Teachers, what do you believe?

THE EDITOR: I am tired of hearing complaints about the behaviour of our young men and women. They are blamed for all the violence and crime taking place in our society. Instead of complaining, we should be looking for the root causes of the problem. What are some of the causes of this problem? How long have we been having problems with young people to such an extent that it is adversely affecting our society as a whole? Yes, there may be a lot of causes, such as dysfunctional homes, negative distraction of the environment, single parenting etc. However, of all of the problems existing I want to deal with two possible causes.

Firstly, someone defined education in this way: “Education is life. Education is living. Education is having the ability to adjust to one’s environment.” Therefore, if we use this definition, our young people should be educated in such a way as to meet the needs of their environmental situation. Are they meeting some of the simple needs? Then why should employers complain of O’ level students not being able to satisfactorily complete an application form? Why can’t they read or spell properly? If the complaints mentioned above are true, then our educational system is definitely not meeting the needs of the environment in which the young people must live and strive.

At present, we do not treat all our children ‘‘as acres of diamonds.’’ If we did, then we as educators or educational planners will act as diamond cutters, shaping our diamonds in order to improve their market value. In other words developing a programme that will ensure the completion of the educational journey for all children, so that in time they would become meaningful contributors to our society. Just imagine, I was told that children are promoted because of their age and not because of knowledge or ability. If this is so, then we are certainly grooming a lot of frustrated young people. Maybe that is why they are taking out their frustration on society. Secondly, I am going to treat this point in a very positive light. Good teachers will always be needed. No society can progress without good teachers. Learning is an endless experience. Therefore good teachers, whoever they may be, are needed from birth to the grave.

What are the qualities of a good teacher? For a young teacher who has just entered the field, he or she needs to sit back and think, with eyes closed, bringing to mind two or three of the best teachers they have had the opportunity to have as part of their academic life. Try to remember what they were like, how they looked, talked and acted, while inside and outside their classrooms, how they made you feel as their student.
When you are satisfied that you have a good picture of who these people were, open your eyes. If you feel enthused, if you feel motivated to continue the work at hand, if you feel ready to meet the many challenges that may confront you, then continue teaching. Generally speaking, a good teacher must first and foremost be a student advocate, inside and outside of the classroom. A good teacher fights for what is right for children. Decisions that a good teacher makes are based primarily on how that decision will affect his or her students. This also demonstrates certain unselfishness on the teacher’s part. Children come first!

The second characteristic of a good teacher is their respect for others. They respect their students, and their interactions and approach to class management is exemplary. They respect the parents and community members and are always professional in their interactions. They respect their colleagues and staff members, and do not talk about them behind their backs. A good teacher is a person of integrity. The third characteristic of a good teacher is that of a life-long learner. They are knowledgeable in their profession and in their subject area(s), and continue to grow in that knowledge. A good teacher is well read, and makes decisions based on current research regarding best practice. Fourth, a good teacher is a good communicator. He or she is someone who not only delivers a message well, but is also an active listener. Again, an unselfish attitude in listening to students and parents is very important.

Finally, a good teacher emphasises that students be responsible for their own learning. They challenge their students to think things through. They set goals together with their students, and then act as facilitators to help those students attain those goals. They celebrate successes, and encourage those who need help. As teachers, we must always be examining ourselves getting feedback from students, parents, colleagues, and administrators, always remembering that we are mere mortals, and sometimes we need help to find that “good teacher” in ourselves. Finally, what do you believe? You see, it is belief, which motivate. Do you believe that God has given you gifts, so that you can contribute to the development of our people and as a consequence the development of our society? Do you see yourself wanting to make a meaningful contribution to the development of our people? Do you have a mission to tap into the potential of our young people, so that they may experience or achieve goals they never thought that they would have achieved? Then you are in the right business. May God bless our young people and our nation as a whole.

COLVIN BLAIZE
Port-of-Spain