Aubaid Ahmad Akhoon
As we turn the calendar to September 5th each year, we embark on a journey of gratitude and reflection. Teachers’ Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the mentors and guides who illuminate our paths, is a time to appreciate the incredible role educators play in shaping the future of society.
The Teaching Profession in the 21st Century
An effective teacher in the 21st century embodies a unique blend of knowledge, skills, beliefs, values, professional aspirations, and unbridled motivation. They transcend the traditional confines of curriculum and content mastery, possessing a wealth of soft skills that enable them to empower students with advanced knowledge and skills. These educators are beacons of guidance, nurturing their students with the latest research and the seamless integration of cutting-edge educational technologies.
When we reflect on the luminaries who have shaped our world, let us not forget the dedicated teachers who worked tirelessly in the shadows, the quiet heroes of our progress. To nurture students with not just knowledge but also values like environmental awareness, social consciousness, tolerance, altruism, and respect, we must ensure teachers can develop without constraints, equipped with all the resources they need to excel.
The Teacher-Student Relationship and its Sacred Significance
The teaching profession is more than just a job; it creates the foundation for all other professions. Among the various human relationships in the world, one stands as particularly sacred: the teacher-student relationship.
In Islam, the teacher’s status is deemed equal to that of biological parents. A teacher is considered the second parent of a student. After parents, it is the teacher who imparts the real meaning of life—how to behave, how to live, how to differentiate between right and wrong, and more.
A good teacher should possess certain qualities. They should have a pure character and a welcoming demeanor. Effective communication skills, education, and knowledge are essential. Teachers should be role models for their students, diligently revising and reinforcing previous lessons. They should avoid overwhelming students with excessive homework, instead, assessing their performance empathetically. Scolding and corporal punishment should be avoided, with attention given to students’ feelings, emotions, and self-esteem. Individualized methods of discipline should be adopted, and special support provided to slow learners. Teachers should also nurture physical and aesthetic development and foster students’ character development. Above all, they should use appropriate methods of communication, presenting themselves as role models in words, actions, morals, and intellect.
Teachers and the Modern Age
The teacher can impart others the same knowledge that they themselves have access to. However, the teaching profession is far from easy; it demands constant hard work, up-to-date knowledge, dedication, passion, ethics, humanity, consciousness, spirituality, and a calm demeanor.
In the present age, moral education is as crucial as secular education because knowledge without moral principles is like a fruitless tree, a futile endeavor. The Quran underscores moral education as a central theme, with numerous verses emphasizing the formation of good character and embodiment of morality.
Knowledge is intrinsically tied to morality. Knowledge pursued solely for personal gain is like poison, lacking in productivity.
Appreciation & Criticism
We often hear about government teachers who struggle with basic tasks, like writing a simple application, betraying the great profession they represent. It is disheartening to witness some teachers who, during the pandemic, remained idle for nearly three years, yet proudly celebrate Teachers’ Day, seemingly unaware of the true essence and responsibilities of the teaching profession.
On the other hand, we have seen teachers who dedicatedly fulfilled their duties, even joining forces with healthcare professionals to combat COVID-19 while continuing to teach online. There are also honorable government teachers who provided free home tuition during the pandemic, significantly contributing to the improvement of education standards in government schools.
To uplift government schools, it is imperative to introduce in-service training courses to equip teachers with modern education, ensuring they can impart cutting-edge knowledge to their students. Regular assessments of teachers’ performance, similar to student evaluations, can maintain high standards in government schools. Encouraging government teachers to enroll their own children in government schools would also foster a personal investment in improving these institutions.
A Personal Contribution to Education
Whether in a supporting role behind the scenes or in more direct involvement, I, like many others, contribute to students’ education by orchestrating exams, creating assignments, and providing practice papers. We are silent observers to the remarkable dedication of teachers who mold the minds of our budding learners. With a profound sense of pride, we find ourselves deeply engaged in their educational journey, sowing the seeds of knowledge alongside these inspiring educators.
Tailpiece: as we celebrate Teachers’ Day, let us recognize the profound impact teachers have on society. They are not only educators but also mentors, shaping the character and future of our youth. It is a day to honor their dedication, inspire change, and pledge our support to empower these guiding lights as they lead us toward a brighter and more enlightened future. “Teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first two loves together.” – Scott Hayden
Aubaid Ahmad Akhoon is a renowned Motivational Speaker and an Associate Editor of the weekly publication ‘Education Quill, can be mailed at akhoon.aubaid@gmail.com
Is Teaching a Noble Profession ? On “Teachers Day”, We revisit this notion
Qysar ul Islam Shah
Teaching is very noble profession that shapes the character, caliber and future of an individual. If the people remember me as a good teacher that will be the biggest honour for me.
