After 4 decades, Dubai teacher prepares to bid adieu to school

The 65-year-old's last day at the school is on March 31.- Supplied photo

A Malayali teacher who spent nearly 40 years educating students at a Dubai school is closing her lesson plan for good as she prepares for retirement.
Rosy George has taught and inspired thousands of students at Dubai's The Indian High School (IHS) and is likely among one of the oldest teachers in the country.
The 65-year-old's last day at the school is on March 31. Until then, she is being honoured by students and staff with generous gifts and farewell parties.
She joined the school in 1980 and previously taught at an India-based institution for free. Even though she has a law degree, George "fell in love" with the teaching profession and her students. She's taught students of all grades and has been teaching standards 11 and 12 for the past eight years. She also took up the role of the head of the school's English department.
"My love for education and my students are what keep me active even today," George told Khaleej Times. "I am feeling the love from students and staff but I know that life has to go on and the journey has to continue. If I see that my children are doing good, then there is no worry. I would like them to be ambitious and driven."
Over the past four decades, one of the things that impressed her the most is the technological advancement her students have experienced. She said it has improved the quality of education in classrooms and helps students learn better.
"Honestly, when we teach children today, many of them know things more than we do. We have to admit that, especially because of the technological advances. Yesterday, I had to read out an email but I couldn't remember my email ID. One of my students came to my rescue and said she'll flash it on the screen for me. We are many steps behind them in technology," George said.
Some of her proud teaching moments include confronting a student about "being more humble" in 1997. She said that she saw lot of potential in the student and wanted him to succeed. In later years, the student became a teacher at Harvard University.
"I taught him when he was in seventh standard. We went through a rough patch because I thought he wasn't humble enough at that time. I gave him a piece of my mind, which he readily accepted and I wished, prayed and desired that he'd be the head boy of the school, study in an ivy-league university and win the Hamdan award. Maybe, by luck or God's grace, he got all three. Now, he's doing his PhD from Yale University. I'm so proud of him," George said.
She added that teaching at IHS has been an enriching experience for her and has given her lifelong memories.
Students who became colleagues call her 'inspiration'
As students say farewell to their beloved Mrs Rosy, they are also thanking her being a "great inspiration and teacher".
Anna Jessy John was taught by George in 1982 when she was in Grade 4. In 2000, she returned to The Indian High School to be a teacher herself.
John's three children, her siblings and her cousins have all been taught by George as well.
"She is an amazing teacher. The most amazing quality I remember of hers is that she always kept her cool and never lost her patience. I don't remember her ever getting angry at us. When we went to India to pursue higher education, she used to enquire about how we were doing," John said.
"She's so simple in her words and inspires me even now. When you see her, you see a small, simple person, but she does extraordinary things. I have the privilege of working with her now. I don't want to think about her leaving because it's difficult."
Another former student of George and now a teacher at IHS, Fatima Hanna, said George helped boost her confidence when she was her student in 2009.
"She was a really good teacher. I remember her comments on her paper. She would give really good and helpful feedback. She's very simple and friendly. She makes you feel good about yourself and I think that's what a teacher should do." Hanna said.
"If she sees something good in you, she'll tell you that and she supports you. She commends you when you're good at something and that makes you want to do even better. To be in one place for so long and do it so well, it's really inspiring."
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com