test for freedom, tolerance and a society’s ability for conducting a dialogue. And it doesn’t matter whether you live in a dictatorship or a democracy. As history repeats and patterns emerge, two popular aphorisms fortify the independent voice: 1) “The pen is mightier than the sword”, and 2) “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Magnificent Nadal
In the French Open quarterfinals, Rafael Nadal scripted another glorious clay court classic, dethroning world number one Novak Djokovic. In a marathon battle of 4 hours and 12 minutes, the magnificent Spaniard overpowered his great rival in four hard-fought sets. Djokovic missed two set points when serving for the fourth to force a decider. Nadal had prevailed in five sets in the fourth round over 21-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime. With a record 21 Grand Slam titles in his kitty – one more than Djokovic and Roger Federer – Nadal would look to extend the lead.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Education plays an important role
As a retired academic executive, I would point blankly say that “Education can play an important role in shaping your future and in helping you find meaning in life” but, it is the children’s responsibility to learn the art, including curriculum that can help them learn key values in their academic journey.”
Here are three beautiful examples of students who had academic responsibilities. Brilliant Ms Shayana Mirashi who cracked nearly 98% is inspired by her parents who are medical practitioners. Ms Sharda Komarpant, who passed out in distinction has brought tears of joy in her single mother’s eyes, having lost her motivator few years ago. But the star of all is Ms Marolyn Pereira, who lost both her parents as she was getting the feel of 10th standard, has secured first class with little love, encouragement or motivation. These are 3 classic students who have not only made the family proud but proved, what education means in today’s world and society.
As they have cleared the first stage, they will surely find out what they want to do in life and will work on something that they love doing.
As students move on to higher secondary through college and further on, they must not only focus on the degree they will hold or look for economical growth, but also keep humanity on top of their endeavours. Good luck to all the 93% students who were declared passed!
As they say “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today” let us encourage!
Gaston Dias, Sarzora
What is the future of our youth?
What is the future of our teenagers and youth? With COVID-19 not yet over, now the monkey pox fear is increasing. How will our youth come up in life? What is their future? The massacre in Texas primary school wherein an eighteen year old killed nineteen kids and the war between Russia and Ukraine where is our future heading towards? Is there really peace in the world?
Anita Fernandes, Verna
