Underpaid Teaching Faculty

"Modern cynics and sceptics see no harm in paying those to whom they entrust the minds of their children a wage than is paid to those whom they entrust the care of plumbing. " - John F.Kennedy
This is the sad state of affairs in Andhra Pradesh as well as in most other parts of the country. While Sri. Kapil Sibal and the UGC discuss about Higher education they are very proud of the high salaries they are offering to the teaching faculty in Higher Education. The fact is that this does not trickle down to the ground. In most of the states there is a ban on appointments and so when teachers retire or service for any reason, the post vacated by them is filled by people on contract basis. The salary of these contract lecturers may range anywhere from Rs 1500 to 10,000 depending upon various factors like demand, area, management and so on. As more and more Institutions of Higher Education come under private managements there is no controlling mechanism to safeguard the working conditions of these hapless creatures. Not only is the teachers salary a pittance, they have no job security and they are also deprived of chances to improve their professional skills because the management considers them to be 'birds of passage'. It is not to be wondered that they very rarely bring devotion and dedication so necessary for the vocation of teaching. This is a malaise that has not spared even St. Joseph's. What the socity and those in power should realise is that -
"Good teachers are costly, but bad teachers cost more." Bob Talbert

THIRTY SIX YEARS IN St. JOSEPH"S

On this day 36 years ago I stepped into St. Joseph's to begin a long and eventful career! Personally and professionally the college helped me to grow - the management, staff, students and alumni have given me their whole hearted support and endorsement - for which I am truly grateful.

The sea change that has occurred in Higher Education scenario is truly mind boggling. The objective then was to educate young women and empower them to be useful citizens of the community and nation. The teachers used all their abilities and capacities to do just that. The students mostly hailed from the upper strata of society which valued education for education sake and knew that it improved the quality of life.

The objective now is to make the women more employable and marketable. Neither the authorities nor the parents are interested in the welfare of the youth. Research, participation in extra and co-curricular activities, campus interview, placement record of the college, infrastructure and so on - these are the paraphernalia about which all the stake holders worry. No one cares if in the process there is no improvement in the knowledge quotient of the youth, who hail from the first generation learners with no background of intellectual activities. What is significant however is that there is a thirst for knowledge but the priorities decided by authorities are depriving the beneficiaries of their rights to proper education defined as any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual. Education especially at college level has become meaningless ritual of course completion and succeeding in examination with no change taking place in the minds or character of the youth.

Ragging - an exercise in bonding!

"Ragging" was not a bad word in the past and we in St Joseph's had our share of fun whether we were senior or juniors. The most common sight those days was to see the otherwise calm and playground full of girls(or should I say women) in blue flit from one group of raggers to another. The most popular sites were the portions of the playground in front of the three arches in the Homescience and the Hostel block as also the spot in front of the central steps of the main building. Everyone of these spots was reserved for specific groups - the middle arch of the Homescience block for the Homescientists and the other two in that block for the other sciences. The Hostel arches were for the humanities and the central steps were for the B.As (Optional English students as they were called). Looking like a tribal congress the girls would form concentric circles with the hapless juniors at the centre being bullied by two or three seniors whose bark was worse than their bites.

I can never forget one particular instance when the ragger got ragged. There was this meek-looking girl from a rival co-ed school who was asked to recite a nursery ryhme. After a lot of wrigggling and wiggling she started with the famous rhyme " Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie" and when he came to the part "down came the blackbird and pecked off her nose" she very cheekily stepped up to the Senior and very deftly her nose much to the astonishment and horror of all the girls. It will surprise the younger generation to know that that cheeky junior and the tweaked senior became best friends and contiue to be in touch even after their time in the college.
That is what ragging was about in St. Joseph's - an ice breaker and a cementer of friendship between the older and the younger generation. The Sisters and the staff knew and understood the value of this whole tamasha and kept out of the way while making sure that no harm was done to the physic or psyche of the students.
I would be happy to record the 'ragging' experiences of any of the Josephines!