Beyond teaching
Appreciating teachers and their roles
AHINDI doha describes the importance of a teacher. As per the doha by poet Kabir Das, “Teacher is even greater than God. He says if the teacher and God are both in front of me, who will I greet first. He then says it is only because of the teacher’s teaching that I am able to see God”.
From early days of growing up in Savusavu, our parents taught us the importance of respecting our teachers, who were our gurus.
We were taught the important role that a teacher played to educate students. We were taught that they did not just teach students, but also influenced them for good.
We were told that the role of a teacher was not limited to only the four walls of the classroom, but their different roles could be seen even outside the classroom.
This is one reason why we slowly sneaked away from a public gathering if we saw our teacher in a social gathering.
In my case, mum and dad were teachers, so there was an additional expectation that I would follow their footpath and become a teacher.
Perhaps, this is one reason why I developed an interest to become a teacher when I was young.
Indeed, the teacher’s role is described beyond teaching. A teacher is more than an educator and is a counsellor, mentor, role model, external parent, and so on to a student.
Once a child is admitted to school, the role of a teacher to shape the life of the child begins. Teachers play a crucial role in our life to succeed in a career, job, business, and in short making a successful human being.
A good teacher helps us become good human beings in the society and good citizens of the country because teachers know that students are the future of any country. A child is like clay, and teachers can shape the child in any form.
Whatever a child learns is from their parents and after them, from their teachers, as they take birth with no knowledge.
Teachers provide them education and knowledge. Teachers are equally important in a student’s life.
They become an encouraging factor, confident booster and moral supporter for students. From schools, colleges, to universities, students need teachers everywhere to guide them to share their future.
In spite of having the personality of a strict person, they are kind-hearted and loving for their students.
Because of all these reasons, the role of a teacher, as an important factor in one’s life, can’t be ignored. Teachers play an essential role in the life of their students during school days and even after school in the practical world.
Sharing knowledge, giving education, and teaching about life is the primary responsibility of a teacher.
In general, teachers mean to teach students the specific syllabus and impart knowledge about the specific curriculum.
Their duty is to make sure that students understand what is being taught to them in the classroom or in online teaching or in e-learning setup. All other roles of an educator are derived from this primary role of a teacher.
This role gives birth to other roles. Teachers must fulfill this basic duty otherwise they won’t be able to fulfill other duties.
Thus, it becomes a responsibility of a teacher to teach students in such a way that they enjoy learning and focus on learning. Students understand real-life examples easily and quickly.
A good teacher, while teaching, connects various subjects to real-life situations and tries to make topics understandable to them. On the other hand, it is important for a teacher to appreciate his students, as it and boosts their confidence.
With encouragement, a teacher can make students cross barriers. The teacher becomes an external parent to students as they spend a lot of time together in school.
Teacher’s role transcends following the work schedule and teaching specific curriculum.
They keep working to bring their students best out. The role of a teacher surpassed the conventional thinking that a teacher only educates students.
They were used to following a specific curriculum and had to learn about teaching the curriculum. But in modern scenarios, the teacher’s role is not limited.
Today, they keep educating students, mentoring students, and giving them practical knowledge.
Hence, teachers play an essential role in education, most especially in the lives of the students they teach in the classroom.
What defines a teacher is his/her ability to teach students and a positive influence on them. Ann Lieberman’s quote, “great teachers empathise with kids, respect them, and believe that each one has something special that can be built upon”, comes to mind, as I pen this article.
Teachers must be valued and not threatened or demoralised as this will affect productivity.
Societies that have empowered and valued teachers have progressed and made strides.
Teachers are the pillar of strength and have produced and mentored doctors, nurses, ambassadors, accountants, ministers, politicians and dentists.
I would not have been today what I am without the support, advice and teaching of my wonderful teachers.
Our teachers act as a support system that is lacking elsewhere in students’ lives.
They hold students accountable for their successes and failures and good teachers won’t let their talented students get away with not living up to their full potential.
Teachers of all walks of life and subjects shape opinions and help form ideas about society, life and personal goals.
Teachers expand students’ limits and push their creativity.
Teaching is a tough job, but it is one where you can make the most impact in another person’s life.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly added to the challenges faced by already over-extended education systems throughout the world.
The world is at a crossroad and, now more than ever, we must work with teachers to protect the right to education and guide it into the unfolding landscape brought about by the pandemic.
I am glad that we have among us teachers who have their children at heart and take the extra mile to ensure that their educational needs are met. Our teachers deserve respect and dignity from everyone.
As I sit back and reflect the challenges my teachers faced to fulfill our thirst for education, I feel proud that with limited resources and technology they had, they did so well.
Although, we were on the receiving end, we did not mind because we knew it was for a worthy cause, and today we don’t regret the hard system that we went through. Even today’s teachers sacrifice so much.
Many of them sacrifice their weekends looking after their school’s sports teams, and when teams go camping, teachers go with their students, leaving their loved ones at home.
Many also sacrifice the comfort at home to be with their students, even sleeping on a mattress on the floor. Such sacrifices make the bonding between a teacher and his/her students.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, some teachers have opted to be front-liners, while others have teamed up with other individuals to distribute food packs and other essential items to needy families.
Teachers have also prepared worksheets to be distributed to their students, and others have ventured into zoom and online classes so that their students continue to learn from home.
I salute our dedicated, committed and passionate teachers for this initiative.
As I conclude, I pay tribute to those teachers who have retired and those who have gone for eternal rest.
Their service to our education system can never be forgotten.
I pay tribute to the teachers who have taught me at Khemendra Bhartiya School, Natabua High School, Nadogo Secondary School, Labasa College and Fiji College of Advanced Education.
Vinaka vakalevu sirs and madams and thank you for your endless support, blessings, love and encouragement!