In St. Paul's weather vane, wind blows the other way.... DEVICE AT DARJEELING SCHOOL SHOWS TEACHER CHASING A STUDENT INSTEAD OF ROOSTER

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 15 Nov 2019, Darjeeling: Students believe teachers will never go after them on Children's Day.

A school in Darjeeling set up in 1823, however, has always reassured students that teachers can never get them, anytime, anywhere -- in any direction.

A rather "humorous" weather vane at St. Paul's School in Darjeeling shows a teacher wearing a mortarboard -- a square academic cap also called an Oxford cap -- and an academic gown chasing a student. Teachers in St. Paul's still wear a gown to class.

Sunirmal Chakravorty, who taught at St. Paul's from 1987 to 2006, said vane had always reminded him of the "truth". Chakravorty was later the principal of La Martiniere for Boys, Calcutta, from 2006 to 2015.

"The vane has always reminded me of the truth. Students will always be two steps ahead and try as we might, we have to be humble to acknowledge this truth," Chakravorty said.

"The sooner we (academician) understand, the better understanding we will have of our profession," Chakravorty added. Rev Joy Haldar, rector of St. Paul's, said the vane had "stood the test of time".

There is no clear record to pinpoint the year in which the wind vane was set.

However, old-timers suggest it came up when L.J. Goddar was the rector between 1934 and 1964.

A weather vane provides information on the direction of airflow. It is widely believed that Greek astronomer Andronicus created the first recorded weather vane in 48 BC, featuring the head and torso of a man and a fish tail.

Weather vanes grew in popularity across Europe and America and it is be- lieved that the most famous design, featuring a rooster, started from the 9th century.

That happened after Pope Nicholas I decreed that every church should have the cockerel-designed vane as a reminder of the biblical prophecy referring to Peter's betrayal of Jesus Christ.

Though most weather vanes have cockerel, other designs have also been used. Weather vanes were not just symbolic but have always caught the fancy of the common people.

An article in The New York Times on August 18, 2006, said: "On Aug. 5 Ron Bourgeault, owner of Northeast Auctions in New Hampshire, sold an 1880's weather vane of a locomotive, part of Raymond and Susan Egan collection, for $1.2 million (including commission). Todd Prickett of Yardley, Pa., one of the country's most respected Americana dealers, was the buyer.".