Every year 5th September is celebrated as “Teachers Day„ across the nation to honour the role of teachers in shaping our lives. Several schools and colleges organise the events and performances to celebrate the student-teacher bond and express gratitude towards the teachers for their constant support in children’s growth and learning. 5th September also marks the birth anniversary of great and renowned scholar and recipant of Baharat Ratna, first vice president and second president of Independent India-Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishna. Schools and colleges in the kashmir valley is gearing up to commemorate the Teachers Day as a token to appreciate the contributions and patience of their teachers. Programms, like cultural and others activities are being conducted to highlight the role and significance of teacher.
The prime role of the teacher is to pave way for opportunities and success for students.Notably teachers are next to God, they show the right path and directs us how to achieve the goal. Their contribution can never ever be ruled out. They build the nation that is why there called “Nation Builders„.They lift up the nation and fulfill their dreams like chandriyaan3,(Moon Mission) That is why this profession is also known as prophets profession.Only teachers know to carve raw students into an absolute genius. If the country has great teachers then I am pretty sure that nation can become superpower with in the decade.
I remember my teachers who used to say that teaching is a noble profession and i vaguely remember the punishments that now seems like a sheer blessing to me. Teachers always love their students. They make us better people and prepare us with vital learnings to face the world. They never hate their students but always wishing the good future of their students. Parents only gave us life and it is the teacher who taught us how to live. They nurture us and inculcates the sense of honesty, integrity, and passion to our character. Those who love and respect their teachers can surly achieve the excellency in their life. There is no denying fact that in past those who offer the respect and love to their teachers (Gurus) can never be despaired.
Generally we discuss the role of teacher on Teachers Day to assess the importance and significance of a good teacher. Teachers obviously put their sincere efforts in building the enlightened society. They act as a role mode, guide and philosopher. Today teachers role has gone beyond teaching means that their role involves counseling students, mentoring students, and teaching them how to apply knowledge in their lives. Teachers are the biggest resources for students.They are like the library for students. They are the resources of information.The knowledge passed by teachers is very trusting for students.
Great teachers have an ability to change the lives for the better. They are undoubtedly the most important members of our society. Teachers provide the power of knowledge and education to today’s youth thereby giving them the possibility for a better future. Teachers help to reveal the students best skills and teach valuable life skills as well such as communication, compassion, and presentation. Teacher goes out the way because he feels proud when his students are successful. Under NEP that makes teacher primary in fostering development because they nurture the country’s future.
On teachers day we disseminate and highlight the role of teacher that is paramount importance for both in the present and the future of a student. In other words teacher can be a friend, guide and philosopher. A teacher is not someone who gives the answers out to their kids but is understanding of needs and challenges and gives tool to help other people succeed. During our days we used to change our ways after recognizing that our teacher is approching Or coming to our way, that is height of respect that we give to our teachers. Teachers role in ones life can never be ruled out.
On the this very particular day we observe this day a heartfelt tribute to our educators who have guided and continue to inspire us on our journey to become more informative and knowledgeable individuals.So this day provide us an opportunity for the students and community to express their gratitude and respect for their educators. Thus we came to know that teaching is a noble profession. The world has been illuminated by only those who keep the knowledge- that is power. This knowledge is being disseminated by these esteemed teachers. We have seen via print and electronic media that KAS and IAS qualifiers are being appreciated,encouraged,welcomed this is only the tireless efforts of these teachers who always wishing that their students may attain the desired and cherished goal. I offer my sincere greetings to all my teachers who made me what I am today. Happy Teachers Day.
Qysar ul Islam Shah teacher by profession teaches at BHS Diver Lolab.
