The true capabilities of a child are one of the few things that we, as humans, cannot define. A child’s future is full of endless possibilities, just like an empty sheet of paper that effortlessly accommodates even the most beautiful portraits in the world.
While considering the unparalleled potential that the younger generations hold in the palm of their hands, it is impossible to overstate the importance of a good teacher in their lives.
Teaching is the most underrated and the most powerful job on Earth! Their words and thoughts are directly channeled to reach upcoming generations and can have a long-lasting impact that shapes several mentalities.
Teachers are literally capable of altering the future, without actually traveling in time! That’s not completely true because it’s not the teachers that travel in time, it’s their ideology and teachings.
Let’s check out the transformational role of teachers in the lives of children.
The Transformational Role of a Teacher
Children carry what they are taught at a young age throughout the rest of their lives. Teachers play a major role in motivating students and help build their self-esteem, especially during their most impressionable years.
They provide children with a support system and encourage them to work toward their goals. By inspiring them to dream bigger, teachers show the students that they can change their lives through their own efforts.
Refined educators take the time to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each child under their care. They then guide them to improve their characters, push their limits, and become better and more optimistic human beings.
In reality, teaching is the most important job in the world. Teachers provide them with the foundation they need to have well-adjusted personal lives and to make useful contributions to the society they live in. They enable the children to form their own opinions, influence others, and have a positive impact on shaping the future of their world.
The Characteristics of an Ideal Teacher
Every teacher has their unique way of sending their message across but a few characteristics are known to be common to their ways. The following attributes make the difference between a good teacher and a truly great teacher who becomes an inspiration to their students.
Compassion: Compassion is important not only when dealing with the students but also other teachers, other school staff, and parents.
Passion for Learning and Children: Good teachers have a strong passion that drives them every day as teaching can be an incredibly stressful job.
Thorough Understanding: Teachers must have a profound understanding of where their students are coming from — their backgrounds, their struggles, and their abilities to help and guide them better.
Patience: Patience is key. This is very true of teaching, and not just patience with the students! Teachers also need patience in dealing with the school system, bureaucracy, and parents as well.
Ability to be a Role Model: Teachers must come to work every day knowing their students will soak their actions up like sponges. They must be their best selves around children to motivate them to be the same.
Strong Communication Skills: Teachers must be able to communicate effectively with students from multiple cultures and generations, as well as teaching staff and superiors with various backgrounds and from other generations.
Willingness to Put in the Effort: If a teacher doesn’t care or doesn’t make the effort, their students won’t either. Students reflect on the actions of their teachers so if a teacher shows students that they do truly care, they’ll do the same!
Encouraging Curiosity: By understanding what the excites or inspires the kids, teachers can prepare themselves to hold and generate the curiosity in the young minds.
Being Accepting of All Identities and Cultures: Since each child’s future represents a blank slate, teachers must not discriminate against any child and must treat each of them according to their individual abilities.
At Great Principals, we aim to bring about a necessary change in the Indian Educational System. Each new generation is far more capable than the last, and we owe it all to evolution. But as humans evolve, we are required to transcend from our old ways and look at things from a different perspective, one that shapes the untapped minds of the children for the ever-growing world.
Great Principals capture the journeys of marvelous School Leaders and Principals through an interactive talk show. We hope to inspire the parents who are the true changemakers in a child’s growing life. Our goal is to bring about a much-needed change in the way we educate our kids. Feel free to check out our episodes on YouTube www.youtube.com/c/GreatPrincipals.
