Essence of Education

Education in the largest sense is an act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual. In its technical sense, education is the process by which society deliberately passes its accumulated knowledge, skills, and values from one generation to another.

Unfortunately, our present education system provides marginal help in the development of the overall personality of a child. We must remember that, it is the personality, which is more important than academic qualification.

Our education system in general, promotes a battle of unhealthy competition. Most of the time, learners have to read and mug-up entire textbooks without any understanding of it. In this process learners, do not develop skills that are essential for their development.

Our learners become incapable of performing critical analysis, for example in subjects like history, culture and religion, learners take the line of establishment or the views of predominant majority. They are not able to look at things from their own perspective. If we want our society to become far better than what we are now, then we must develop a culture of looking at things critically in order to arrive at a comprehensive understanding. Teachers should be able to cascade their knowledge and experience effectively to the children.

In an attempt to develop certain fundamental aspects in student teacher relationship, which would help to enhance the overall learning capacity of the learner, the following principles can be practiced:

1.      No scolding and punishment practice:

It is important not to shout, abuse or physically punish children.  Learners generally, are not able to make any connection between their behaviour and punishment. The fear for the punishment controls their behaviour. They dont correct their behaviour by understanding their mistakes. When they think that they are not being watched, the tendency to engage in the behaviour that is restrained, reasserts in them. So instead of punitive approach if we shift to guidance approach it will open the door for working together. It creates trust and invites cooperation. It offers children a chance to understand themselves and others. It gives us an opportunity to be seen as a safe and trusted source of meaningful guidance.

We must encourage learners to self-discipline out of interest and inspiration that he gets from the teacher. If interest were promoted in learners, they would like to learn, as they like to eat and play.

2.      Selflessness is the key ingredient:

If the teacher is selfless, the child will learn to be selfless. The child learns most of his lessons subliminally from the teacher. We must understand our students not only from academic perspectives and cognitive developmental stages, but also from emotional, psychological, cultural and socio economic perspectives. How you teach is more important than what you teach.

Children are watching our every move, every response. They are noticing every slightest change in the tone of our voice and our body language. They can observe and sense whether we are in stress, over worked or overwhelmed, whether we are happy or sad. Therefore, the attitude of the teacher will directly affect the student. If we as educators are compassionate and understanding toward our students, we increase their potential to learn. This is what I call selfless teaching.

3.      Inspiration and interest:

If there is one thing we know about kids, it is that they have short attention spans and prefer to postpone things. It is one of the most difficult aspects of becoming a teacher learning how to motivate the students. Students who are not motivated would not learn effectively and cannot retain the information. Also they will not only not participate but also become disruptive and get distracted to external forces. While motivating the children is a difficult task, the results would be a rewarding experience. Motivated students are most excited to learn and participate. Some children are self-motivated with a natural love for learning. Even with the students who do not have the natural drive, a competent teacher can make learning fun and inspire them to reach their maximum potential.  

“The teacher’s enormous interest in the subject should be communicated to the learner. The child must be inspired by the teacher to acquire interest.”

How can we do this? The teachers should inspire the children in the best possible ways. The perfect teacher should be able to make the child feel confident. Educators should have the ability to make each learner special and important. They must know how to encourage and connect with children regardless of their own levels of education. 
It is seen that this process comes down to hard work rather than inspiration. Teaching is all about the relationship between teacher and pupil more than anything else. The best teachers are always wanting to do and find out more about their own subject, pushing out the boundaries of their learning and teaching. Teachers need to keep learning and growing. They are not to be characterised by their own academic performance but by their thirst for creativity and ability to pass on the benefits of education.

The few inspiring ideas are:

·         To get to know the students closely showing interest in their life.

·         Encouraging learners to think outside the box.

·         Energize classrooms with innovative strategies.

·         Include small play methods and games into teaching practice.

·         Use examples and analogies by way of short stories.

·         Be a role model to the learners by practicing ethics, morals and values.

·         Make teaching interactive.

·         Be ready to go the extra mile when needed.

·         Be compassionate, understanding and forgiving.

 Once the interest is awakened, learning becomes automated. Nothing cannot prevent a child from learning. Interest and inspiration are infectious and they easily spread. It is infectious from the teacher to a student.  It is infectious from one student to the others.

4.      Be the subject matter expert, promote inquiry:

That subject matter is an essential component of teacher’s knowledge.  After all, if teaching entails helping others learn, then understanding what is to be taught is a central requirement. Curious students will come to class asking questions about the subject and the teacher may not know the answer. Being able to ask and answer question is an important part of teaching and learning. Teachers must encourage this spark of curiosity and inquiry in children. Inspiration rises in children by allowing them to interact while teaching. For this, it is necessary that the teachers possess mastery in their subject of teaching and has a mountain of patience. An educator must possess the skill of multi-tasking and research.

The school can encourage such teachers, enabling them to teach better. The attention of the child towards the teacher is a function of teacher’s devotion to the subject. The mastery of a subject by a teacher creates a conducive atmosphere for learning for a learner. Children will work harder for the teacher they respect. 

6.      Elementary level: Teacher should be more qualified and skilled:

Teaching Kindergarten and elementary level is definitely not easy. In fact, it an art that requires various skills and creativity. When we teach higher grades, for a struggling learner, we could go back to the basics and build up from there. In kindergarten, we are in the basics and the children are in their most formative years of education. They will mentally respond only to the energy, inspiration, cheerfulness of the teacher and physically to toys, stories and games that may interest them. Therefore, it is not easy to approach them and help them to extend their cooperation and willingness to learn.

Their social skills are in developmental stages and because of changes in attitudes and personality, each day may be different from the next. All this makes it very challenging. There are schools, which have recognized this need. Educators, who have a doctorate in education, handle the elementary classes in such schools.

Teachers of Kindergarten need enormous patience, understanding and various resourceful techniques to work with young learners. This can be achieved only by culture, education and experience in the field.

Expanding personality of the teacher is a gift to learners:

A great teacher is sensitive toward learner needs. To excite and inspire a student requires excitement and a passion for the faculty itself.

Enthusiasm is contagious. All it takes for a student to get excited about going to class is a teacher who is excited and whose positive energy fills the classroom. Creativity is a key to captivating a student. Showing a student something they have not seen before, even showing them something familiar but in a new way is the surest way to leave an impression that lasts for years.

A great teacher is always dedicated to his students, with an unwavering commitment to their education and well being. One of the truest marks of a great teacher is the ability to bring out the best in students. He recognizes the students’ potential and he inspires them to be just that.

Anyone can become a teacher but it takes a special person to be a great teacher. To inspire the students, the teacher must rise above the crowd and make a lasting impression.

  Self-discipline is the secret:

Teachers follow students through each pivotal stage of development. In fact, a teacher is a role model influencing every facet of the student’s growth and developing their innate potentials, in addition to being a motivator, guide and friend. However, moral responsibility for the learners rests primarily on the shoulders of the teachers. Unless teachers follow the disciplines themselves, teaching discipline to the students will not be effective.

 Conclusion:

Creating inspiration in students is to develop a constant passion in them for learning. If they do, they will never cease to grow. The goal of a School is not just education, certainly not money. The greatest goal of the school is to enable the child to emerge as an individual in a free atmosphere where the child can learn fearlessly with an open mind. Education is the powerful instrument to achieve this goal.

By Vidya Rangan & Shweta Rangan