Though Teachers’ Day was most relevant during our formative years, there is merit in celebrating everyone who has taught us a skill, imparted knowledge, gifted experiences or added value to us in any capacity, throughout our lives. I stopped paying attention to the peculiar Indian celebration of Teachers’ Day, which also marks the birth anniversary of India’s erstwhile President, Dr S. Radhakrishnan, when I graduated from university. However, now that I have donned my teacher’s hat to assist with my child’s online home-schooling, I often reflect on the qualities of great teachers.
• THEY MUST BE PATIENT
Teachers deal with different levels of intellect and interest in their class- rooms. The only way to correctly serve each individual is by being as patient as possible. No question is ever too stupid, no problem without a solution, and no situation worth losing one’s temper without assessment. Great teachers impart knowledge by patiently encouraging their students to think, rather than dictating terms of learning.
• THEY MUST TEMPER THEIR EXPECTATIONS
While a lot is expected of teachers, they must not entertain excessive expectations from their students. This applies to academic or other performances, as well as to appreciation of their efforts. If appreciation of their teaching skill is received without expectation, it is a welcome bonus!
• THEY MUST ACCEPT CRITICISM & RIDICULE
No teacher escapes ridicule and criticism, whether from students or parents of the students. It is natural for teachers to be blamed for failures, even if they are not credited for accomplishments. Further, bored and rebellious students are bound to target their teachers and make fun of them. What sets a great teacher apart from others is their ability to take it in their stride and continue onward.
• THEY MUST CONTINUOUSLY KEEP LEARNING
Good teachers study their textbooks and teach them diligently, but great teachers study the latest developments in their fields and generously add them to the existing curricula. Further, great teachers stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and methodologies of teaching their disciplines, by attending webinars and conferences and through continuous reading.
• THEY MUST BE GOOD PERFORMERS
Whether a pre-school teacher or someone with a doctoral degree, every great teacher has one thing in common — they are born performers. A healthy imagination, good oratorical skills and a penchant for drama keep their audience, or students in this case, enthralled despite the tedium of the subjects!
• THEY MUST BE FRIENDLY, YET COMMAND RESPECT
There are many teachers with whom one forms friendly connections, but they are likely to be forgotten if they do not command respect. A great teacher should be approachable and relatable but never lose their authority, if they are to be taken seriously.
• THEY MUST BE ADAPTABLE
The pandemic has shown us the many failings of a traditional educational system. It became clear that some teachers were not equipped for online schooling, despite clear indications of technological systems being the way forward. In order for teachers to be termed great, they must be willing to accept the challenges they face in their professions, and adapt to the situation so they can guide their students to do the same.
• THEY MUST BE CREATIVE
In addition to being performers and sympathetic listeners, great teachers must be creative in their teaching methods, so their classes can appeal to a wide range of personalities and situations.
• THEY MUST HAVE A HARD EXTERIOR WITH A SOFT CORE
Encapsulating all the qualities mentioned above, great teachers must be tough on the outside and soft and pliable on the inside. This allows them to effectively impart knowledge, impact growing personalities and permanently remain etched in the minds of their students.
There is no course or programme that teachers can follow to be excel- lent at teaching. Great teachers are simply gifted with this ability. Most of us have had the pleasure of learning from a few great teachers in our lifetime, but have we been great students? With low standards of payment and a growing restlessness with formalised education, the world is losing amazing teachers to more outwardly rewarding career paths. It is high time we changed this mindset by according due respect to the oldest and most noble of professions.
The writer is a lawyer who pens lifestyle articles on her successful blog www. nooranandchawla.com. She can be found on Instagram @nooranandchawla.