My Dream......

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Teachers matter to me. My work at The Teacher Foundation, makes every day for me,  a teachers' day.  But today, the 5th of October - World Teachers' Day, I have a  special message for teachers of India. 

 I borrow from the pastor and civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 50 years have gone by since Dr. Martin Luther King's famous 'I have a Dream Speech' given in Washington in August 1963. I paraphrase that speech today....

I have a dream....
that one day India will rise up and live out the true meaning of its intent: "...that every child has a right to ... education of an equitable quality and relevance, in schools that satisfy all essential norms and standards."

I have a dream that one day, in our schools, children, regardless of social status,or economic status, or caste, or creed, will be able to learn and play together in an atmosphere of mutual respect and affection.

I have a dream that one day every Indian school, burdened today by bureaucratic neglect and guilty of inequity, inequality and lack of opportunity, will be transformed into safe, sensitive spaces for learning with freedom and fairness.
I have a dream that our grandchildren will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the circumstances of their birth but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, in every school and classroom, teachers will uphold with honour, their amazing power to do the right thing for every child, every day, and to see that no child, however disadvantaged, misses the education that is her right.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day the best young men and women in our country, will seek to be teachers, not just for the status the profession offers, but for the satisfaction of nurturing India's human potential.

I have a dream that teachers and principals in schools across our country will set high standards of professional competence and seek to continuously hone their knowledge and skills....



Teachers grab the greatness that's in your reach !

Maya Menon
mayamenon@teacherfoundation.org 

3 comments :

Nomita Wahi Sikand said...

Wonderful and with every passing moment we dream that more of us come to share this dream to bring it to reality! Happy World Teacher's Day!!

Unknown said...

Happy World Teachers' Day.

Supriya Sircar Dasgupta said...

Teacher s rights?! i have some very strong views on this issue. i could not locate the feedback domain in your blog. as a fully qualified, very experienced teacher, who has had to live entirely on her teacher s income due to circumstances, i have experienced severe discrimination because i am 'different", i have been grossly underpaid for my quality and dedication. private schools adhere to no norms or ethical standards. if i named them, i would have to leave Blore cos it is a mafia here! There is nothing romantic in this "noble profession"--it is just the smartest getting the biggest bucks. sorry for this, but i have every reason to feel cynical after teaching from 1971 onwards. Either you fit the bill for Govt school teaching--which i dont, or learn to be cheesy and act like a performing monkey to amuse the powers that be of private institutions. Then, when you are old and ill, you are out. This is teaching--- ha ha ha

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