S t r at e g y

While sharing some of her teaching she never earned extra money through ed the interviewer at the Bank exam
methodologies with ED Matrix, she extra tuition. not to select her, as she wanted to
noted that teaching should be full of become a teacher. In her twenty years
Sumathi had been a very dedicated
ideas and not stuffed with facts. “Pres- as teacher, she had never punished a
teacher. The school where she worked
ence of mind helps a lot for teachers. student. She says, the more rigid you
earlier, recognizing her dedication, de-
They can associate the concepts they are, worse will be the repulsion to the
clared holiday so that the students and
lecture, with related stories or everyday subject.
staff could attend her wedding. Look-
incidents”. She cites her own experience ing back she realizes that 20 years As a Chemistry teacher, she laments
of how she explained the Screening Ef- have gone by in using such innovation that only a meager number of students
fect through the method of association, in teaching and she cherishes those get into research. “Even if one or two
citing the example of Pakistan and India moments when she received letters of my students get into research every
border issue, with electrons as the Army, from her old students, in appreciation year, I will be happy. I wish my stu-
Pakistan as Nuclear force and India as and gratitude. dents carry my message”…..
outermost electrons.
To become a teacher was a
To introduce a new concept, she recom- dream. She request-
mends “Known-to Unknown” methodol-
ogy. “When you teach children from what
they know, they will not panic. For in-
stance, when you introduce the concept
of photosynthesis, ask them questions
about trees. They will mention roots,
stems, fruits and leaves and when they
say that leaves are green in colour, you
can explain why they are green and in-
troduce the concept of photosynthesis.”
A positive attitude towards the subject
will create interest in the subject, she tells
her students. “If you think that a subject
is boring, it will be boring. Open the book
with a positive attitude. Smell the new
papers of the book and smile over the
funny names of the authors. Now you will
have the interest to read”, she adds.
When asked if she handles private tuition,
“Teaching is my passion, not a business,”
the words came like a slug, from this enthu-
siastic teacher, who started the ca-
reer when she was 19 . Ever since

Silver nitrate, silver nitrate

it’s chemistry time in the lab
Ding-a-ling, with a copper ring
soon it will be chemistry day.

Take your nitrate, in solution

Add your copper with style
In the beaker there’s
a feeling of reactions
silver forming, blue solution
Bringing ooh’s ah’s and wows
now the data procesing begins!

16 ed matrix MAY 2008

S t r at e g y
• He seemed to have a “revolving
door” of generals whom he often
removed and replaced; yet, in reality, he
gave them ample time and support to
produce results.
• He claimed not to have controlled
events, that his policy was to have no
policy when, in actuality, he did control
events to a very large degree by being
aggressive, taking charge, and being
extraordinarily decisive.
One naturally wonders how Lincoln
could possibly have managed all of
16
these amazing inconsistencies during
so trying a time in American history.
Yet not only did he manage them, he
mastered these paradoxes in such a
formidable manner that, by being more
often proactive that reactive, he actually
controlled the outcome of events. While
Lincoln was able to capitaliSe on his
own strengths, he was also to recognise
his shortcomings, compensate for them,
and play down his darker side.
All human beings have their weaknesses,
but not all of us realise them, come to
ed matrix june 2008
grips with them, or offset their negative
impact.
How did Lincoln control the more negative
aspects of his character, such as anger
and frustration? Though once in a while
he would blow up and lose his temper, he
usually did it in private. To avoid such a
display, Lincoln would sit down and write
lengthy letters that he generally did not
send. They served as ways to release
his pent-up emotional feelings.
Lincoln usually exhibited his darker
sides only in private; problem, in a less
emotional frame of mind. But Lincoln’s
primary goal was to not lose his temper
at all, or at least to minimize the times he
would do so. His strategy was simply to
not put himself in that position, to avoid
conflict wherever possible. “Let minor
differences, and personal preferences,
if there be such; go to the winds,” he
once said.
If Lincoln was able to master himself,
so can contemporary leaders, who can
learn from his skill. He managed his
darker side by displaying his outrage
only in private, writing long letters to
vent his anger and emotion, avoiding
conflict wherever possible, and never
quarrelling over insignificant matters.
And Lincoln is charismatic even
in death. Mention of his name still
generates great emotion. Today he has
a tremendous following that spans all
walks of life, all professions, all around
the globe.
Corporate leaders of the future will
have to provide employee security
while also encouraging an environment
for risk taking. At times it will seem like
walking a delicate tightrope. But, in
reality, it is nothing more than the simple
understanding that each person, and
each situation, is different and should
be handled uniquely, in some cases
with completely opposite styles. In many
ways, mastering paradox is nothing more
than having good common sense.
Abridged from Donald T. Phillips’
‘Lincoln on Leadership’
E V E NT

