Beliefs about Teaching

The role of a teacher is to instruct activities that will impart knowledge or skills within students. “Teaching should be such that what is offered is perceived as a valuable gift and not as a hard duty”- Albert Einstein. There are many philosophies for a good teacher, however, a good teacher must comprise of many valuable characteristics to impart substance in any person’s life.
Teachers should possess confidence in themselves with the intention that students will in return possess confidence in them. A confident teacher will have pride and indulge in their passion with an intense desire to fancy the profession. You must like what you do or to perceive teaching as a valuable gift, as explained in Einstein’s philosophy of a good teacher. Once a teacher acquires these qualities, they would be able to give and receive support from students.
As you would expect, teachers must also be patient, this being a key principle for one who chooses to pursue teaching. Not every student is the same, but all are uniquely different and would convey many challenges in a classroom. It is however up to the teacher to make rationale decisions for their approach on any given situation. An accepted way for a teacher to be able to develop their technique is by being a Reflective Practitioner. Looking back and improving a method only proves that the teacher shows a good interest in their student’s personal development as well as their own. This shows understanding and dedication and in the long run can only be seen as positive characteristics for nourishing minds. “Teaching is the highest form of understanding”-Aristotle.
Prospective teachers must have the right motives to teach. They must expect and want a new challenge everyday, and be aware that they help to build the foundations of future generations, making teachers a fundamental contribution to society.

Sariyah Ghany