Monday, April 25, 2016

Diary of 20th April 2016
Place : Thimphu
Topic : Open Letter to Parents
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Dear Parents,
With ever changing mental setting of our society,and influence of wind of change. The Lopens (Teachers) are considered no better than just "teaching machine". Gone are the days, when "lopens"were highly regarded profession, and seeing them would make any passer-by bow down with deep respect. When I say this I am not trying to be "old-fashioned" or "demanding". I know things need to change, but question here is, "did we change for better ?".
Today, little pat on the back is coined as punishment, and teacher gets hit back, parents drag teachers to court, write on social media and many keeps adding fuel without knowing actual facts,demoralising even the little status that we have in our society. Just a reminder, my dear beloved parents :
1. We are humans and we have kids, we love your children as much as ours. We know they have future, we want them to remember us as one of the best teacher they had in their life.
2. When students misbehaves in class or hits teacher at school, it reflects how parents are at home.
3. Teachers are NOT always perfect, we make mistakes. After all we are not enlightened one.
4. We too have family like you all, they too need our love and attention, so we too need break in our life.
5. We also go through domestic, personal and professional problems like you all.
6. When you rest after office hours, we start planning for next day.We are never off duty.
7. During any small or mega events. You come, enjoy and go. We work tirelessly for almost a month to make celebrations success, make sure everything goes perfectly on the day, shouting, running...like ship on fire...that of Pirates of Caribbean..
8. Had it been in other organisations, our white passport would be stamped occasionally, and had posh car to drive and had assets, but we love being little because that is what we intend to inject in your children. Being happy with little.
9. When you walk in town with dust mask on, we live our life breathing chalk dust daily. We are not robots, we too function with lungs, which needs clean air.
10. When you cannot control just 2 to 3 kids in family, you expect us to be best with 100 of kids.
Please don't remark who forced us to join teaching, "if we did not", "you did not" , then "who will " ??? who will enlighten our young minds ??? !!!
Whatever said and done. As one of our friend remarked....
....It is OK, you keep defaming us, but we are not going to give up on your kids. We have promised ourselves to Tsa-Wa-Sum, and will not leave any stone unturned to make your child a better citizen to take care of our beloved country in future.......SELFLESS is what are........the Lopens !!!
We will be old by then, and someday we would not be surprised to see your child/ren smiling back at us, with no words to describe those days .......
21 years now with teaching. The best moments I come across is seeing my past students in different offices, and often standing up when I approach their offices for services....often I have to hide my tears of joy....and deep inside my heart echos...the sense of pride being TEACHER......
...and my dear parents, if you can read what I wrote....It is because of your TEACHER.......right???....
With respect
Sincerely yours
Karma Wangchuk
Teacher/Education Officer
ZHEMGANG

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