A teacher takes responsibility for enabling people to live, or if required, to change this world. Taking such a responsibility requires an enormous conviction that change is possible and an extreme commitment to the well-being of the other. The best thing about being a teacher is inspiring change. Yes, great teachers inspire change through sharing stories and experiences with students. They share ideas, doubts and anecdotes. More importantly, they teach us the value and importance of the questioning spirit. This spirit facilitates discovery, which in turn pushes the borders of our knowledge beyond all known realms.
In India, The Guru or the teacher is an embodiment of good qualities, a fountain of knowledge and an abode of spirituality. In the Vedic India, the teacher enjoyed a special status and position. He was held in high esteem by the society and this was due not only to learning and scholarship, but also to qualities of head, heart, and hand. Over the years, the number of people choosing the teaching profession has come down. One of the reasons why not many people choose this profession is because the education system does not place great emphasis on teacher quality. It is important that communities, educationalists, and authorities come together and set right this anomaly. Our education system should begin with taking concerns of the child’s needs and turning him or her into a responsible citizen.
The Indian society does recognize the impact that teachers have on children’s future. As teachers become experts in the science of learning, theirs is an enviable task to equip students to the fast-changing world of values, ideas, and sensibilities. Their success depends on their ability to discover new ways to improve students’ performance. They have the power to transform students’ lives and support them in their development. Let us celebrate our great teachers who never shirked from the commitment to the well-being and success of their students.