Respected Teachers get Rewarded
A respectable and great teacher is always able to convert the two legged animal into enlightened and civilized human individual
Shahid Majeed Mir
Education is cornerstone of society. Human beings are cognitive creature having ability to think ,analyse and conclude .Education is the process, and way to develop personality of man. It accomplishes in us the ways of living, behaving and gives finishing touch to our lives. It is the process of opening doors of learning or the procurement of knowledge, Skills, values, beliefs and habits in humans. But these processes are never natural and are always facilitated by good teachers. A powerful driver of development and one of the strong instrument of reducing poverty and improving health, gender equality, peace and stability is good and proper education of society. And the sole significant factor behind all this is reasonable and pleasant teacher.And all these improvements of community or a nation are always worthwhile for respected and good teachers.‘‘Teacher is considered to be the spiritual father of the student, Our parents are said to be giving us birth in the world and the time we are born, we are just like an empty, devoid vessel. These are good teachers who fill knowledge of everything in us and make us aware about whole world. At the time of birth we are unable to interpret and differentiate even we have normal photoreceptors, can see everything in our surroundings, but can’t have the perception of knowledge to demarcate right and wrong or true and false. In this way teachers modify our outlook in tune to needs of society in general and one’s own personality in particular. Bright teachers make our minds to think good and bad, right and wrong, Real and artificial. One thing we remember these qualities are of real, great, and respected teachers.
Afshana mam is a creative and lucrative teacher who relocates to teach in Sunshine Science School in a reputed institution despite being heir of the same institution. With a view to making a difference in the lives of minority students she uses special rules for his classroom. Her teaching, and his undying devotion towards her students help the students cope with their problems. Each student is able to emerge a better person. They begin to take an interest in academics and excel in it too. I wish her a very healthy life and offer my wishes to them in each and every phase of there life just like the same way Afshana is there for me when I needed her I every time of my life. So, dear Comrades come on and participate in this recognition to pay a hearty regard to our own mentors. They are termed as the backbone of our nation because they profoundly participate in creating up our personalities, developing our future and help to be perfect citizens of the nation. The great teachers of nation are always respected and are tools for education, to analyze problems, solve problems of society and effectively use each and every information for the effective development of nation. But in this selfish and evil world such teachers are rear, not found in majority. Now a day people called this period as the luminous period. But respected teachers are always rewarded by gifts. And their gifts are their good status in society. These teachers silently face large number of challenges and always successfully fulfill them. Their foremost challenges are their students and they make their lives bright. Hazrat Ali : A man who has taught me one word becomes my teacher, so i am his servant and now is up to him, to keep me or to sell me. We have to ponder on this how much opportunity a respectful teacher have. A respectable teacher is always rewarded by students. The future and the success of students is always the success of teachers.students always remember and cherish beneficial teachers forever, that is the real reward of respected teachers. Simply one who will not be respectful how he will be respected. Teaching is heritage of prophets, saints and wise men. Favourable teachers produce good and great personalities to the society and always look their reward in development of society through these personalities.
Great teachers always engage and holds a good attention of all people. Respectful teachers establish clear objectives for each society. The students on the best level show the best level of respectable teachers. A disciplined society is always the mirror of great and worthwhile teachers. Respectable teachers always develop a trustworthy relationship in the nation. Such teachers always influence the students’ lives and we can understand and the reward of teachers from the impact students have. Success story of a society or a nation always resonates the intellect and hardworking of respected teachers and always reward them in one or other way. Ab-Kadir-Jeelani (A R) said that “ once I learn from the cobbler how to mend shoes, and he becomes my teacher and after this in his whole life he never put his feet in his masters house when his master used to sleep”So it is clear cut for us how much respect a good teacher has. Respected teachers act as catalyst for bringing absolute social change and development. A good teacher keep prepare himself in every angle for curious pupil. Good teachers always keeps in mind that the future of innocent children is in their hands. A respectable and great teacher is always able to convert the two legged animal into enlightened and civilized human individual.
The student teacher relation is to be viewed through prism of education which teaches discipline and morality. The relationship stands on the sentinel of respected principles. The teacher is well honoured personality known by Guru,Ustaad , teacher, etc. in different languages. The essence of this relationship is stood at the mattress of Father Son duo. Infact the intellectuals went to the extent of saying that “Teacher is the spiritual father of student”. Others express their emotions in different manner just to pay tribute to this recognized position. They held the teacher at high esteem. In western countries it’s customary to pay much respect to teachers than civil service officers. At times the separate colony establishment for teachers came in limelight from western countries. They have aptly analysed meaning of Spiritual father message. There are various manifestations of reward a work gets in reaction of performance. On this pattern someone has commented like “ Happiness lies in effort not success, full effort then is full victory” The physical rewards in terms of monetary value is regarded best description of reward. But the moniker of nation builder is itself a great achievement. The effort of Teacher community brings success for whole nation. They shape and nurture the infant faculty of child to shoulder the burden of family and society writ large . Therefore the traditional school studies after motherhood rests on Teachers discretion. In our society teachers do possess good repute with traditional solidarities. The Sanskrit legacy of Guru – Shishu Parampara is still prevalent in traditional maktabahas and schools. However commercialisation impacted and reversed these moral principles. Still the prevalence of attitudes in our legacy keeps morale and dignity of teachers at highest pedestal.
