A Teacher's job is to kindle a fire in the minds of his/her students and to guide. They are not expected to be encyclopedias. Many of our teachers are quite incapable of doing that. There was a time when teachers used to frown upon students who resorted to 'guide books' or external tuitions. Today, sadly, it has become the norm.

Is it not a sign of plain incompetence? Teaching is not the job for incompetent learners. It has to attract the best of brains and has to be imbued with teaching techniques. This is true even for university education including professional institutes and not for pre-university colleges alone. The public reveres teachers in general, thanks to the very few great teachers of present and yesteryears.

Thomas K Mathai
Mysore