A parent is the first and often the most important teacher of the child. Whenever the parents inadequately nurture or label their child, the youngster gets more opportunities in life to become whole.
A child interacting with significant others, especially teachers, has the chance to learn more effective and appropriate ways to meet his needs.
Good parenting is not determined by how eloquently the parent can opine about child rearing but rather the caliber of child they raise. In like manner it is not about the self-promoting or the specific knowledge of the teacher, rather it is her ability to positively impact the overall academic, social, emotional and spiritual functioning of the child. The goal of both the parent and the teacher should be the child's character, his productivity and independence as a learner.
A successful teacher is a person who is motivated to help each student unlock her potential to be a lifelong self-learner. Guiding a child to develop her abilities and skills needed to surmount the educational obstacles sets her on the road of competency. Other problems confronted throughout her life will be manageable directly due to the habits and skills acquired in school. This disciplined student has been liberated from playing the role of being helpless and dependent.
An effective teacher is more than her degrees, her specializations, her looks, her high self-esteem or her ability to put on a "dog-and-pony show." The ability to market themselves, their credentials and spouting of educational babble has replaced the humility, common sense, dedication and loving firmness of successful teachers. Too often teachers are being judged on their external credentials, not on their inner dedicated spirit and character to be the best role model and inspirational guide.
A true teacher has to have an inner calling to help others gain the joy of learning. Often these people had difficulty themselves with a demeaning teacher or a less than productive period in their school experience. They have a personal desire to have students avoid the pain they experienced during their education. Helping students overcome the problems they faced in the past is a great motivator for teachers.
A responsible teacher is genuine. The mutual respect between teachers and students develops a warm classroom climate where questions are encouraged and adequately answered. This environment helps students develop the insight and discipline to become self-learners. The teacher speaks to students as reasonable people and does not talk down to them. The students are held accountable for their behavior and academics. Appropriate consequences are given out equitably to maximize their progress. All work handed in to the teacher is carefully checked and marked to have an accurate measure of their growth.
It is her ability to help each and every student be the best he or she can be that defines her as a teacher. A good teacher is analogous to a good mother. It is not what they say; it is what they do when no one else knows. It is all the little but important things that the child is taught.
The old adage that "my child taught me well" to be a good parent can be applied to teaching. The best teachers are those who observe the lesson that each student teaches them. Each lesson learned by the teacher is another key that will help unlock the problems of a similar student. The more insights students give them the greater insight they will have in helping other students.
The most important evaluation of a teacher is not done by administrators completing another form, but by the overall interaction with her students. It creates an evaluation that is most important to students and parents, the teacher's reputation. The accumulated stories of how a teacher has affected students' academic, social or emotional advancement build the reputation of the teacher: good or bad.
Our school administrators have to encourage teachers to develop their creativity and talents in the art of teaching. It is not the impractical principles memorized in education courses but applying the principles taught to the teacher by the students and other staff members. The experienced teacher expands this knowledge that is learned in the classroom, to become a great teacher.
Teachers can no longer be seen as specialized technicians following the curriculum page, shaped and handed down by bureaucratic administrators from up the ladder.
This approach is not inspiring creative energy, it is following a bureaucratic cookbook that does not account for the individual differences of children. It does document failure but does little to remediate the problem. This unworkable sterile approach to teaching annihilates the enthusiasm of both the teacher and the learner.
Choosing people of good character and motivation along with the encouragement and support of administrative personnel, they will become effective teachers. In this positive environment, the focus on removing the student's learning difficulty occurs.
As these teachers witness more and more students overcoming their self-imposed limitations they will be on a gratifying mission to unleash the potential of all their students.
Authentic teaching is primarily a spiritual journey.
Dr. Domenick J. Maglio, Ph.D., is the author of "Invasion Within" and "Essential Parenting." He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School. Visit: www.drmaglio.com.
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