Worthy teachers for deserving students

By Mahesh DSouza

Br. Mahesh D’Souza

 

As Teachers Day is being celebrated throughout India on September 5, 2011 the birth anniversary of the Second President of India, Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, a great philosopher, statesman and above all an ideal teacher, this article by Br. Mahesh D’Souza of Moodubelle, presently studying at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore highlights the qualities that a teacher should possess in order to be an effective teacher and be a role model to the students who greatly depend on their teachers for shaping their personality and building their future.

- Editor

 

Moodubelle, 03 Sep 2011: All students deserve to have good teachers, ideally the very best of teachers. However, that is not yet practical, hence we manage with what we have, hoping for the day when our ideals and aspirations can become a reality. Who is a good teacher? Briefly, he/she has the required academic qualifications and credentials, the command over the subject matter he/she teaches, the skills of teaching and communicating effectively, and a devoted commitment to teach. Teacher should not compromise on preparing and delivering lessons in classes with the utmost meticulousness to the beaming satisfaction and desirable mental expansion of students.

 

Students look forward for the presence of the teacher in the class. They experience their teacher as a soothingly enriching person and very important factor in sustaining their enthusiasm and high motivation for learning and expected intellectual growth throughout the class hours. Such a teacher optimizes full development of the students. There is no reason why the students have to be bored or lose their interest in learning or fall short of expected standards in their academic life. Under the careful guidance of the teacher, the students’ application to learning and mental growth becomes a lifelong commitment, a passion from which it is hard to wean them.

 

 

Teacher should have a vision of holistic society and should communicate this vision to all the students. Besides, a teacher should also have many good human qualities and genuine values, which can have great impact on the students and on society. It is expected from the teachers that they should  act as true facilitators and promoters of students’ all round healthy growth. They are devoted guides, true friends and wise philosophers for the students and such teachers become the role models, whom the students can deeply appreciate and emulate. These teachers have an inquiring mind, and they like to examine and scrutinize whatever in culture and society or in the field of knowledge which are generally taken for granted. They constantly lay bare their own attitudes, values, ideals and dreams and endeavour to bring about an inner transformation. They are on the lookout for whatever can improve or enhance their lives and eager to make the students benefit from this rich personal growth.

 

Below is the list of great qualities and values which make worthy teachers for deserving students:

 

The careful teacher: One who does everything with reasonably good care takes proper care of everything and anybody.

 

The compassionate teacher: One who feels with the other, for the other, willing to be at the service of the other, willing to accompany the other till the very end, always eager to understand the other in deep oriented ways.

 

The caring teacher: One, who is concerned for others, thinks kindly of them, becomes aware of their needs, and attends to those needs.

 

The tireless teacher: One who is always ready to reach out to others, and never seems to be tired, being constantly of even temper.

 

The approachable teacher: Any student feels easy to come near to teacher, to seek clarifications, guidance and help in studies.

 

The philosophising teacher: One who would like to develop correct perspective on various aspects of life. Seeks deeper understanding by thinking efficiently and rightly, steadily growing in mature wisdom.

 

The contemplative teacher: A teacher who takes time to reflect and understand all the circumstances of self as well as that of students, and is ready to sympathize with the students.

 

The holistic teacher: A teacher who pays attention to all the aspects of one’s personality, and is fully functioning person.

 

The mature teacher: The teacher who has attained the desired and balanced growth in all the dimensions of one’s personality, and has become a worthy personality.

 

The interacting teacher: The teacher who is open to relationships and relates to others in interesting and enriching ways.

 

The creative teacher: The teacher has a fresh approach to thinking, behaviour, actions and relationships.

 

The enthusiastic teacher: The teacher shows lively interest in all the important aspects of life, trying to live one’s life to the full.

 

The artistic teacher: The teacher has the ability to see artistic expressions and manifestations in the various aspects of life, and perceives entire range of teaching activities as artistic.

 

The developing teacher: The teacher endeavours to bring out the best in the students.

 

The controlled teacher: The teacher is not easily annoyed or irritated, but as well composed to deal with all situations in a fair manner.

 

The feeling teacher: A sympathizing or compassionate teacher. Such a teacher is easily attuned to the inner worlds and the shifting moods of other people.

 

The authentic teacher: The teacher who shuns all falsehoods and likes to deal with others in an honest manner.

 

The value committed teacher: The teacher aspires after all that is best for all and instil values in students and all the time searching for more efficient ways of doing so.

 

The forming teacher: The teacher who is eager to shape the personalities of the students in the desired directions.

 

The punctual teacher: Always on right time in all activities especially in beginning and ending a class.

 

The prepared teacher: The teacher who is ready to accomplish a task to perfection, whether it is in conducting a class, or in extracurricular activities.

 

 

The teacher has to be a person of integrity,  with an honest and upright character as he/she has to be a strong model to the students. The teacher is an animator who can touch the different inner chords of every child and make the students unfold and develop in new and pleasantly surprising ways.