A : Hello, Sir, how are you?
B : Well, stuck up at Class 8.
A : Why, Sir? What happened? Why stuck there?
B : Oh, the last and the final teacher came to teach a few years back and none have come since then. None can come anymore.
A : Why so, Sir? Who prevents the other teachers from coming to teach?
B : Oh, know you not? It is the Principal's order that none may violate.
A : So, Sir, you remain ill-qualified at Class 8 level.
B : Yes, brother, no more teaching, no more classes, no more learning. I am just repeating every day what he taught in Class 8 several years ago. And I coach others the same lesson as well over and over again without altering it even slightly. And they listen and learn well and memorise so well, too, barring a few, though, that play truant. They wish to know more but there is no more to teach. The final lesson has been delivered. Children, they do not understand, some of them, I mean.
A : Any chances that the Principal will relent?
B : No way. He is giving prizes and punishments for lessons well learnt or ill learnt. And the students are fiercely fighting for them.
A : Alright then, Sir, good luck to you and to your students. I have got to move on and see other schools, too, and find out what they are up to.
B : Tell them as well that this is the law. They must study the lessons I am sending with you, those which our Principal's appointee, the last teacher, taught in Class 8. This is our Principal's command.
A ; Sure, Sir, I will tell them and hand them over the lessons. And take care, Sir. Mind your flock well.
Written by Sugata Bose
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