Teachers have a tremendous effect on our thinking and beliefs. It demands possession of rich academic credentials, knowledge, critical thinking, and intelligence to be a good teacher. However, a great teacher is also empathetic, compassionate and positive.It’s the good teachers who have a large impact on students’ lives beyond the classroom. They always play essential roles in the lives of the students they encounter. It’s the teachers who impact what and how students learn every day in the classroom. It is their encouragement and nurturing that helps students do their maximum and reach best goals in life. We celebrate teachers’ day every year for the efforts of the teachers but whether it is the real celebration demands introspection. Teaching was considered to be a noble profession and role of a teacher in the society has been both significant and valuable. Teachers were given huge respect but today the scenario is altogether a different one.Is it the students who have become different students of modern times? Is it the society and the academic institutions that aretreating teachers differently? Is it the teachers themselves to be blamed for the loss of their respect? Are the policies vague that have produced this crisis.in teaching? The questions must grab the immediate attention because we cannot build an ideal society without the quality teachings by the motivated teachers.
Teachers are passionate educators but they are tragically underpaid, overworked and under-appreciated. Today one enters the profession of teaching fully knowing that it is not a way to become rich. But a real teacher’s dedication and motivation is exemplary. It’s highly unfortunate that teaching and teachers are now considered to be involved in business and hence treated differently. Society must understand that a teacher is the second parent for the students. The teacher cares and nurtures his students in the same way their parents do. Only a good teacher can love and care like a parent and in fact goes the extra mile to educate them.It’s the teachers that have played an important role in boosting learners’ engagement in education affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The teachers experienced higher levels of distress due to the workload generated during the lockdown but they have brilliantly justified with their works. It’s the teachers who deserve applause for their high energies and bringing motivation in our students.
Teachers must understand that teaching today is such a tricky job and we have to be extremely careful.Teachers have to explore ways to be passionate, unique and innovative as a teacher. The need of the time is teachers must be involvedand play an important role in students’ character development, or the shaping of a student’s reputation, honor, and integrity. A teacher must not become the spoon feeder rather try to become a mentor andguide for his students.
(The author is Assistant Professor, ITM University Gwalior . Views are his own)
[email protected]
