Teachers worldwide, particularly in the US and the UK, are being reminded of the crucial need to strike a balance between influencing students and refraining from imposing their own perspectives on them. Indian educators also emphasize the significance of this balance, given the diverse backgrounds of students in the country.
Poornima Gupta, Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour and HRM at the Great Lakes Institute of Management, highlighted the sensitivity of maintaining such equilibrium, especially in higher education in India. With students hailing from various castes, classes, communities, and regions, the challenge becomes more pronounced. According to Prof Gupta, during higher education, students actively absorb influences from their surroundings, necessitating a cautious approach by educators.
Daviender Narang, Director of the Jaipuria Institute of Management, Ghaziabad, emphasized that the true purpose of education can only be fulfilled when teachers remain unbiased and maintain objectivity with their students.
To maintain this balance, some educators advocate avoiding certain topics. Prof Gupta mentioned that faculty members at her institution steer clear of debates that could lead to controversial discussions. They refrain from discussing politics with students, preferring healthy debates among themselves while ensuring they don’t impose their ideologies on students.
Sandhya Gatti, Head of Pedagogy and Professional Development at Chaman Bhartiya School, stressed the importance of teachers being self-aware, objective, and regularly questioning their biases. She highlighted the need for teachers to cultivate a growth mindset and remain aware of the world their learners inhabit, fostering objective discussions on concepts and real-world issues in the classroom.
While students interviewed generally noted that instances of teachers imposing their thoughts were rare in the Indian education system, variations in experiences were acknowledged. An MBA student from Delhi expressed a lack of such encounters, attributing it to luck and possibly the urban setting. On the other hand, a second-year BA Psychology student at Panjab University in Chandigarh mentioned instances where political discussions occurred during sociology classes but considered them relatively common in the school setting.