“Tourism & Education Fair 2008”

A
dmission Season just passed
by! New academic year
brought in changing trends,
rising competition and fresh
opportunities to cope with.
During the admission seasons, the focus
of the students and parents is largely
on finding suitable school and course
for your students. Getting enrolled in a
professional course still seems to be the
top priority in the State.
However, a lot of skill factors determine
how a student can perform while in, and
once out of college and school. Whether
it is a primary or secondary education or
employment, it is this value addition that, on topics ranging from Engineering to
on most occasions, outweighs academic While marks and Job opportunities in Tourism and Hotel
credentials of a candidate. performance in school and Industries. Leading Nationalised Banks
While marks and performance in school college still count, it is the participated in the exhibition to facilitate
and college still count, it is the student’s student’s performance in educational loans. Besides health check
performance in extra – curricular activities up programmes such as eye testing,
extra – curricular activities dental check up. Blood grouping, etc were
and their soft skills and communication
skills that are likely to give them an edge
and their soft skills and also part of the show for the benefit of the
over their counterparts. communication skills students attending the fair, he said.

It was with this motive The Tamilnadu

Tourism Development Corporation
in association with Spell Bound has
organised “Tourism and Education fair
2008”, at Rajaji hall Chennai.
The fair started on 27th June 2008, and
continued up to 7th July 2008.
Inaugurating the exhibition, V. Iraiyanbu.
IAS., Secretary, Tourism Development
Corporation and culture, said the fair will
guide the students in shaping their career
prospects and to provide educational
counselling for academic improvements.
“For the benefit of the students, Aptitude
tests, memory improvement programmes,
Learning enhancement programmes and
Personality Development Programmes
16
that are likely to give
them an edge over their
counterparts.
will be conducted by the team of clinical
Psychologists,” he said.
“Individual counselling for slow learners
and low achievers will also be offered.
Children with learning disabilities, hyper
active tension deficit syndrome, dyslexia,
etc. will be identified by the psychologists
and treatment will be prescribed.” he
added while speaking about the special
function of the fair.
‘Career Talks’ is yet another salient
feature of the fair. Eminent educational
experts were roped in to conduct sessions
ed matrix july 2008
The fair had 75, stalls represented by
Catering Colleges and universities
and book publishers, Government
Departments and the State Parent
Teacher Association related to Education
and UNICEF.
Information on job opportunities, career
options, studying abroad, Institutions
giving career guidance will also be
provided through this exhibition,
Iraiyanbu said.
He said, “It offers you information at your
fingertips with experts to help you make
sense of all the data. It is up to you to
make the best of this opportunity and arm
yourself with knowledge as admissions
2008 gets in to full swing.”
Ananda K.
E V E NT

Road safety programme

launched in school

Safety first: Section of the students at the Toyota safety educational programme launch in Chennai.

C
HENNAI: A safety education
programme in schools
was launched in the city
on Wednesday by Toyota
Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. as
part of its corporate social responsibility
initiatives.
Speaking at the launch at Chettinad
Vidyashram, company’s director
Shekar Viswanathan, said such
16
initiatives were necessary in view of
the worsening road safety situation.
Additional Commissioner of Police
(Traffic) Sunil Kumar quizzed the
students on various road safety rules.
“Children can become the ambassadors
of the traffic police.”
Toyota Kirloskar Managing Director
Hiroshi Nakagawa said the programme
aims to raise awareness about of
ed matrix august 2008
road safety among children and
make them better motorists in future.
The animated road safety mascot
“Traffy” and the child cartoon cha
racters “Aki” and “Maya” will adorn
the campaign material. Details on
the programme are available at
www.tsepindia.com.
Anandha Prabhu. K