BE A QUALITY TEACHER

“For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22/14)

by Rev. Fr. Milan Bernard.

On the 05th of October we celebrated the Universal Teachers’ Day. All those who are into the profession of teaching need to reflect seriously and see whether they fulfill the demands of the teaching profession. A quality teacher always fulfills the demands of his /her profession. A mediocre teacher exists to pass time and does not create any impact on the lives of the children. A quality teacher always does the otherwise.

Teaching is a noble profession. It is the mother of all professions. I will say that teaching is a noble vocation given by God himself. It is a quality teacher who makes the world so beautiful. All the teachers of the world have a greater responsibility in molding the young generation to be genuine and authentic human beings. It is truly a daunting task. It is indeed very challenging. But nevertheless, a quality teacher will achieve it. So, every teacher needs to strive hard to be a quality teacher. As the Holy Bible says, “A healthy tree bears good fruit, but an unhealthy tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit and an unhealthy tree cannot bear good fruit” (Matthew 6/17-18). Therefore, the products of a quality teacher are clear and visible.

I recently came across a statement by Dr. Haim Ginot, Child Psychologist and Holocaust Survivor. It goes like this “I am a survivor of a concentration camp. My eyes saw what no person should witness: gas chambers built by educated physicians. Infants killed by trained nurses. Women and babies shot by high school and college graduates. So, I am suspicious of education. My request is: help your children become human. Your efforts must never produce learned monsters or skilled psychopaths. Reading, writing, and arithmetic are important only if they serve to make our children more human.”

A quality teacher teaches and directs children to be more HUMAN.

‘Your efforts must never produce learned monsters or skilled psychopaths. Reading, writing, and arithmetic are important only if they serve to make our children more human’. This statement is very important. It indicates that the task and responsibility of a teacher is daunting and onerous. To teach children to be more human is a herculean task and undoubtly it’s challenging. A quality teacher will try his / her level best to be more human and to teach his / her children as well to be more human in all endeavours of life.

Though teaching children to be more human undoubtedly is a herculean task, yet it is not a mirage or a utopia. Emphasis on the human formation of every child is utmost important. Nowadays although, in the society where we live, we find people with lots of degrees and other educational qualifications, yet hardly do they practice the good qualities and virtues in life. So, we have a doubt on the human formation that they have received at the very primary level. The primary education plays a significant role in the human formation of every child and here the teacher’s role is pivotal. Therefore, it is the responsibility; and I would say the prime responsibility of the teachers in schools is to teach children to be more human. Unlike a mediocre teacher, a quality teacher will always do it.

A quality teacher practices and teaches children to practice good qualities

To be more and more human is to practice good qualities and virtues in life. A quality teacher will always focus on the fundamental virtues and develop and direct the children to grow on those virtues and qualities. Virtues like Love, Humility, Mercy and Compassion towards one another are some vital virtues and qualities to practice in life. Children full of good qualities and virtues are a great asset to the society and to the country at large. To greet persons whom, we meet saying; Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening, have a Great Day, God bless you, etc. and to say Sorry, Excuse me, Thank You will make this world more pleasant and beautiful. These simple and humble gestures and greetings ought to be in the constant usage of the teachers. However, these are not in the daily usage of a mediocre teacher, but a quality teacher will always be well equipped with them. Children will always love to emulate a quality teacher.

A quality teacher reads minds and situations of students.

Children come to school from different backgrounds. There are children who come to school from broken families, single parent families and disturbed families. There are children who come to school from very poor families as well as affluent families. There are children who come to school with an empty stomach and without a proper place to lay their heads. So, reading the minds of the children and understanding their situation are utmost important. Once again not a mediocre but a quality teacher will do it.

A quality teacher is lovable, available, and approachable.

Children should be able to reach their teacher under any circumstances. Even if they make a mistake, they should be able to communicate it to their teacher openly and plainly with trust. In this cut-throat competitive world, children are under enormous pressure due to various reasons. Parents are in a rat race to earn a living and to store money in the banks for their children. Sometimes these parents have hardly any quality time to spend with their families and especially with their children. These children have no one to talk to in their homes. Moreover, these children when they come to school, will love to approach their teacher, and tell all kinds of stories, problems, experiences, and sometimes even their terrible predicaments etc.

A quality teacher is genuine companion to fellow teachers

A quality teacher will always lend a genuine hand to fellow teachers in the staff. He/she will encourage and energize the other teachers to be more active in their activities and profession and will provide with constructive criticisms. A quality teacher will always love to see the fellow teachers doing well and will always appreciate and be humble to learn from others. Moreover, the fellow teachers in the staff will love to associate a quality teacher because of his / her lovable character and availability. They will love to associate someone whom they can trust and have faith in.

A quality teacher is close to God

A person who is close to God / to their religion will live a life worthy of their calling / vocation. They will live a genuine and an authentic life. Even if they commit a mistake or sin, they will try their best to repent and rectify it as soon as possible. Closeness to God is utmost important to be a quality teacher.

Most of all a quality teacher leads by his/her life example. If you are into teaching career or profession strive hard to be a quality teacher. “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22/14).