Article: Role of Teachers | Winnie Jijo

“If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel that there are three societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teachers”- Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Teachers’ Day is celebrated on 5th September, which marks the birth anniversary of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the former President of India. Teachers are the light of the world, the hope that gives strength to carry on in life. A perfect teacher is not the one who imparts only knowledge but the one who inspires, encourages each student to pursue their dreams. Teachers give out selflessly in making students grow up into accountable individuals. A passionate teacher can help even the students who are difficult to handle by making them help to learn from their mistakes and move to greater heights.

Teacher-Student interaction:

Teachers who communicate well with their students create classroom environments more useful to learning and meet the developmental, academic and emotional needs of the students. The teacher-student relationship depends to a very large level upon effort from both sides even though the teacher plays a key role in commencing a positive interaction. This interaction between the teacher and student increases the chances of building strong relationships that will touch lives in the years to follow.

How to impact students: 

Teachers play a very vital role in the life of a student. As a teacher, one must bring out the best in students that they may attempt for greater things. Students are considered as the nation builders of tomorrow and a teacher encourages these minds to think, hands to create and hearts to love. Not only do they guide students in academics or additional activities, but teachers are also accountable for shaping a student’s expectations, making him a better human being. A teacher imparts to students understanding, good values, modern-day challenges and ways to resolve them.

As we all know, nowadays the majority of our students are addicted to various kinds of substance use. According to a study conducted among medical students in India, the prevalence of tobacco use was 21.9%, alcohol use was 27.1% and substance use was 40.3%. The use of tobacco was about 10 times higher in males than females (Sahu et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of substance use among medical students in India. Indian Journal of Psychiatry: May–June 2022, Volume 64, Issue 3, pp. 225-239). The influence of a good teacher in this context can never be erased.

If you’re a Christian teacher, it doesn’t matter where or whom you educate. The purpose should be to show Christ to the students. How?

· Love the students with Christ-like love 

· Be kind and appreciative 

· Value integrity

· Be humble

· Be genuine

“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). In this wicked world the teachers should direct their students to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.