The Lockdown
Whatever will be will be, the future’s not ours to see, Que sera sera…
So, rise and shine and do what you do best!
When you are a teacher responsible for the future of hundreds of students, you rise faster than ever.
As for our situation in March, there was no time to panic.
The full lockdown was in effect. We were severely impacted along with the rest of the world. Plans had to be altered, new strategies had to be made and strong decisions had to be taken. It was not just about education. It was about maintaining calm, ensuring the emotional and mental well-being of teachers and students, providing a sense of security and purpose in everybody’s life, and looking positively at the worst scenarios.
It might seem difficult, but when you have a team that looks up to you and has faith in you, things get easier. So, the faculty came together, analysed the situation, and took the first decision.
We made our first official announcement on March 24: the school will remain closed for the summer holidays for one month. The new session would start on May 1 and 5 for the Senior and Junior Schools respectively, instead of April 1.
The students rejoiced! Extended break! Hooray! It eased the feeling of the lockdown.
The teachers got a breather. Now was the time to arm ourselves.
The technology was going to take over our lives and we were left with no option but to make it our ally. To befriend someone, you’ve got to make them comfortable. We ordered new laptops for all our staff members. Within a few days, everybody had a new toy.
The excitement was in the air. Hashtags came alive.
#Learn and grow. #Learning never stops. #We shall overcome. #We Can!
Workshops, webinars, virtual training sessions, resource development, presentations, - were fairly new concepts which our teachers lapped up with glee. ‘Virtual’ was an unfamiliar term but soon became an all-encompassing word.
Emojis were the new hugs, virtual meets were new human bonding, and virtual platforms were the new meeting points. Overnight, travel agencies, restaurants, malls, and holiday-resorts declared infinite closure. Millions lost their jobs, and ‘worried’ whispers were made among the staff members. A virtual staff meeting was called to put their fears to rest. Once they were assured that their livelihood was not at stake, they got relieved and readied themselves to combat the challenge.
Adversity also opens up opportunities. Entrepreneurs found avenues to flourish.
A plethora of trainers, resource builders, and online material providers mushroomed overnight. To grab a share of the market, they were ready to provide their offerings, free of cost for this period. They were laying it out to entice the teaching community that was gasping for breath. People were selling half-baked ideas, hoping that they would catch up as time progressed. They placed their bets on the assumption that the education sector would be enticed by any straw of hope because it was FREE. We saw demos by the dozen to find something that would empower our teachers.
It was easy to fall prey to this honey trap and become dependent on these crutches for life. But it is essential to learn how to fish rather than get the fish – even if it is FREE!
Fortunately, our teachers showed equal enthusiasm and learnt to cope slowly but steadily. They helped one another and rose as a team. They became the role models for the students by showing them that persistence and the ‘will-to-learn’ can overcome any obstacle. From being technologically challenged, they challenged technology and came out victorious. April was never as strenuous for them as in 2020, but they will remember it as one of the most satisfying months of their lives. They evolved!
The terminology in their conversations changed, the confidence in their ability grew, the pride in their profession galloped. Teachers became exemplars. They were catering to their children’s & family’s demands and professional exigencies without letting any of these get in the way of one another.
They came out with flying colours!
