Once a teacher

Believing that an educator never retires, Maria Natividade D’Souza popularly known as Natty teacher continues to teach and serve

BHARATI PAWASKAR | DECEMBER 21, 2015, 12:00 AM IST

Photo Credits: pg 2- she_2

Popularly known as Natty teacher throughout her teaching career that span up to four decades and even after her retirement from Model English High School in September 2004, Maria Natividade D’Souza was more than happy to extend her services to the field of education, conducting workshops for teachers, etc. From 2005 to 2010, she served as a block resource person at Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in Salcete giving in-service training to teachers on actions research and language skills.

“Social service was an inborn urge in me and I carried it out without any outside pressure. And when I was given the subject of social service in my schools I did my best to use this opportunity to embrace the children of lesser God,” states Natty who was fortunate to have been offered the opportunity to serve, when in 1987 a circular came that schools could opt for Junior Red Cross (JRC). “Knowing my desire to serve, our headmaster late Ratnakar Bhatikar handed over the responsibility of JRC to me. After attending short training courses and national training camps for councillors, I took the opportunity to instill in children, love for humanity and leadership qualities by conducting two-day residential camps every year imparting training in first aid, leadership, public speaking, etc under experienced resource persons. Our field work included visits to orphanages, old age homes, slum areas and cleanliness drives,” says Natty whose students were selected for national camps and always returned with prizes. Natty got a major role to play when she was selected as the secretary of the JRC, South Goa in 1998.

Then a turning point in his life came when she was invited to attend a five-day national seminar organised by the Teachers’ Teams of India on the theme ‘Social Action: Community Development’ where the resource person was C Thomas Abraham from Kerala. Attending this seminar changed her completely.

TT is an international Lay Apostolate Catholic organisation, under Dialogue and Cooperation, in Paris., France. It was started in 1942 in with the help of teachers who were convinced that the secularity of a state is one of the best options for the fulfilment of all human beings in a pluralistic society. “Our methodology is based on the observation – See, Judge and Act,” states Natty who attended national, Asian and international conventions of TT in the capacity of national co-ordinator, secretary and lastly as an Asian co-ordinator till 2014 attending international bureau meetings every year in Paris. Today, she carries her responsibility as an advisor for TT of India along with Fr Herve Morissette from Bangalore and Fr Walter de Sa from Goa.

It was Natty who introduced TT in Goa. She carried out regional seminars for teachers with outstanding topics as educating for moral values, justice and peace in the new millennium, child rights in the family, school and society as well as counselling sessions for under-trained teachers. She continues the personality development sessions for students till today.

TT members have monthly meetings where they discuss the problems they face in their teaching profession and decide how best they could handle the situation, which helps them improve their relationships with the students, teachers, parents and management.

Natty recalls joining the teaching profession in June 1964, in St Anthony’s Day school, Agra as a trained teacher and then completing her graduation while teaching in two schools in Karwar. After graduation she joined Shree Mallikarjun High School at Canacona first and then transferred her services to Model English High School in Margao from where she finally retired as a headmistress in 2004. While continuing as a teacher she did her post-graduation as well as BEd.

It’s been a long journey and she enjoyed every bit of it – her graph always scaling up. “Teaching did not remain just a profession for me, but it was and still is a passion. That’s why I remember each and every date and all big or small incidents related to my teaching career,” she boasts as she recalls the words of educationist late Arvind Bhatikar’s words at her send-off party, “Natty is not retired, but re-tyred.” How very true!

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