Srinagar, Sept. 5 -- There was a time when a teacher entering the classroom was enough to bring an entire room to silence. A blackboard, a piece of chalk, an attendance register and a teacher.

For generations, that was the familiar picture of a classroom. A teacher was not simply someone who taught mathematics, science, language or history. In many families, teachers were treated almost like members of the family. Their advice was respected, their discipline was accepted and their presence was trusted.

The classroom today looks very different.

The blackboard has increasingly been replaced by smartboards and interactive panels. Textbooks now share space with smartphones, tablets, online resources and artificial intelligence. Information...