Whether we like the word ‘competition' or not, that is the harsh reality today. So, making the students competitive while not compromising with the values should be the objective of the teacher. Creative and critical thinking are the need of the hour
Going back, the age-old guru-shishya relationship was treated in a very respectful manner. The guru was expected to teach as well as impart values and that is where theshishya develops his/her personality by imbibing these. Apart from parents, teachers play a crucial role in the development of personality of students. A teacher should not hop in and out of classrooms just to cover the syllabus but also guide the students to move in the right direction.
However, the unwritten norms are changing and the guru-shishya relationship is redefining itself. The environment is becoming more informal and friendlier, especially in the context of teaching adults. While teaching adults, especially when the students come to college, the situation becomes difficult to handle.
These students have already been influenced by an environment where they have grown up. The values have been imbibed. However, does that mean that when they come to college, they start assuming that teachers have no role to playIJ
Ideally, disciplining should take a back seat and the focus should be on their development to become competent professionals as well as good individuals and take up higher challenges in life. Adult learning is more self-directed and problem centric.
While teaching these adults, feedback (formal and informal) plays a crucial role. Students’ feedback is important, no doubt, only if it measures what it intends to measure. However, a teacher, who is steering through with the objective of getting a good feedback, needs to rethink.
If craving is entirely for one’s personal benefit, then the teacher’s values need to be questioned. liked by the students, which is leading to excellence, is perfectly alright. Whereas, when liked by the students and not leading to excellent outcomes is a point to ponder upon.
A good teacher is passionate about her/his work. No one should join this profession for a status in the society. They should be conscious that young minds are being moulded/guided by them, apart from their parents and others.
Their love for teaching and doing continuous research keeps them up and going. Their beliefs and efforts in shaping tender minds would lead them to create excellent learning environments and help students face the world independently. When the student is spending a substantial amount of time at the educational institution, it is very crucial for teachers to create a conducive environment. The less dependent the student is on the teacher, the better s/he will be able to handle situations.
Being concerned about a student does not mean making her/him overdependent or giving in to what they want for their convenience. It is required of a teacher to stay abreast of the surrounding environment and accordingly groom the students.
Whether we like the word ‘competition’ or not, that is the harsh reality today. So, making the students competitive while not compromising with the values should be the objective of the teacher.
Creative and critical thinking are the need of the hour.
Ethical behaviour is not only desirable but is a necessity in this profession. Not only about making the student competitive but also guiding him/her to take the right decisions in life and be a good individual. A teacher’s knowledge, integrity and ethical behaviour should become a source of inspiration for the students. There can be no great sense of satisfaction than being emulated by one’s students.
Generation after generation, the environment could change and so could the proximity and informality in the student-teacher relationship. But there can be no compromise when it comes to the integrity, ethical behaviour and deliverables of a teacher.
(The writer is, Associate Professor, School of Management at The NorthCap University, Gurgaon)