The great personality Prophet Muhammad ( SAW ) was himself a teacher and advised to respect and reward teachers for their contribution. It’s an established fact that the reward depends on contribution. As saying goes “ A person isn’t known by work he performs but what he becomes after performing such work”. The working profile of teachers is to convert raw material into ready products for future in the form of leaders, scientists,Drs, Engineers etc and above all an intellectual. Therefore the whole society owes a debt to efforts and contribution of teachers. But the teachers also have responsibility to keep the work ethic intact. All those respected teachers who fullfil their responsibility with commitment and responsibility. These teachers look resonating through performance of their students which is indeed an achievement in itself. These students oft repeatedly recognise the role their mentors have played in their success. It’s therefore all in all a universal reality in contemporary world. However the teachers ought to be respectful and obedient to their duty. It’s only after recognition of their efforts that they are rewarded publicly through physical assets or promotion in cadre but the social reward and respect is and has always been superior in this direction. After all the religious and spiritual message of rewarding teachers is obeyed without any controversy.
Shahid Majeed Mir can be reached at mirshahid363@gmail.com
Teachers Day-
“The Achievement of a Student is Success for Their Teacher”.
“As mentioned in the Kothari Commission (1964-66) has said, “the destiny of India is being shaped in her classrooms”.
HAROON RASHID BHAT
Teachers Day is celebrated as the birthday of the second President of India, Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan. The history behind this day is very interesting. It is said that one day Dr. Radha Krishna was approached by some of his friends and students, requesting him to celebrate his birthday which falls on the 5th of September, he expressed his wish that instead of observing his birthday, it would be a great privilege if the day is celebrated as “Teachers Day”. Since then, this day has been celebrated. Generally, on this particular day, students organize different activities۔ These activities include a singing competition, dance competition, recitation of poems, mimicry of teachers, lots of games children play with teachers, planning a picnic, offering gifts, and at last, they thank teachers by expressing their gratitude but today the situation is different, Besides acknowledging the efforts of teachers and addressing their genuine issues on this particular day, one of the prime purposes of celebrating this day is to enhance a good relationship between a teacher and a student. But for the last few years, this sacred relationship has been facing several challenges- maximum involvement of materialism, Indiscipline among students, excessive use of cell phones, drug addiction, etc. The disciplinary problem among students has become one of the big challenges for education in our country nowadays. The problem becomes serious when the students lose their moral compass to discern what is right and wrong for their actions in school or out of school. It is undeniable that the problem is due to the low morality level among the students.
Morality is a principle that concerns the difference between right and wrong action or good and bad behavior. Morality is important and needs to be taught in school to produce students who are balanced and harmonious in intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects based on the National Philosophy of Education. Besides the parents who should take responsibility for building their children’s morality, the school also plays an important role as the institution that promotes moral development and transmits moral values to the students. As adult is the guide for the students, the teachers need to have good knowledge of the moral subject, and teaching pedagogy and they ought to be mature emotionally and able to interact with the students and communicate with the parents. Thus, they need to know more about their roles and challenges in developing students’ morality. Teachers can have a better direction to play their roles and try to solve the challenges that they face in developing students’ morality in schools . As mentioned in the Kothari Commission (1964-66) has said, “the destiny of India is being shaped in her classrooms. It is a common complaint expressed by our teacher community that they are not being respected or loved like their predecessors. Their claim is cent percent true. If we compare the teacher community of today with that of our seniors, we see a lot of differences both in terms of their personal and professional abilities. Those teachers deserve a lot of appreciation because they consider teaching a social and religious obligation. They were treating each student equally irrespective of their social, or religious background. If a student remained absent for a day or two, they used to approach his/her home to see the cause of his absence, provide all sorts of assistance to him/her, and extend full support in the completion of their pending classwork. They considered them as their sons and daughters. Instead of tuition fees, they used to receive gifts from their students after the completion of their course or when they were promoted to the next class A Few teachers in the education system are weighing this noble profession only in terms of economic gains underestimating its social, emotional, and religious aspects. They have to leave this selfish nature Teachers have to develop etiquette which are pre-requisite for this saintly profession. The situation is not completely dismal? Still, there are teachers in the system who are following the ethics of this noble profession in a true sense. But some defamed this noble profession by their selfish deeds. Being a teacher isn’t easy and they need to deal with a lot throughout their career. Certain features mark the difference between a commoner and a great. The case with teachers isn’t an exception either. The teachers need to be the ideals of the candidates, they must look upon them with massive respect. This “Teachers Day” provides such teachers an opportunity to introspect.
