Celebrating the teachers of the Blind Relief Association

Teachers Day at the Blind Relief Association is a day-long celebration not just for the ‘teachers’ per se, but for every trainer, student and staff.

While teachers play a huge role in the life of every individual, a special education teacher/ trainer plays a greater role in the life of every visually impaired person. The different units of the Association chose to honor and celebrate their teachers/ trainers in its own way this year.

In JPM Senior Secondary School, a traditional rather fun practice is the idea of ‘role reversal.’ Senior students turn to be the Principal, Vice Principal and teachers of the school for a day. They also prepare and teach lessons for the junior students in the morning hours. This year, Ajay Gupta and Sonu of Class XII were the Principal and Vice Principal respectively.

The afternoon witnessed the cultural presentations of the students in music. The Chief Guest of the occasion was Mr. S. K. Sharma, a former visiting faculty of JPM School. Gracing the occasion as the Guest of Honour was Dr. T. K. Bansal, a Physicist and former faculty of IIT Delhi & Kharagpur. Being visually impaired he has committed himself to mentoring blind students to pursuing science and technology in higher studies. They shared inspiring words, encouraging determination in students.

The trainees of the Association are those who either missed out or dropped out on school education. Yet, their trainers are the ones they look up to today. The trainees at the Multi Skill Training, Relaxation Massage Training and the Computer Centre trainees organized functions for their respective teachers and trainers. In a common gathering of trainees at the Gandhi Hall in the morning, trainee Bharat Rai regaled the audience and of course his trainers by singing and playing the guitar and another time by playing his mouth organ.  Another interesting performance was by the trainee Rahul Sharma who would sing and use his chair instead of a cajon.

The teacher-trainees and of Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education celebrated the day with great enthusiasm, for in a year or two, it will be time for them to be the teachers that they dream to be!