Techlicious

...I was saying, when I got my present job, the advertisement they had put in the papers implied that they wanted someone who knew English like Shakespeare, Punjabi like Amrita Pritam and Hindi like Tulsidas - Salary: no constraints for deserving candidate. And in response they got me. I had all the qualifications, but a little mixed up. Yeah! with Punjabi, definitely like Shakespeare. 

Does that mean I was not appointed?  

January 28, 2014 at 11:00 am

I was sitting on a plush sofa opposite the huge reception, trying to look totally relaxed and unperturbed. While waiting impatiently for my turn I could hear words from within, "Listen, today you have to look really serious. That means less of that twinkling eyes and impish smile and more of that solemn looks. After all, future of some 20 odds would be in my hands."  

After ten minutes, while I was just about to reach later stages of Subway Surfers,  I could hear "Ms. Anushree, your turn please." All engrossed, waking up from my reverie, I rushed towards the cabin. 

Excerpts from an interview for the post of pre primary teacher:

"Can you speak English?" 

In my mind (Eh, well yeah, like most of us), "Yes, pretty decent, if not like Shakespeare." 

"Can you handle kids?"

"Yes, I believe I can. I have a year old daughter." 

"What do you think has been the most exciting thing happening or happened in last few years?" 

"This whole advent of technology." 

"Interesting, go on" 

"Well, now, as we talk about tablet- shaped classroom, I really think we have come a long way and it's time to make our education paperless.

And then, rest today I am working with something, or rather, for the system of progressive education. And still remember the words by one of the interviewee there. 
"Exactly! let's break free of rote education. We want our kids to become an author and not a scribe". 

and while you read this, also think 

...if a pen is mightier than a sword. really? 

...can my dog eat my homework?
...think about the money school can save in the long run? True, making a Google school can be prohibitively expensive at least in initial years. 

The textbook isn't about to die a sudden death – especially not in India, where many children still do not have access to the internet at home. But, that day is not far behind, hopefully, when homework would be done at the click of a mouse. :)                      ........................................................

P.S: Title of this post has been taken from HT Brunch's weekly column by Rajiv Makhni.