TEACHER, PREACHER OR DICTATOR???

A seven year old child asked his mother, “Mama, are there schools in hell too?” feeling surprised his mother said “NO.” The child said, “Then why do people fear to go to hell?”

Surely a joke. An innocent thought of an innocent mind but thought provoking, nevertheless. Why do children, of all ages, fear their teachers or going to school?

Teacher is taken for as an initiator, a guide, a mentor and a moralist. He is expected to be a paragon of knowledge and morality. He is expected to work hard and sincerely discharge the duty of imparting knowledge, assigned to him.

The new concept of teaching is problem-solving. Teacher is a problem-solver, a key to educational process. Society builds high expectation of the teacher. As far as the responsibilities of a teacher are concerned, he/she is required to teach with dedication. If classroom teaching and lectures are interesting, clearing the basic concepts and solving problems, pupils can gain a lot.

This new concept of problem solving has gained popularity and pushed back the old concept of teaching. I mean the Jug-Mug Theory. The teacher - the jug, the pupil - the mug. According to this theory, the teacher imparts his knowledge, pours out his learning to his pupil who learns and receives.

Teaching and learning activity is entirely different now. Students are not statues, who cannot move from their places, who cannot breathe, who cannot express themselves. The teacher is the problem solver, who tries to solve the problem and clear up confusions of his/her students.

A teacher becomes popular or loses popularity among his students, because of his teaching methods, nature and disposition. Classroom discourse is very important. Students idealize their teacher and try to copy his style. If the teacher is unnecessarily strict and harsh, they fear him and do not take interest in his/her subject. Such teachers are taken as bugbears and dreadful.

A teacher plays an important role in the lives of his students. Parents rely on teachers. Teacher should remain a teacher. He should not adopt the style of a priest. Instead of delivering, unnecessarily lengthy sermon type lectures, full of advice, he should be clear, easy to understand and avoid advising all the time. Repeated advising loses effect. Instead of feeling animated, the young blood feel bored and disturbed in the class.

Some teachers behave like dictators. The moment they enter the classroom, they expect their students to be dead silent. Their stern looks give the expression, “Order, Order, hold your breath.” And this attitude of teacher psychologically paralyze the students before the lecture as students fear to ask questions and discuss problems with teacher. A teacher should be polite, loving and sharing towards the students instead of those frowns which frighten the students all the time.

In my opinion a teacher should remain a teacher. He should not try to become a preacher or a dictator and instead of dictating “Thou shall do that,” and, “Thou shall not do that.” He should try to share and solve their problems. What is your opinion?