A CUT ABOVE THE REST

 

In every school, other than the Annual Day celebration and Sports Day, one other celebration that brings a lot of happiness in children is, Teachers’ Day celebration. In lower classes, teachers have fan clubs among students. They either make cute greeting cards, wishing the teachers, or write a poem and design an accessory, to give it to their favourite teachers.

One of the first messages that I received this year on Teachers’ Day was a little disturbing, as the speaker was saying how the quality of teachers in the country was deteriorating, and how she was concerned about it. I may agree with her on this matter, but I would address the issue differently. I would appeal to the teaching community to resolve to dedicate themselves to nation building.

When people tell me that there is a dearth for good teachers, and it is a universal problem, I cannot leave it at that. I would like to identify the nature of the problem, and help them overcome their limitations. Nothing like empowering a community, instead of complaining and accepting. It is our area of influence. But we need to consistently work on it to achieve a significant transformation.

In anything we do, we should aspire to surpass expectations. The child’s world, in his growing up years, is, his home and school. Parents and teachers play the most important role in their life. As important as it is to be knowledgeable and resourceful, the teacher has to be mindful about her own actions. Just as how parents have to be conscious about their thoughts, words and deeds.

Teachers should be educated or trained on ethics. Ethical and moral standards of a teacher will define the quality of education in a country. Continual staff development should be conducted not only in subjects and teaching strategies and methodologies, but in inner engineering, most importantly. Education is not only about academics, it is also about developing the personality of a child.

            ‘’Children learn more from what they see than from what they hear.”

If teachers and parents can model their behavior, their life itself will be a scripture for the children. Within their world, they will have role models, whom they can emulate.

Just as how parenting has become a learnt trait, teaching also demands a lot of thinking, as the present times are very different from the past.

The only way a parent or a teacher can win over the child is by winning over their hearts. That is the only way a child will be prepared to listen. 

In a world that repeatedly says that the upbringing of a child has not been proper, can parents wake up to their responsibility of nurturing the child with the right values, and in a world that is concerned about the quality of teachers, can we rise above the ordinary , stretch ourselves and go beyond the call of duty, to groom the students entrusted to us, by filling our hearts with a lot of love for our students, which will enable us to relentlessly work for the Cause of education.

Our country is known for such inspiring teachers and role model parents. Let us pause, reflect and correct ourselves, in order to leave behind a legacy, true to the values of our ancestors, who were a cut above the rest.

#Thoughtfulthursdays #nsn #nsnschool #mentoring #parenting