Educators need a more positive attitude to be model to students<\/p>\n
Simon Marcus Gower, Executive Principal, High\/Scope Indonesia,
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Talking recently to educators in Indonesia has, at times, been
\na disturbing experience. It seems there is a very negative
\nperception brought to the task of educators in this country; a
\nperception that will and is inevitably likely to spill over to
\neffect the students for which educators hold responsibility.
\nThere is often an almost pitiful dejection that conspires to
\nundermine the education process.<\/p>\n
Take this as an example -- \"the children today are so naughty.
\nIt is impossible to control them. They have no discipline.\" In a
\nstatement such as this, made by a senior high school teacher, it
\nis possible to detect both dejection and an abdication of duty.
\nIt does not seem to have occurred to this teacher that she holds
\na considerable part of the responsibility to create control in
\nthe students and maintain a level of discipline that they will
\nrespect and adhere to.<\/p>\n
But teachers all over the world would probably recognize and
\nsympathize with difficulties of discipline and control. Let's
\nface it; teenagers are in a difficult time of change that is
\nrecognized as being a prime time for unruly behavior and even
\nrebellion. However the extent of dejection and even resignation
\nthat students in Indonesia are ill-disciplined and out of control
\nis often disturbingly strong within Indonesian teachers.<\/p>\n
These sentiments of dejection and resignation can be so
\npervasive that teachers seem completely depressed about the
\nprospects of the students for whom they have responsibility.<\/p>\n
At a recent meeting of teachers from four different Jakarta
\nbased high schools one of the teachers described what he called
\n\"a lost generation\" of students. He went on to suggest that this
\n\"lost generation\" would graduate from their schooling with \"low
\nmoral values, little respect for their elders and no real idea
\nabout what they can or will contribute to society once they have
\ngraduated.\" In short this teacher painted a very black picture of
\nschool leavers in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Perhaps, what was just as sad as listening to this gloomy
\nspeaker was the view of his listeners. Those other teachers
\nlistening generally wore expressions of understanding; some were
\neven nodding in recognition of his observations and agreement
\nwith his conclusions. This kind of thing is damaging in so many
\nways but let us just consider two important aspects.<\/p>\n
One, if this is truly how teachers are thinking, then it is
\ngoing to be extremely difficult to get them to work towards re-
\nfinding this so called \"lost generation\" and bringing them back
\nto a useful direction. And two, with this kind of mentality being
\npervasive it is surely going to be difficult to keep people in
\nteaching and, just as importantly, recruit people to the
\nprofession of teaching.<\/p>\n
It is possible, too, to see that these kinds of negative
\nthoughts are not isolated -- as one would really hope. This is
\nillustrated by an event organized a while ago in a noted Jakarta
\nhigh school. Though the intention of organizing this event may
\nhave been highly positive and the aim may have been to create a
\ncelebratory party atmosphere the title given to the event
\nsuggested otherwise.<\/p>\n
For the organizers of this event, that included popular
\nsinging artists and bands, entitled it \"Let us unite to save our
\ngeneration\". Immediately a title such as this creates the
\nimpression of a desperate condition in which a generation of
\npeople is in peril.<\/p>\n
Undoubtedly there are perils facing each generation of school
\nattendees and school leavers but there is nothing new or
\nunfamiliar in this. For decades now all school students have felt
\nand been made aware of the perils of drugs. The slogan \"just say
\nno!\" is by now familiar to not only millions in Indonesia but
\nalso probably billions around the world.<\/p>\n
In short, there are undoubtedly dangers and difficulties that
\nthreaten all generations of school students. This is in fact
\nquite normal and part of the challenge of growing up and
\nattaining adulthood.<\/p>\n
But these dangers and difficulties should not be overstated by
\neducators and allowed to undermine their desire or ability to
\nmeet their responsibilities. In Indonesia there is simply no such
\nthing as a \"lost generation\" of school students. Nor is it
\nnecessary to think that we must \"save our generation\".<\/p>\n
Educators have a great duty to act as a role model and this
\nshould be a positive role model. Perhaps all people concerned
\nwith education in Indonesia should keep in mind the American
\nwriter James Baldwin's observation that \"children have never been
\ngood at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to
\nimitate them.\" It is true that educating can be a difficult and
\neven painful process but educators cannot afford to be
\noverwhelmed by these problems.<\/p>\n
If ever they are, it is then (and only then) that there is a
\ndanger of suffering a lost generation. But in Indonesian schools
\npresently it is possible to see great vitality, life and hope in
\nthe students. All educators must work to capitalize on and
\ndevelop the vitality of youth that is, without question, still to
\nbe found amongst Indonesian students.<\/p>\n
The opinions expressed above are personal.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/educators-need-a-more-positive-attitude-to-be-model-to-students-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }