The art of facing the challenges of teaching

How the passion, vision, commitment and the willingness to change help teachers to mentor the students? Anitha Mabel Manohar, Director, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai shares the mantra 

Teachers are candles. When Ms Anitha Mabel Manohar, Director, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai began her interaction with the teachers of the Velammal Fraternity, on the occasion of Teachers’ Day on September 5, it was not the opening of a run-of-the-mill motivational speech. She had much more to share, to guide the teachers into a new world.

Teaching has no age, but it is a huge challenge to be a teacher, she said, referring to the willpower of a nonagenarian woman who was passionate about teaching even at that age. It was the same passion, vision and commitment that took Ms Manohar to the heights of her career.

Ms Manohar had her PhD from Avinashilingam University for Women before joining the NIFT. She was successful in turning around the institution and transforming it to the third best fashion college in the country, which is a great achievement in a country like India where there are scores of fashion institutes. Over the years, she has won many laurels for her academic brilliance and also pioneered many innovations at NIFT Chennai. No doubt, the credit for the distinction that NIFT Chennai has today goes to this versatile personality whose creative genius and institutional approach is reflected in this institution established in 1995. 

Incidentally, it was a late entry for the interview held in New Delhi, since her flight was delayed by a few hours, which gave her the opportunity to convince the interview board about her caliber and potential as a fashion designer. The moment the interview was over, she was sure she would get the job at NIFT, she said.

In her interaction, Ms Manohar said we had forgotten the realities of life, but the Corona fever took us back to those realities. “The best teacher award goes to Corona this year,” she quipped, underscoring how the concept of teaching has changed in the times of the pandemic. Covid-19 is a turning point for us, added Ms Manohar.

No intimidation please

A teacher should not intimidate, so those who have that attitude should change their teaching methodology, she said adding that they should inculcate a value system among the students. “As you grow older, you will regret for all the intimidations,” she said pointing out how she successfully handled the students at NIFT, without intimidating. “New methodologies come when you look at the world.”

One of the main attributes of a teacher is to understand the needs of the children, but that is not an easy one, and it has to be nurtured, our mind’s eye has to open. Earlier a special child was considered dump, but today we have evolved, she added.

This means, a teacher has to be updated and renew frequently. Unless you are not continuing and refreshing your talent, you will not be able to appreciate others. Children come to an institution to gain knowledge, and we should be able to realize that. Along with this, we have to cultivate a social attitude among them and let them connect with their peers, senior and juniors, she said elaborating the concept of classroom deliverables.

Learn to appreciate

Learn appreciation, and do not be struck with you own ideology, she said pointing out the importance of building a positive energy. When students are inspired to make group presentation and group activities, it would motivate them, and if we correct their mistakes in a positive manner, it would not discourage them. When you teach them how to criticize in a positive manner, they will not take home unhealthy, ugly criticism. For all these things, learning has to take place in a happy atmosphere.

“Make buddy system. When you have buddy system, you are going to have a mixture of different types of student,” said Ms Manohar. After all, you are building children as bricks for the society to build the country.

That is why classroom lessons include emotional bonding, talent sharing and creation of empathy apart from teaching the lessons as per the syllabus. When the teachers inspire the children to write short story and such small writings, it brings out their observation. Inculcating observation among the students is very much important, she said.

In order to create a sense of sharing among the students, the teachers should promote the culture of sharing their food and also they should have lunch with children in the school, because this is a beautiful character building exercise, she said, adding, “Create a homely atmosphere; this will enable better understanding and create trust among the students.”

Also, they should be taught as to what they should take and what not to take. Further, a teacher should never express the feeling that they are willing to accept gifts, because it gives the signal that they are vulnerable to bribes. The teacher should create a mentoring relationship.

Another important area that she discussed was on gender sensitization, which is very important. You can bring this into your classroom even if this is not your subject, she said. Similarly, the personal appearance has to be taken care of. It is not that you should wear costly dress. You have to wear neat dress, and it should have freshness and cleanliness. “Teachers, you are also building students who are your brand ambassadors,” she added.

There are many qualities that a teacher has to instill among the students, including philanthropy. A teacher should be able to transform negativity into positivity and help children to detoxify themselves. The heads of the institutions should give teachers that freedom, she said. A teacher has to be non-judgmental and sensitive to small incidents. He or she should be able to learn from others, including from the maids, children and even the pets.

Sharing her philosophy that if you have the vision and courage, you can do anything, she said how she changed the image of NIFT Chennai.

“I pass my dreams to my faculty, and they live my dreams. Now, children from working class and even from slums are studying in NIFT, and they are outstanding,” she described how the institute transformed over the years, adding, “Unless institutions change we cannot build good people.”