Exciting times

Vijay Mathu, Educationist and Principal of Abu Dhabi Indian School, Abu Dhabi.

My advice to students is to be forthright and honest in their dealings. When you make a mistake – own up. Learn to face the punishment. Never repeat a mistake.

The children of today are the citizens of tomorrow.

We need to nurture them, teach them and hone their skills; they will be responsible for the future of our planet.

I started my teaching career about 30 years ago.

This was thanks to a chance encounter with the principal of my school, Mayo College in Ajmer, Rajasthan, one of the oldest public schools in India.

The principal told me that a history teacher had resigned and that the school was on the lookout for a teacher. I agreed to be a substitute until a replacement could be found. But after I joined my alma mater and started teaching students who were just four or five years younger than me, I enjoyed the experience so much that I never looked back.

My father, Gopinath Mathu, was also a teacher at Mayo College and he retired as headmaster. My two children were also students at Mayo College.

Things are constantly changing.

Over the years, I've noticed a distinct change in teaching methods. If earlier educational systems bordered on memorisation, now there is a consistent change in the way knowledge is being imparted. Schools are keen to introduce a fun element to education. In the 21st century, we are witnessing a sort of a revolution in education. It is with this in mind that I wish to implement the principles of mental arithmetic into mathematics classes. A few years ago, I read an interesting article about mental mathematics – a process where numerical calculations are simplified and made easy to use. The principles used for calculation encourage the development of intuition and innovation, giving students a lot of flexibility when learning maths. This programme is easy to implement in schools. This unique technique of calculation is based on simple rules and principles which can be applied to any mathematical problem – be it arithmetic, algebra, geometry or trigonometry. The problem can be solved within seconds, with or without paper and pen.

The basis of this system of maths lies in ancient Indian mathematical principles which use interrelated methods for problem-solving. Flexibility, not sticking to a single method of calculation are some of the advantages of maths taught this way. This system piques the interest of those students who dread learning mathematics. It motivates them to get involved in more creative approaches to problem-solving.

Higher Order Thinking Skills (Hots) are being encouraged in some schools.

This system involves learning judgment skills such as decisive thinking and analytical reasoning. High Order Thinking Skills may be more difficult to learn or to teach [compared to contemporary systems] but at the same time, they are more valuable because they allow students to apply what they have learnt in real situations.

Keeping this in mind, teachers ensure from the lower grades that the child learns the concepts, understands them thoroughly and can apply this knowledge in any given situation.

One feature of this method is that children are discouraged to learn by the rote method. Rote learning is a method which gives more emphasis to memorisation than understanding the subject. This involves repeating information till it is committed to memory. Rote learning is devoid of comprehension, and consequently, is an ineffective tool in mastering any complex subject at an advanced level.

The best way to capture children's imagination is to allow them to think freely.

Encourage them to express their ideas. Be open and approachable to children.

I feel popular media such as cinema should tackle themes related to children. They can help highlight issues which they may be facing. For instance, the recent Bollywood film Tare Zameen Par (Stars on Earth) portrayed a child's battle with dyslexia and how a teacher's sensitive handling of his condition helped to bring the boy into mainstream schooling.

I am a firm advocate of nurturing the inborn talents of children.

Often, children are in some ways encouraged to choose popular career options even though they may not be particularly suited to those fields. Their talents may be lying in a totally different area where they may be able to perform well and make a mark for themselves. I would say, go for acting, singing, fashion designing, swimming or dancing if you think you are sure you will do well in them. Why stick to ‘conventional' careers? Allow children to choose their careers instead of forcing them to pursue one for which they have no aptitude.

I am happy that many of my students have pursued their passions, such as Raghavendra Rathore, who is a leading Indian fashion designer, Aamir Raza Husain, who is a maverick Indian theatre director, and Vir Sanghvi, who is the editorial director of the Hindustan Times.

Sports teach you a sense of comradeship.

I have played a lot of sports but now find it difficult to continue to be as active. I go for a walk almost every day at 4.30am. It helps me stay active. I like to encourage every youngster to take up some form of sport. It is sad that many talented children don't consider sport as a career. Of course, it is not easy for everyone to become a Sachin Tendulkar or a Leander Paes. It calls for a lot of effort. In academics too, you cannot come out tops without hard work. Intellect has to be honed and polished and the same can be said for sports or anything for that matter. Many parents don't consider sports as a career option for their children.

The greatest accolade a teacher can receive is when a student recognises him/her years after having left school and says ‘You have been a part of my life's making'.

That is the ultimate reward.

One of the highlights of my teaching career was when a former student of mine whom I met seven years after he had left school, came up to me and thanked me for helping boost his self-confidence and improving his academic performance. He was a good saxophone player but was getting only average grades in his studies. I remember telling him: "If you can play the sax, which is a very difficult instrument to master, you can do well in your subjects too if you concentrate a bit more." He soon showed a remarkable improvement in his studies.

I have worked in schools in Ajmer, Delhi, Pune and Abu Dhabi and am extremely lucky to have spent my fruitful years moulding young minds. I have been with Abu Dhabi Indian School for the past 16 years, with four years tenure as the principal. My wife, Mohini is a mathematician and also teaches.

I believe we are living in very exciting times.

The children of today are smart, knowledgeable, and from an early age know exactly what they want and how to achieve it. If their energy is directed in the proper manner, they can succeed easily. Moreover, technology and science have opened many doors of innovative means of education. If all these are channelled in the right way, there is no stopping the children, who are going to be the future of the world.

- As told to Feby Imthias, a freelance writer based in Abu Dhabi.