Bouquets for the noble profession

OVER the last week and perhaps even in the weeks to come, students and schools will celebrate Teachers Day with a variety of activities.

Such events are staged as a mark of respect and appreciation for teachers.

Being mentors, they are regarded as the backbone of society.

Outstanding teachers are recognised with awards in schools and at distict, state and national level.

While these acts of acknowledgement are very much appreciated by those in the profession, it is not always the preferred career of school-leavers and fresh graduates.

While there may be a few in the group who have joined teaching for the pure love of the job, the question remains as to why they are there.

Sadly many may opt for teaching jobs in government institutions and schools because of the security and the pension.

I believe only those who have the passion and the desire to teach and make a difference in students’ lives should be in the profession.

Not everyone is destined to be a teacher as it is a job about sacrifice and dedication.

I spoke to a teacher who received the ‘most caring teacher award’ recently.

She said that teaching was a calling and she was totally committed to the job.

It is obvious that she is an an exemplary teacher and someone that the young ones look up to.

During my school days, I had dedicated teachers too.

Madam Adibah spoke English with a British accent and never failed to amaze my classmates and I.

She was strict but we took it in our stride.

As children we had problems enunciating certain words with the letters “th”.

What Madam Adibah did was to find long and short words that had “th” and we had word drills.

She also picked up random passages and would encourage us to read and understand.

Besides testing us for compehension, she would test us for grammar too.

I was inspired to follow in the footsteps of Madam Adibah and my other great and compassionate teachers.

It has been said that a good teacher has a significant role in shaping children, even more than their parents.

Teachers try all kinds of methods to mould and influence a child’s character.

We must delve into a learners’ real ability and develop it.

Students often view teachers as role models and rely on their teachers’ guidance in every aspect of their lives.

They strongly believe that their teachers will never disappoint them, whatever the situation.

Students have very high expectations of us teachers.

As for young teachers, they should not hesitate to learn new skills and knowledge.

In school, teachers make their own lesson plans with appropriate teaching aids to facilitate the teaching process.

Then there are those who go the extra mile to even prepare their own modules and conduct extra classes for the students.

These teachers should be praised for their many selfless deeds.

Most teachers have that fire in them that keeps burning. They still have that passion to nurture their charges. Although they are burdened with non-teaching chores, they go on without complaining.

My hope is for them to continue teaching and bringing out the best in their students.