TEACHERS WHO SHAPED ME (SCHOOL TEACHERS)- PART II

This post is about my school teachers and my school life.

LKG to second standard

I did my LKG to second standard in Seventh Day Adventist school, Neyveli. My father was working in bank in a small town, Sholapuram, Kumbakonam district which had no proper schools. So, I was staying with my grandparents in Neyveli and did my schooling there. I don’t remember much about my teachers that time. Vague remembrances are playing in a large playground, telling rhymes in chorus, and sleeping in the afternoon. They will make us sleep in the afternoon on mats.

This is my second standard school group photo in Seventh standard school, Neyveli. Try to spot me if you can. This photo was taken in school playground.

Third standard

Third standard, I studied in Seventh Day Adventist School,Pondicherry.  I remember my class teachers' name was ‘Lovely’ miss and she was lovely by nature as well. I could not adjust for the change of school and place from Neyveli to Pondicherry so I used to cry in the mornings to go to school. Lovely miss took care of me well, then I started liking to go to school, mainly because of her. I don’t know where is she now, but I always remember her. Then one more incident during my third standard which I remember. We used to have many tests in all subjects for 20 marks. If we get full marks (20/20), they will paste one maggi sticker in the backside of school diary and when we get more than 20 such stickers, one maggi packet was given to the students. That was the first time, I ate maggi. I had got many maggi packets later.

Fourth standard

My parents let me stay with my grandparents again in Neyveli, and this time its Jawahar school, Block-26, Neyveli. There were  annexe schools in many blocks till class Five. Sixth to twelfth was in the main school. I was the class leader. I remember playing coco, ring ball and skipping. We were taken for excursion to Gingee fort. 

Fifth to Twelfth standard

From shuffling between schools every year, then I came to a standstill. Yes, from from fifth to twelfth standard, I did not change any schools, I studied in St. Patrick Matric Higher Secondary School, Puducherry. During my times, we had an annexe and main building. Annexe had LKG to Second standard and the rest in main school. There is a statue of St.Patrick school at the entrance. Ours was the first batch where two sections were there. Before that only one section was there.

I joined in class V ‘A’ section. Balan sir was my class teacher. It was special for him as he was appointed as the class teacher first time.

This is girls group photo with our class teacher, Balan sir.

From sixth to tenth standard, I was in section ‘B’ as my second language was French. Students whose second language was Tamil were in section A and French as second language were in section B and Hindi, Sanskrit students were split up in both sections.

Even though the schools' name was St.Patrick, we celebrated all festivals in school. During Diwali, boondi packets were given to all students, during Christmas cupcake, during Pongal sugarcane, during childrens' day,chocolates. Teachers day were celebrated on a grand scale. On teachers day, all teachers were honoured and students of higher classes took care of lower class students. That was the only day when teachers were sitting for a function at school, else for all other functions, teachers were standing all the time monitoring students. On Christmas day celebration all students were happy as we had our last exam, General knowledge exam followed by Christmas day celebration and then winter vacation started.

My school principal was Regis sir. Directrix Lilly Regis mam, Director was Frederick sir, Headmaster Martin sir, Headmistress Alphonse mam. They all were very encouraging and supportive.

My English teachers were Mrs. Vidya Ravi, Mrs. Pushpa. My English language basics and grammar is because of them. We used to have oration, sometimes extempore. Vidya Ravi miss always encouraged to take part actively.

My French teachers were Mr. Marcel and Mr.Sagar. Marcel sir was strict and sometimes friendly as well. Since I was not taking breakfast properly, during my tenth standard, my parents complained to him, he then told me to write everyday in my school diary what I ate and get signed by my father. 

My mathematics teachers were Regis sir (principal sir), Mr.Mouralidharane, Mr.Sambasivam and Mr.Julian. Regis sir was so  good in his concepts and taught us well. He is no more but your memories are always there sir with your students.

My Biology teachers were Emile sir, Vijayan sir, Manimegalai miss. I remember the biology lab, drawing records and the paintings of Emile sir .He was a good teacher and  a great painter. Ramasamy sir (Botany lecturer) and Kasinathan sir (Zoology lecturer) took classes for us on weekends in eleventh and twelfth. 

My physics teachers were Mr.Martin, Mr.Mohanraj, Mr.Balamurali, Mrs.Neela and Mr.Punjabikesan sir. Punjabikesan sir was a college lecturer and he used to take classes for us on weekends. He was an excellent teacher.

My Chemistry teachers were Mr.Arokiaraj and Mrs.Vasuki. I remember doing all practical experiments in chemistry lab. Colourless salts becoming colorful and salts changing colours. Wow, it was so magical. Arokiaraj sir used to answer all my doubts, don’t know if it were simple, even after working hours.

My history and geography teachers were Mrs.Alma, Mrs. Rajeshwarie and Mrs. Senthamizhselvi. I loved to read history and in geography I fell in love with Europe, don’t know why. Even since my seventh standard, I wanted to go to Europe, especially Switzerland. Hopefully, will plan to go once COVID settles.  Senthamizh selvi miss was my tenth class teacher and she is very caring, responsible teacher.

My Hindi teacher was Chitra miss, I took extra classes in Hindi (for Prathmic exam) from her. I used to go to her house and learn. I like Chitra miss and she is a nice teacher, a more responsible teacher to say. She is also our eleventh and twelfth class teacher.

My tamil teachers were Mrs.Malarvizhi, Mr, Ilavazhagan and Mrs.Meenatchi. I studied tamil in my fifth standard after that French was my second language.

During our exams and results, our teachers were more tensed than us or our parents.

Tenth standard farewell pic. From left to right: Senthamizhselvi miss, Chitra miss, Nataraj sir and Emile sir.

                                                                To be continued in next post...

                                                                                           Written by Dr.Priyavadhana