| The word 'good' can have quite a few interpretations. | | | | It for such reasons that a teacher should adopt good |
| For the purpose of this blog post, it is assumed that | | | | teaching methods instead of resorting to easier |
| "good" here means "Effective", that is, a teacher can | | | | methods like just reading out of a textbook, or even |
| impart his knowledge and whatever other values it is | | | | worst - students have "Peers Teaching - students |
| his responsibility to spread to his charges. It is also | | | | teach students!", Online Teaching, "Read That |
| assumed that the teacher under discussion is one | | | | Chapter On Your Own". |
| who teaches secondary school and/or junior college. | | | | Every teacher must be genuinely interested in his job. |
| First of all, a teacher must know his profession | | | | He must feel that it is his calling to develop young |
| thoroughly. He must know his subject for beyond the | | | | minds and through them, to actually shape the |
| point he intends to teach. He needs to be an expert | | | | destiny of the country and the world. He must be |
| in his field. For example, if he is teaching chemistry, | | | | dedicated and caring at least to the point that it |
| he should know all the chemistry-related fields and | | | | matters to him that his students learn all that they |
| careers out there. He should also need to be able to | | | | need to know. |
| relate how Chemistry is related to our everyday life, | | | | Over and above teaching his subject, a teacher has |
| and not some abstract concepts and theories. The | | | | the responsibility to develop the characters if the |
| teacher needs to translate those abstract concepts | | | | students in his life. Quite often, a teacher is a student |
| and turn them into interesting things that the | | | | role model. All of us go through school, hero worship |
| students can relate in their everyday life. It is only in | | | | at least one teacher whom we would like to emulate. |
| this way, he can then make cross references and | | | | A teacher should always be aware of his |
| answer all the questions that arise in the minds of his | | | | responsibility. If by any chance he were to show |
| students. | | | | flexibility in ethics and morals, he is more or less |
| Knowing his subject is of no use if he does not know | | | | giving a sanction to his young charges that it is |
| how, or does not bother to, teach it most | | | | acceptable for them to be like that too. This applies |
| effectively to his students. Many times, we have | | | | to simple vices like smoking and more serious errors |
| seen scholars-turned-teacher that fumble big time | | | | where the teacher fails to draw a clear line between |
| when they started their teaching careers. Knowing a | | | | good and bad behavior. I do understand that teacher |
| certain subject and scoring distinction in it, does not | | | | should also have their own privacy, and I respect |
| necessarily guarantee an A for his students, not to | | | | that, but when it comes to public appearance, they |
| mention a distinction. | | | | would have to comply to their positive side. For |
| Though it is true that in a secondary school and/or | | | | myself, I am what I am today, partly due to the |
| college, students should take responsibility for their | | | | teachers that I have met during my secondary |
| own learning, it would be dull and boring to learn from | | | | school days. |
| a teacher who does not present his subject in an | | | | Since the birth of civilisations, teachers have been the |
| interesting manner. | | | | pillars of society. Staying in the background, at least |
| It is the teachers' duty to promote love of his | | | | for most of the time, they have been indirectly |
| subject among his students. This he can do so only | | | | responsible for the advancement of the race. Often, |
| first by loving the subject himself. His enthusiasm and | | | | it is their lot to go unnoticed. But time and again, all |
| love for his subject will catch on with his students | | | | great men and woman have been unsparing in their |
| and if they learn to love a subject, they can learn it | | | | praise of teachers. This is by far their greatest |
| more efficiently and effectively. | | | | responsibility. Teachers are the ones who guarantee |
| An ineffective teacher usually by his lack of | | | | that our tomorrows will be as good as, if not better |
| enthusiasm and interest, will cause his subject to be | | | | than, our today. By shaping characters and instilling |
| hated by the students. So often, we have hear | | | | knowledge, they ensure that the world continues to |
| students complaining about how much they hate a | | | | be. |
| certain subject and when we asked them in details, | | | | I salute those teachers that have been an inspiration |
| the answers always fall back to their "teacher". Can | | | | to the students that have taught. |
| you see the link? | | | | |