Teachers Should Inspire Students

Each time I attend any kind of class, be it an academic or a non-academic one, I cannot help but feel amused about teachers. Just for a single presentation, we as students have to prepare ourselves so much. Can you even imagine the kind of rigorous effort a teacher has to put in delivering content to his/her students? No clarity on the part of teachers can cause further confusions to the learners. 

Teaching is a repetitive task. Every year the teacher has to teach a new set of students the same materials literally. But the responsibility does not end here. Each class comprises a different set of students who comes from different backgrounds and holds varied perceiving abilities. It is natural that these students hold a certain level of expectation from their teachers. 

So the teachers are given the key responsibility to balance all of these things. They will have to make sure that their contents are entertaining as well as engaging for the students. Obviously, the materials should be clear and simplified too so that they can help develop a sense of understanding for the students.

Having said this, teachers are also entrusted with the responsibility of assessing and evaluating assignments and examinations of the students. So, the teachers are expected to be very impartial in their assessment, without a hint of any biases. 

However, as human beings, teachers too are not free from partialities. Certain prejudices such as confirmation bias remain to be common in the realm of our educational system. 

The main idea of this is that an individual who strongly believes in a certain set of theory or belief is unable to let go of it. 

So, s/he dismisses any other belief or theory that does not confirm with their own. This is a problematic situation as it prevents both the teacher and student from growing.

In this modern world, our education system is evolving in a massive way. From the traditional mode of Gurukul to the smart learning practices, we have come a long way. 

So it is necessary that a tutor adapts himself or herself to the dynamic educational system. This could mean being open to the ideas of students and not sticking to the idea of “My way or the highway”. 

Now let’s talk about grades and teachers’ assessment on the same. Our societal orientation prioritises grades and considers them a defining factor in a student’s life. Grades are a touchy topic from the student and the parents and to the relatives and the neighbours. 

There are teachers who are very fair in their judgment and develop rubrics to better shape the overall assignment. Rubrics are developed to help students create a fair way of assessing the assignment in an impartial and consistent manner. 

But there are also teachers who are lenient in their grading and give students the leeway to do as they want. The teachers hold the responsibility to ensure level playing field and promote a fair evaluation process for all.

While saying all this, I feel teachers substantively shape the educational system of a country. They are burdened with a number of tasks that can be overwhelming at times. 

But their right approach alone can contribute to making all the difference in the lives of the children and young students, who are the pillars of a nation. They must work as torchbearers.