What Makes A Good Teacher

 

                                                             

          What Makes a Good Teacher 

                                                   

There is a famous saying ‘Teaching is like a candle that consumes itself as it gives off light” bearing the similarity, a teacher consumes his time and extends his efforts to eliminate ignorance and darkness from the face of society. It also emphasizes that the evolution of a noble, competent, and effective society owes the greatest part of a teacher’s contribution.

Each profession occupies a specific niche in society — doctors heal, lawyers deal, engineers design, preachers refine, an economist manages finance, and a philosopher inculcates stance. However, the significance of teaching profession surpasses all for it underpins shaping all the careers.

Experts have used varied terms to define a teacher’s role. Some title him as a dispenser of knowledge, others crown him as a leader, and the list continues as a counselor, a coach, a supervisor, a role model, or a facilitator etc. Verily, for me he is far more than that. To ascertain the core nature of a teacher’s role one may imagine being at a party and visualizing the role of a host hosting the party with a smile on his face and openness in his heart. He welcomes and accommodates all the guests under one roof. He brings in fun with dining, dancing, and a blend of music. He continues observing, evaluating, and assisting the guests to make the party a success.

A teacher’s role is more similar to that of a host. Like a host, he is sensitive to his students’ learning needs, as well as, he is welcoming, patient, compassionate, and a good organizer.  He tries to accommodate his students by eliminating their weaknesses. To meet his teaching objectives, he not only plays the role of a teacher, but also of a trouble shooter, connector, motivator, advisor, organizer, actor and even a director.

In the wake of learning, he holds his student’s hand to let him plunge into the pool of his wisdom. He speaks as a great orator, he acts as a best actor, he influences as a great leader, and he guides as a best preacher, he inspires when speaks, he dominates when leads. He prefers to heal to hurt.  Above all, his success lies in his students’ achievements. For him, his students’ success mirrors his own competency. 

To sum up, a good teacher explores his student’s individual talent, nurtures and nourishes it, equips him with the required skills and tailors him to bring the theoretical aspects of education into practical reality. Henry Brooks Adams, a renowned historian, rightly said “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops”.