Teachers as role models

Our society has seen a constant decline in standards of morality and universal principles of honesty, respect, social justice, equity and even selflessness have been thrown by the wayside by many prominent and professional people in their quest to acquire material wealth and power.

The relevance and sincerity of many of our institutions have been coming under question as they fail to rein in those who transgress the law or engage in illicit and illegal activities. The protection of the well-being and sanctity of society as a whole is a duty that is being ignored with impunity by those entrusted with the authority to do so.

In the middle of this social decadence are our children – our future adults. As we continue to ensure that their future is more uncertain than ever through our greed, unequal distribution of wealth, unsustainable approaches to development and destruction of the environment, they are crying out to us teachers for guidance and protection.

In our hands lie a moral responsibility to ensure that they all have a bright future that they can look forward to without fear and trepidation.

It is in this context that teachers cannot be anything but professional in their approach to their tasks, seeing it well beyond the delivery of academic curriculum and activities restricted to the classroom.

Teachers must model behaviour that we want to see in our future adults. Despite their protestations and indiscipline, children do look up to us. Their eyes are constantly on us in and out of the classroom and this is a fact that we cannot ignore as a reality of the profession.

When we made that all important decision to become teachers, we entered into a moral contract with the society to help define future generations.

Notwithstanding the negative criticisms and attacks from people and segments of the society, some of which we must admit is wholly justified, the society at large also holds us to very high expectations and standards. As teachers we perform a public good and our actions must at all times be in keeping with that dictum.

In many instances, children will insist to their parents that the word of the teacher is superior to theirs. This reflects the awesome level of respect and admiration that is reposed in us by their innocent minds.

In their eyes we represent everything that is right, decent and good. This is evident by the level of reverence and esteem that many of us continue to enjoy from them long after they leave our care and influence.

While they may not say it, when our conduct is unbecoming, they do experience a significant measure of disappointment, especially when we may have been the only positive influence in their lives.

They are also quick to discern double standards and hypocrisy on our part. This can even translate into diminished levels of regard given to us.

We cannot escape the fact that we have a sacred duty to safeguard those innocent minds that come before us and remember that we might just be their most powerful and influential role models. Our influence and impact go well beyond the classroom and serve as a platform upon which good decent citizens are created.

Our levels of commitment and dedication to the job must never be in question by the society as a whole and worst yet by our charges.

T h e i r perception of us as g o o d d e c ent huma n b e ing s is a paramount pillar of our vocation.