New Delhi: Long after the school bell rings, a teacher’s work is rarely done. Between guiding lessons and grading assignments, many are resolving conflicts, counselling distressed children, leading safety committees, overseeing transport routes, organising cultural events and often routinely shouldering responsibilities that stretch well beyond academics.For Sonia Chhabra of Bal Bharati Public School, Pitampura, one such role was that of a “nurturer”. She recalls a Class XI student with a stammer who struggled with confidence. When the school decided to stage Doctor Faustus, she entrusted him with a substantial role.The decision surprised some teachers and students, but Chhabra believed his difficulty stemmed largely from a lack of confidence rather than ability. For nearly a month, she worked closely with him during rehearsals, encouraging and reassuring him.“Then came the final performance. The student walked onto the stage, delivered his role and did not stammer even once. The applause that followed was not merely for his performance. It was for the child who had overcome the fear within him,” she said, adding, “Sometimes, the greatest gift a teacher can give a child is not knowledge, but belief.”Pallavi Sharma, principal of Mamta Modern School, said teachers play multiple roles in schools, balancing committee responsibilities, student welfare, extracurricular activities and administrative duties alongside teaching.Some responsibilities are visible, such as assemblies and cultural programmes. Others, including child welfare and individual mentoring, often remain behind the scenes.One educator recalled helping a Class IV girl who had become withdrawn after losing her mother and adjusting to changes in her family. The teacher regularly spent time counselling her during lunch breaks, gradually helping her open up.Teachers say such experiences highlight an important part of their work: recognising the child behind the student.Balancing these roles can also be demanding. A private school teacher said the challenge was often finding enough time to do justice to multiple responsibilities.“You are teaching and planning lessons, but at the same time you may be handling a committee responsibility, preparing children for an event or dealing with a student who needs your attention. Sometimes the roles overlap throughout the day,” the teacher said.For many educators, however, these responsibilities are inseparable from teaching itself. As Chhabra puts it, teachers often become ‘nurturers’, ‘guides’, ‘listeners, counsellors, motivators’ and even ‘parents away from home’. “The confidence we give a child often stays with them for a lifetime,” she said.
