Education is taken very seriously in India. Educators are not.
Teaching as a profession and as a term, is taken very casually or idly in India. To most Indians, doing B.Ed and pursuing a career in school teaching means taking the easy way out. It feels like a back- up option, especially to girls, since apparently ‘Anyone can teach in schools’. These are not assumptions. These are observations based on real experiences. We often hear relatives and even peers say make such statements. It is quite sad as to how Indians undervalue teachers, especially because this job requires some legitimate hard work and expertise.
Teachers are truly superheroes sans capes. A teacher can make or break a child. Think about your own school. There must be at least one teacher whom you remember fondly and believe that she changed the way you looked at a subject, at yourself, or even at life. This is because a teacher means more than just a subject teacher to any child. This holds true especially at junior school level, where the teacher is someone whom children look up to in life. “…but my ma’am taught me so…” or “Ma’am cannot be wrong!” are some sentences we do hear the young ones crooning at home. A teacher is someone under whose guidance and attention you leave your child for 5-6 hours, five days a week. She becomes a significant part of your child’s routine and life. Undoubtedly then, she has a huge impact on the child’s life. She also has the power to influence their ethics, their thoughts, and their emotions. Therefore, a teacher’s job is not just rattling out a study lesson; it is a huge responsibility wherein she is shaping an individual and his/her future.
A teacher is also an individual. He/she may have imperfections, prejudices, varied upbringing, and matters in their head apart from those concerning the school/class. Even so, their job requires them to switch off completely from their private world and focus on the transfer of only good thoughts and lessons- to not just one, but several children. The transfer of values and education needs to be effective, or there will be no results. This we can all agree, is way more complicated than any other job in the world.
As a parent, it must stress you out many times that you are responsible for another human being, how he/she lives their life and what he/she will grow up to be. Now imagine a teacher’s life. He/she is responsible for hundreds of children every single year. How stressful must it be to know that any word or though that you utter, or how you teach a child, will leave a mark on the child forever. There is no scope whatsoever, of faltering in your way. As a teacher, one is responsible for how a child will look at daily routines, what manners he/she will imbibe, how he/she interacts with peers/friends/elders, how interested he/she will be in studies, and how he/she grows up to be. Suppose a teacher doesn’t teach Maths well and the child ends up failing the tests, he/she will detest the subject forever. In such ways, a teacher’s job is critical; for he/she is responsible for nearly everything that a growing child will learn and absorb. Teachers have the child’s (and the country’s) future in their hands.
A good teacher is a superhero. He/she has the power to transform and polish a child. A teacher is all roles merged into one- parent, educator, manager, nanny, guide, and friend. A teacher has the capability of understanding fine nuances of children’s character and personalities and can waive off subconscious disorders and insecurities. A teacher may be the reason why a child wakes up every day, eager to join school and spend a happy day. Therefore, we must heartily accept the super powers of teachers and give them the respect and love they deserve. Be thankful. Be kind.
