One day I got a call from the heads of our department that I have to spend whole of my summer vacation to teach something called C language to students who are not having computer as their core branch. It was called "PreReqisite" course for the diploma to degree students.
I have been teaching computer, IT field students since years. This was my first chance to be with the michanical, chemical, civil and electrical minds. I readily agreed to take up the duty. And soon the compressed teaching of C programming began. The experience was an eye opener for me. I taught them with all my efforts and even then I was not reaching the perfectness of knowledge imparting task assigned to me. I thought somewhere I was lagging in inculcating the interest in the subject. But soon I recognized few students who did very well in the subject and others just following them. As the rapport between us started to build i came to know that I can't clap with one hand. It was me who was thrilled to teach them but on the other hand there were students who just wanted to pass the subject. They were determined not to be interested in the subject. I started taking lectures in laboratory and it worked. They were although not interested but they were atleast able to program. They were no more naive to C programming. I was satisfied that atleast I have done my job. I also learnt that why they were least interested in these "PreReqisite" classes. Since they joined the college before 1.5 year after passing 3 years of diploma they are supposed to clear the creditless pre-reqisite subjects in their vacations. Some of them away from home since long months. I can empathize with thm completely. Above all most of the subjects they study are not in relevance with their respective branch of study. I feel really sorry for them. Having such courses is good but it should not be burden to the students.
Above all I will never forget a student who remained absent for 50% of the classes. He came and managed to pass in the exams taken as mid-terms. But still he will not be allowed to keep the term as his attendance was lagging!
I am feeling really bad for my those students and specially the latter one. As a teacher I really feel helpless, I feel bad for being a part of the system and not being able to make it better.
