Class Room Management - 2. A leader has to read minds

In the Indian class room where the teacher stands symbolizing authority and administrator, observation becomes an essential skill for the teacher and student apart serious listening.

Foucault, the French post structuralist philosopher has discussed in detail the nuances of human communication systems in his book 'Archaeology of Knowledge.' 

Systems of thought and knowledge are discursive, says Foucault. They are governed by rules beyond grammar and logic. They operate beneath the consciousness of individual subjects. They discuss the conceptual possibilities of a given space and time. 

In a class room a knowledge atmosphere is created by the teacher that in turn stimulates more thoughts, new consciousness, and builds a certain emotionally charged scene of learning. Our students with our traditional attitude to the teachers will remain silent throughout the class. Hence the discursive elements have to be studied carefully by the teacher. 

Thiruvalluvar calls this act in chapter 71 as 'Kuripparithal' in his second part 'Wealth' where he defines the act of communication. He refers to this  as  'Kuuraamai Nookki'. Every Indian teacher has to learn to 'read' the silences of his students. Or any Administrator or leader requires this skill of observing the minute shifts in human expressions, the flashing eyes, the mild smirk that appears and disappears, the little too quick smile, or the dead passive expressionless eyes.

The Banyan Tree - a painting - oil on canvas by my Dad S. Chellaiah who paints only nature

A leader with this ability to read human thoughts is an asset to this world, says Thiruvalluvar. 

In Mahabharatham it is said how Arjunan could communicate with all the species of the world. It becomes essential that future leaders learn to communicate with not only fellow human beings, but also with all the species of this earth. Foucault brings forward a philosophy that recognizes all kinds of living creatures. Thiruvalluvar demands that such leaders with the capacity to read fellow minds perfectly well should be put in charge of important positions.

Reading mind is reading discursive expressions. Thiruvalluvar puts this down to the 'eyes'. He says that there is no other tool than the eyes to measure the human heart. A smart teacher will hold his students' attention just be communicating through eyes. He has to receive the thoughts and direct them towards the concepts being discussed. 

As Foucault says one need not try to fix this communication within the usual rules of logic or grammar. Reading minds and linking thoughts will bring maximum silent interaction between the teacher and the student. It opens the possibilities for more learning, and more understanding and also will channelize students' energy towards a specific goal. 

At the same time the teacher has to be cautious about what he is communicating to his students through his eyes. Self-management is one of the basic requirements for this profession. If a teacher likes/hates his students a little too much, the consequences would be many. 

An awareness of the discursive elements in human expressions will help teachers acquire more command and respect if not love from  all the students.