Haroon Rashid Bhat is a teacher and columnist and can be reached at minamharoon123@gmail.com
Happy Teachers Day
EIJAZ MIR
This literary piece is dedicated to my Best Teacher, who poured inside me the sweetest nectar of knowledge, adorned & illuminated me with the golden words of wisdom. It would not have been possible without your contribution. Whatever i am today, it is all because of your love, dedication, honesty, contribution & whatnot. You are the inspiration to me forever.
Let me pen down something special for you on this auspicious occasion of Teacher’s Day.
5th September 2023!
Allah Bless You My Inspiration!
There was a pin drop silence in the classroom, as he entered with a great impression. A young energetic bachelor wearing grey pant & long black coloured coat. The half hearted smile, eyes shining with truthfulness, peace & calmness on his face makes him altogether a different but dynamic personality. At first sight, he became my favourite teacher & an inspiration. His introduction in the classroom & the way he spoke about his past experiences as a senior teacher really touched my heart and soul. This enthralled me & illuminated inside me a new ray of hope for learning.
His presence reminded me of a great quote, “An ordinary teacher tells, a good teacher teaches and an extraordinary teacher inspires.”
Every single day, he taught us new but real life lessons. His honesty, dedication, purity in thoughts, an unending orating skills & motivation started to groom & inspire me. In real sense, i began to smell the triumph that was previously a mere dream for my lost career. He was not just a teacher, a mentor or a guide, but the role model for thousands of students. To my utter suprise, his teaching career was a milestone & we were the followers of his sacred & pious mission. Due to his presence in the school, we have always tasted of being happy souls. He did not teach us but prepared us physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. His presence of mind, IQ, EQ, behavioural aspects & the role played was ultimate. That is how I came to know the real traits of an extraordinary teacher.
The contribution of our teachers is awesome and we can’t repay them. Day by day, I started to learn to penetrate deep inside me & nature. The introverted soul turned extroverted. I learned the psychological, physiological & behavioral aspects as wells as rational maturity. The essence of his teaching was overpowered with perfection. This poured inside me the sweet drops of unending motivation and i began to achieve the feats in academics. Now, i feel curious about my future & career. He was not the ordinary person for me. He was different & unique in all aspects, whether his teaching skills or behaviour. In other words, i started to call him the soul of the other planet, as he carved a raw material into a polished finished product.
Teacher’s shape us, they guide us, they give us new but concrete directions & they lift us high. That is why, they are our spiritual parents. All the professions are incomplete & obsolete without the profession of a teacher. The status of a teacher is unrevealed, his role majestic & unbelievable too. His existence is not less than a salvation for the society. We can’t took him out from the equation. If we try to do so, the better society will turn into garbage. We prevail civic sense only due to the contribution of our teachers. They turn rubble into a gem & savage into cultured. Our survival is incomplete without them. Our character has no meaning without them. We are aimless & emotionless without them. They are our real heroes & we owe them everything. We can’t repay them in any form. They are our role models.
The writer is a freelancer & can be reached at eijazmir2192@gmail.com
The Status of Being a Teacher
Mir Imtiyaz Aafreen
In his poem, ‘A Nation’s Strength’, the noted American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson says, “Not gold but only men can make a people great and strong” and lays emphasis on human resources development in a society. Towards the end of the poem, it seems that he refers to the role of a teacher for building up an ideal society. He writes,
“Brave men who work while others sleep,
Who dare while others fly…
They build a nation’s pillars deep
And lift them to the sky.”
