Sunday Special: The Unfiltered Confessions of a Classroom Life

SUNDAY SPECIAL:  TEACHER TALKS 

The Unfiltered Confessions of a Classroom Life

By Rakesh Kushwah

Why This Blog Exists Today??

Teachers, parents, and students wrote heartfelt comments on last week’s blog.

Some praised the truth.

Some shared their pain.

Some said, “Sir, thank you for saying what we always felt but never spoke.”

And one line repeated again and again:

“Sir, teachers melt with a genuine sorry.”

Yes.

One honest “Sorry, Sir / Madam” can heal a teacher’s week-long frustration.

But one false accusation…

one exaggerated story…

one misunderstanding…

can break a teacher forever.

So today, I am not writing as a lecturer, author, or admin.

Today I speak as a teacher — seedhi baat, dil se baat.

And I begin with two stories from Mumbai…

stories that shaped me, broke me, healed me.

STORY 1 — The Wooden Scale & The Sound That Echoed

When I was half of my present age,

I entered Mumbai with a glowing face, confident mind,

energy of knowledge,

a spark of wisdom,

and a beautiful art of teaching.

One day in a big junior college,

my students came without textbooks —

despite several reminders.

I tapped their palms with a wooden scale.

Not out of anger.

Out of discipline.

Out of affection.

And they accepted it with smiles.

The sound reached the watchman, the gatekeeper, the guards.

They whispered,

“Yeh sir maarte hai bachchon ko.”

But I wasn’t scared.

I had the support of parents, students, and management.

I had completed two academic years.

In fact, the institute wanted me to help them find a good replacement.

When I left for a higher-paying job —

triple salary —

students cried in my remembrance.

Yes, those same students I tapped on their palms.

That is the irony of teaching —

Strictness becomes love years later.

STORY 2 — The Duster That Hit the Wall, Not Me

In my next highly paid institute,

I was new.

Trying to maintain discipline with a gentle balance.

One day a boy was talking loudly even after seeing me.

I controlled myself, called him forward,

asked him to show his palm…

and before I could even raise my hand —

He threw the duster with full force into the corner of the room.

The class froze.

I froze.

His eyes were red with anger.

Like a bull staring at a red cloth.

I said nothing.

Not a word.

I continued my lecture as if nothing happened.

But that night I didn’t sleep.

For days I didn’t sleep.

I told no one.

I simply carried the pain inside.

Years passed…

and then…

One day, an email arrived.

“Sir, I am sorry.

Every synonym of sorry… I mean all of them belong to this message.”

He asked to meet me.

He came.

Touched my feet.

Cried.

Hugged me.

I healed that day.

After 10 long years,

I healed.

That is the life of a teacher —

we break silently and heal silently.

CONFESSIONS OF A TEACHER

✔ We smile while dying inside.

✔ We forgive easily, even when we are wounded.

✔ We carry stress to protect children.

✔ We swallow humiliation for the sake of careers.

✔ We cry alone, so students never see our weakness.

✔ We melt when a child says, “Sorry, Sir/Ma'am.”

✔ We remember every insult.

✔ We remember every apology even more.

And yes —

teachers today are judged instantly, corrected instantly, doubted instantly.

For one extra mark,

some students and even parents go to any extent —

blaming, arguing, insulting, exaggerating.

But teachers?

We still bless.

My favourite line, which all my students know:

“You can insult two people easily and still get blessings —

your parents and your teachers.”

THE REALITY OF TODAY

Parents think strictness is outdated.

Students think leniency is weakness.

Management thinks discipline is optional.

Society thinks teachers should be perfect.

But nobody sees the tears behind the smile,

the silence behind the scolding,

the pressure behind the decisions.

Leniency is sometimes not love — it is survival.

Strictness is not anger — it is care.

Teachers are expected to be:

✔ Perfect

✔ Patient

✔ Polite

✔ Emotionally balanced

✔ Morally ideal

✔ Always available

✔ Never wrong

But…

Teachers are also human.

A MESSAGE FOR PARENTS & STUDENTS

• If a teacher scolds you — it’s out of hope.

• If a teacher forgives you — it’s out of love.

• If a teacher becomes silent — it’s out of pain.

• If a teacher becomes lenient — it’s out of helplessness.

• If a teacher becomes strict — it’s out of responsibility.

• If a teacher cries — no one knows.

A teacher fights battles no one sees.

Give them space.

Give them respect.

Give them a little understanding.

They give their entire life for someone else’s future.

THANK YOU FOR LAST SUNDAY

You read the blog wholeheartedly.

You shared it widely.

You dropped heartfelt comments.

You made my words reach hundreds.

From my heart, soul,

conscious, subconscious, and unconscious mind—

Thank you. 🙏🏻 

CLOSING — SEEDHI BAAT

A teacher is not strict.

Not lenient.

A teacher is a human being

with a large heart

and a lifetime of stories you will never know.

Respect them before it’s too late.

Because when they leave…

their absence teaches more than their presence ever did.

Disclaimer

This blog reflects my personal experiences, thoughts, and reflections as a teacher. It is intended for sharing insights and promoting understanding, not as a guide for professional or legal advice. While I write from my heart and years of experience, I may make mistakes or express opinions that evolve over time. Name, place, and events may be changed or adapted for privacy. Any resemblance to real individuals or institutions is purely coincidental.

— Rakesh Kushwaha

Educator | Writer | Lifelong Learner