Chennai: It is not surprising that mathematics takes the first spot when it comes to least favourite subject in school, as it is considered a challenge to teach and learn.
However, maths teacher S Manju (39), a resident of Tansi Nagar, residing at Velacheri in the city thinks otherwise.
Manju was recently honoured with the Best Teacher Award by the Lions Club of Golden City. Sharing her experience of being a teacher with News Today, she says that her whole family has immense love for maths.
“I have been teaching for the past 22 years, and I currently work at Sairam Vidyalaya, a CBSE school, in Madipakkam. My sister Lalli is also a Maths teacher at a school in IIT Madras Campus, and she has bagged several awards for teaching,” Manju informs.
At a time when corporal punishment is considered a crime, how easy is it to teach? “I teach maths for classes eight to 10, and it is not at all easy. In fact, maths is a subject students don’t like much, and it is quite a task to help them understand and learn the subject,” she answers.
Manju was given the award based on her punctuality, impressive attendance, subject knowledge and participation. And speaking about the honour, Manju clarifies that she does not work for one. “I feel happy when parents and students appreciate my passion and hard work.”
When asked about her teaching methodology, Manju says that she is a strict teacher. “I have good class control and apart from the main subject, I also allot a few minutes to teach value education.” Even when correcting exam papers, she makes sure to begin with the weak students so as to focus on their pluses and minuses.
A mother of two – her daughter is class eight and son in class two – she says her kids also show interest in maths.
So does she give them extra coaching? “No. I don’t teach them at home, that’s a teacher’s job. They understand what they are taught in class,” she is quick to reply.
When asked how the entire family made a career out of the subject, her father, P Shanmugam, a commerce graduate, pitches in.
He informs that his three children – two daughters and a son – pursued mathematics because of him, “I wanted to become a Chartered Accountant, but I simply could not get through maths and this is why I encouraged my kids to pursue the subject, I believe it has multi-fold benefits.” Manju can be reached at 9841558718.