The fate of a nation is always in the hands of its teachers because if there were no teachers, all other professions would not exist. A teacher is not only a source of knowledge but also a mentor, friend and guide. Can we imagine Aristotle without Plato, Helen Keller without Anne Sullivan and Rumi without Shams Tabriz? Absolutely not. A teacher is a bedrock of civilization and the greatest benefactor of mankind. A teacher is just like an architect who designs the human stuff according to the needs of a society and gives it a perfect shape.
Teachers are the builders of nation. Just like a builder brings soil from somewhere, sifts it, breaks it and then kneads it and moulds it into whatever shape he wants. The teacher can also mould his students as per the needs of the society.
For a teacher, many names have been used in different traditions and cultures like ‘guru’, ‘murshid’, ‘rehbar’ etc. which represent myriad qualities that are expected to be found in a teacher. ‘Guru’ means a spiritual teacher, ‘Murshid’ means the one who guides to the piety and ‘rehbar’ means the one who shows the right path. Almost all these words have both mundane and spiritual connotations. So, we can say that an ideal teacher is the one who works for the development of physical, intellectual and spiritual dimensions of an individual. An ideal teacher is the one who diligently polishes the hidden human talents and brings out the best out of his disciples. He leads them towards the path of creativity and self-realization. A good teacher is the one who does not make his pupils a prisoner of his own ideas, but he provides them wings so that they are able to fly freely in the skies of knowledge. An ideal teacher enlightens his students by broadening their mental horizons.
It is a matter of great honour and privilege to be a teacher of a human offspring. The greatness of a teacher can be gauged from the fact that every parent, no matter how exalted he is, entrusts his beloved child to a teacher. Thus, there cannot be a better job than to get an opportunity to teach the young, talented and fertile minds of a community who are considered as the vanguard of new ideas and are the greatest asset of a nation. Acknowledging the importance of a teacher, one of the greatest presidents of USA, Abraham Lincoln once wrote a letter to his son’s teacher mentioning the expectations he has from teachers in general as a parent. Likewise, the former President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam once said,
“ Teaching is a very noble profession that shapes the character, calibre, and future of an individual. If the people remember me as a good teacher, that will be the biggest honour for me.”
Teaching is a prophetic act. All the Prophets of God were divinely-guided teachers of the mankind and they led the people towards knowledge and peace. In fact, it is reported that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said, “Undoubtedly, I have been sent as a teacher.” It automatically alleviates the status of a teacher and makes the teaching profession an envious job.
How fortunate are those who sincerely perform their duties as teachers at different places? Teachers transfer knowledge and human values from one generation to the another and act as torch-bearers for a nation. In order to enter and advance in different fields of study like sciences, social sciences, humanities, religious sciences etc, the services of a teacher are indispensable. Even in today’s digital age, when the internet has changed the modes of learning, there is no alternative to a teacher. Books and gadgets can lead to information but cannot inculcate the values that are essential for the all-round development of an individual. Teachers never die as they immortalize themselves by transferring ideas and skills to the future generations. However, this job deserves to be taken up with a great responsibility and diligence. Albert Einstein has rightly pointed out that those who have the privilege to know, have the duty to act. This job needs to be taken up with utmost precision and dedication. It is seen that the materialistic temptations, that are profoundly found in modern man, have affected the teachers as well and that is why there has been a deficiency of quality teaching. In order to regain the lost glory and to stand relevant in current times, a teacher has to keep on working on quality improvement. A teacher has to equip himself with advanced teaching skills. Today the role of a teacher has shifted towards working as a facilitator and guide. In current scenario, it is said that “The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don’t tell you what to see.”
The teaching-learning process is looked upon as a platform for exchange of ideas and capabilities than a unidirectional mode of communication.
Notwithstanding that there are inadequacies on part of the teachers, now a days there are numerous pressures and pulls on our teachers. The teachers are no longer offered the respect by the communities that they deserve. Due to the commercialization of education, the teachers are looked upon as ordinary service providers and their contributions are not acknowledged. In current student-centric worldview, the powers of a teacher have been curtailed and many unnecessary restraints have been imposed and as a result the situation is worsening day by day. In an era of moral crisis, the teachers are finding it very difficult to deal with the rebellious and delinquent attitude of the students and it has become a herculean task to inculcate moral and ethical standards. The society in general has not been able to develop a harmonious ambiance for the effective teaching-learning and often minor mistakes of the teachers are highlighted in the public domain and they are often mocked and ridiculed.
