August 16, 2009

Your opinion matters!

A very close friend of mine thought that it was awkward to read my last post about using condoms to prevent AIDS. Basically, he said this in the context that I am also a teacher and my students will find it odd that their teacher is writing about things that are considered to be taboo in our society.

This made me think about whether I must be conscious about these things keeping in mind that some of my students also read my blog regularly. Should I refrain from writing about issues that are generally considered a taboo since coming from a teacher (who in our society is looked up to as a parent), it can make the student feel awkward? Or do I blog keeping my 'teacher' avatar separate from me the individual? Are these roles separable in the eyes of a student?

So, to get a real sense on this issue, I am creating an opinion poll for you to tell me what you think about this matter. Be honest in replying and feel free to add your comments. Quite obviously, the opinion of my student-readers matter the most! Also, add your comment separately to this post if you are my student!! It will help me in knowing your views better. There are separate options if you are a student and if you are a non-student reader - will help the analysis better.

Waiting for your thoughts!

19 comments:

Shishir said...

Well,the previous post regarding swine flu and AIDS,was quite an observation.But me being a student,i feel there is nothing wrong in that blog.No matter whatever a person can do,a fact will remain a fact.Truth is what is written in that blog.Some people might feel that it is wrong for a teacher to write such things,but c'mon guys afterall it is a 'blog' and not a 'classroom'.
Sir you being an individual,have a every right to write what you personally think is right.After all it's your blog.One more thing is that we all students who read your blog are also grown ups now,(atleast offically adults),so there is no harm in writing such things.
Such awareness is definately required amongst people,& we INDIANS are very good at running away from the facts.We consider something as 'taboo' because someone told us it is 'taboo'.It's time that we change this attitude and move on.
So i personally believe that there was nothing wrong in whatever you have posted.

Pandemonic Scribbles said...

Well, a blog is an e-reflection of what an individual is as a whole and not in different 'avatars'(assuming what one writes is true!). Opinions do matter provided they add value to your flow of thoughts and not the other way round. As for your blog, let the flow continue the way it is..

Cheena said...

Sir... M Your Student...
I want to attach a disclaimer that my opinion may not be correct...
I am expressing what I personally feel for this issue

Methinks... Referring such things in posts is extremely "OK"
It is more of a passing reference that you have made which has a huge huge message behind it...


Secondly...
I opine that such things are no more a taboo. If that is the case then we all are aware of the gravity of the AIDS problem that our country is facing...

The most important one...
Being conscious while writing posts keeping your 'teacher avatar" , I feel that cums from within...
Just consider this - What if you start an NGO and we your students too are part of it... and working for the cause if requires such references... will we think of such crap of taboo and all?
And I am very sure that you must have given adequate thoughts before writing this...

Nitin said...

Quiet OK...There is no taboo thing in writting such blogs...
Evry body is aware of such things but the thing is people dnt express this openly...
Me as a student doesnt matter abt who is writting such blogs...

LIFE said...

Hi Sir,
M ur student...
I dont think dere is anything wrong in expressing ur views on smthng, specially wen it is correct and thoughtful....
It(AIDS) is a big problem n all are aware of it but scared to speak it out...

Diviya said...

If teachers taught such things, then maybe people would be better informed. Prudes can just choose to stay away!

Aimless Wanderer said...

Whether or not such things are posted in blog, the very fact still remains. So I always feel that atleast blogging such fact creates awareness. The more a teacher brings such things to notice, the more he becomes closer to his students...i always feel. However I really dont think our opinions matters, as you are "the best" person to know what you write. Keep Blogging sir...

Vishal said...

Its a thumbs up from my side as far as such posts are concerned. Its very true that we students look up to you and your views are quite an Influence. And this requires you to be a bit more careful. But then, I dont think the post under discussion qualifies to be a TABOO. Today, when Sex Education starts right from schooling, students are quite accustomed to coming across such stuff and there isnt anything embarrassing in it as such. And arent there advts. on usage of Condoms.....
Its that people need to be a bit more broad minded.

avani said...

I believe you are conducting your responsibility of departing education truly well..by expressing your views through your blogs or in person. Whether the student likes it or not is for them to decide. Only education can bring about a difference..so don't give freedom of expression too much of a thought with regards to what others think about ur views. Am sure if your students are following your blogs..you have already earned their respect...so no second thots abt it..don't stop ur mind from expressing your true self...good luck!!

Nish said...

I think its completely ok for a teacher to talk on such matters, its rightly said teachers are placed on same place as parents, so parents and teachers are always ready to guide the students.Being a student i think its completely ok and there is no such taboo in it.....

nb.. said...

Its time that students get teachers who practice what they preach...

HCM, i am proud of you :-)

Vijeesh said...

Hi Sir,
It is completely ok with the views expressed by u in ur blog. There is nothing wrong in using words like Condoms or Sex. Since the topic on which u gave an importance is one of the national issues in our country and for that many steps r taken by the respected authorities but still we are lagging behind. Even sex education is introduced in school so there is no concept of taboo in it. Even the advertisements of condoms & AIDS are telecasted on television so there is nothing wrong in it. Even the government in its advertisement of National Aids Awareness Programme has a tagline with a song of "Condoms Condoms". Hence the final verdict from students like us -- U can go with ur views. Good Luck

Nilima ;) said...

...be what you are & write what you want to.
No one has any right to stop any one from doing anything unless it's harmful to others...
"like the birds fly in the sky freely without any barrier of state, country or continent, let your thoughts fly without the barriers of what your students feel, what your close friends feel, or any other Mr. XYZ feels."
My opinion would be just write what you want to, the readers must be mature enough to know what to take from whom, if they don't like it, it's their personal problem, neither your, nor ours. It's your BLOG no one have any right to bind you.
And if you will be thinking so much before writing anything then it won't be purely your hearties thought.
...so!
Just chill down & have your freedom at this place

Steffie said...

Sir i too feel that there's no problem in writing up such things on the blog.Its a means to create awareness among people and we being students need to have such knowledge..Our schools even used to educate us on such matters.I personally feel that educating us students on such matters proves helpful.

Unknown said...

Being a student i think its completely ok and there is no such taboo in it. If nt teachers then who the hell r gonna speak abt it in society today?

Unknown said...

being a student i can say dat sir u havent said anything wrong..and of course u should be urself as blogs are meant for that.spreading awareness to young people is really very essential in todays world and who better than teachers can do it..

Dhiraj Nichani said...

This is something everyone wants to talk about, bt donno who is gonna start. 40% of India's population is below 18 years nd since government is not taking adequate measures to come up and educate the massses, it becomes our responsibility to talk on such sensitive issues. Even a 12th standard student from science backgroung learns all this in biology class nd feels no shame of the teacher.. m ur student sir!

Unknown said...

JUST POST WHAT U FEEL. BE REAL BE ORIGINAL.!! IF U THINK SOMETHING IS NECESARY TO BE POSTED "THEN GO 4 IT" !!

ROTZYY.... said...

SIR, M UR STUDENT, AND I FEEL THAT U SHOULD NOT THINK MUCH ABOUT IT, BECAUSE U SHOULD B REAL, N MOREOVER WE AL STUDENTS (WHOM U TEACH)ARE EITHER 17 OR MORE THAN 17 YEARS OLD, NOT BELOW THAT, SO ALMOST ADULT, SO B PRACTICAL, N DO COMMENT OR POST SUCH THINGS(SO CALLED TABOOS)NO WORIES.....