teachers can only open the door. you have to enter yourself. well, this is about how teachers can open the door wider
Schooling is an enduring thread of episodes that has to be
gone through by every kid for some fourteen years. But for teachers, this
episode continues for much longer, which is why, improving the quality of the
time spent in teaching and learning hours have to be experienced in the best
way possible, to make it a smooth ride. Of
course, students ,like me, play the most vital role in making each class a
success, and we are often times bombarded with advise and suggestions as to how
we should talk less, listen well, pay attention, do our work dutifully…true,
and agreed, but this is only one flank of it.
While it is true that
it is our responsibility as students to take each of these helpful opines,
teachers also play an extremely significant part in making a cheerier class,
creating a status-quo where it is easier for the students to focus their
attention on the lesson. Here are some things, I, as a student would like to
suggest:
1.
Respect us as individual students. I think it is
important for teachers to understand the differences between the abilities of
different children and treat each one especially according to their
inclinations. While I find that many teachers, and I admire them, have already
mastered this art, some expect equal performance from every student alike. “She’s
your age too, if she can, how can you not?” shouldn’t be the question. On the
contrary, the same age can often form a very poor base for grouping and labeling
people. Teachers, especially have to understand this.
2.
Remember the times when you were a student, too.
This is what many students often whisper to themselves “had she never been a
student herself? She’s so mean!” in a class of thirty, it does happen most of
the time that a couple of students may forget something important for a class
or carelessly ignore an instruction, not realizing its importance. Of course, it
must be very frustrating to come across many children like that every day, but it
would delight us if you were more understanding and forgiving. While it’s not
wrong to chastise a deliberate and repetitive rule-breaker, it is also
important to try to understand the circumstances of a child for her/his excuse
and forgive more easily.
3.
Be our friend. My most loved teacher by far is
one who had always addressed us as equals to her, she seemed to learn everyday
with us, instead of just lecturing and teaching (or droning), line after line,
encouraging tempting slumber. Try to connect with us while teaching. Interact
more with everyone, especially those who are uninterested and do not restrict
inter- student interaction too much either, at least until the collaboration
doesn’t turn into yelling (which, I know, habitually happens).
4.
Make the class more interactive. No teacher
likes passive listeners, everyone expects students to answer and listen
actively. But sometimes, to be active enthusiasts is only possible if the
teachers create an interesting environment for us. For example, instead of
making every theory based, live experiments and streaming into videos through
you tube would be better-as most schools have access to good technology now,
and this is easily possible. Conducting classes in the field or lawn instead of
inside a room on bright days can also lighten the learning atmosphere.
5. Try
to respect our views. Of course, teachers know way more than students do, which
is why they are assigned that noble role. But it isn’t humanly possible to know
everything, even what pertains to one’s own specialized subject. Sometimes,
teachers try to make up on the terms they don’t clearly have an image of
themselves. When you are not sure of something, instead of feeding children
wrong information, accept that you do not know. This not only helps us find out
the doubt through research but increases our respect for you. Sometimes,
especially when it pertains to technology and computers we may know more. There’s no wrong in this, neither is it shameful.
Naturally, being a generation born into an era of computers, this is also
intrinsic knowledge, one we’d love to share with you. We may also have our own
views pertaining to various foci, try to take in those too, and consider what
we say, even if it’s a contradiction to your outlook. Or at least just act like
you are listening. Mere listening helps greatly.
6. Teach
not to get done with it, but to transfer the power of knowledge. Teaching is
like a charge transfer. Teachers are like remote controls, whatever button they
press, that’s what works on us to create a certain effect. Try to be lively and
teach to share valuable information instead of considering it a trauma, which
would only make the class extremely dreary and difficult to handle, for every
one alike. Of course, this rule applies to students too, for if we listen,
looking vacant and zombie like, that will only demotivate the teachers.
Whatever it is, I
think most teachers of today are doing an excellent job, of herding us, which
can sometimes be a tough thing, and I doubt I’d be able to handle such a
challenging role myself. However, we as human students, also feel like teachers
could be bettered by our opinion, at times, and this are what I have put
forward. Moreover, this not only applies, I think, to teaching but any courier
any one pursues. Enthusiasm, dedication to work and respect for the individualism
of others play an important role in everyone’s life.