In our culture, teachers are often stereotyped as ‘khushk’ (pedantic) and ‘kanjoos’ (stingy) and their image is thus negatively painted.
As a result, the teachers often get demoralized and dispirited.We should remember that Ignorance rules where there is no respect for teachers.
It is a tragedy of our society that today the most educated and talented youth do not want to become teachers. Some adopt this profession out of compulsion and become victims of inferiority complex forever. When they are not able to make a place in any other field of life, they go for it. As a result, the education receives a setback as they are not able to do justice with their job.
In advanced societies, the teachers are highly respected. They are trained to face difficult situations and enabled to devise customized teaching strategies. Teaching-learning process should not be a monopoly of a few experts but it must be made inclusive by taking all the stakeholders on board. In challenging times, the society in general has to optimise the standards of education by taking care of its teachers. Our teacher has still a great role to play for the transformation and advancement of the society.
The author can be reached at imtiyazaafreen@gmail.com
Role of a Teacher in a Student’s Life
Vijay Garg
A teacher’s influence on their students’ lives is undeniable. Youths are the future of the nation, who are responsible for carrying out vital duties across several domains and serving society this way or another. What influences them to do something great in life? Besides parents, whose credit is it when the youth today grow up to be beautiful human beings tomorrow? It is the teacher!
Teachers are builders of a better tomorrow. They shape the youths today and help them achieve something great in life. What does it take to be a good teacher? What are the essential qualities he possesses that are enough to influence the students? What impact is he/she capable of putting on a student’s life?
Let’s address all these questions today and discuss in detail the role of a teacher in a student’s life.
Who is a Teacher?
First of all, we need to know who is a teacher. In general, the definition of teacher goes like, a person who teaches pupils in schools, colleges, or private and imparts knowledge on specific subjects, checks the homework, and provides feedback.
Well, that’s a common definition but the term ‘teacher’ is something more than this. Being a teacher is something much more than only giving away knowledge, lectures, and attending back-to-back classes. A teacher is the one who makes a significant impact in their students’ lives. He/she inspires them to be a better version of themselves and achieve something significant in life.
Teachers educate the candidates on unique qualities like fellow feeling, brotherhood, kindness, and simplicity. Teachers never collide with the same type of students everywhere, rather the types are varied. Today they can meet someone with high ambition and readily give them suitable advice. The real challenge is meeting aimless individuals with zero seriousness and influencing them to become a better version of themselves. So a teacher’s duty isn’t restricted to attending lectures and sending notes. It is something beyond it and has a vital significance in their student’s life.
Significant Characteristics of a Teacher
Being a teacher isn’t easy and they need to deal with a lot throughout their career. Certain features mark the difference between a commoner and a great. The case with teachers isn’t an exception either. The teachers need to be the ideals of the candidates, they must look upon them with massive respect. It is only then we can make sure the students are following in their footsteps as shown by his teacher.
The following characteristic attributes make the biggest difference between a good and an outstanding teacher:
Compassionate: Being a skilled teacher needs the person to be very compassionate not only towards the students but to his colleagues, staff, and parents.
Passionate towards Learning: Establishing a successful teaching career, needs the teacher to be a passionate learner. He must have a supreme interest in unfolding innovative topics and always be a dedicated learner.
In-depth Understanding Capacity: Being a teacher requires the person to have a strong understanding capacity to analyze the distinct problems faced by the students.
Patience: Patience is the key to success in the teaching domain. The teachers need to be super patient while dealing with candidates, the school system, curriculum, and the parents and handle any issues peacefully.
Being a Good Follower of Own Words: If the teacher is educating the students to be a good person and follow all the fine qualities, they need to be a staunch follower of the same. They need to be the ones imparting the education not just by telling but by proving it with his activities too.
Great Communicator: Outstanding teachers are superb communicators and they can talk afresh with the students and analyze the issues they might go through. They can provide them with the support they need.
Great at Putting Efforts: The teacher should put effort. The ones with a ‘don’t care’ attitude really can’t make it far in the teaching line. To differ from others and to stand out from the crowd, influential teachers always put extra effort into the classroom and students to help them get better.
Now that we know the qualities of a brilliant teacher, let us look at how a teacher can influence a student’s life towards something positive.
Vijay GarG Retired Principal Educational Columnist Malout Punjab
