Teaching: A noble profession

The article Why do people choose teaching? published in The Jakarta Post on Nov. 25, 1999, was really good. I would like to share my views regarding that matter.

God has been so lavish in his gifts. One among his gifts is the teacher. The difference between a helping hand and an outstretched palm is the twist of the wrist. The same is true between a teacher and a student. Teachers mold the mind of young children. They find the potential in each and every student.

Teaching is a very noble profession. It is not a profession meant for profit, but, of course, it is an honorable profession. If there were no teachers we would be the victims of illiteracy, ignorance and superstition. A teacher stands as a ladder for a student. Every teacher bestows two things on a student. One is bestowing hope on his or her pupil. The other is they bring out the ability in a child.

What does the term "teacher" mean. Teachers impart knowledge and good values to their students. When you teach your son, you teach your son's son. But when a teacher teaches she teaches for all generations. Educational institutions are the true seats of learning. Without a teacher it is not possible. A teacher teaches how to behave, how to move in society and how to progress in life.

Social trends all over the world have narrowed the gap between the rich and the poor. So it doesn't mean that teaching should be taken as a profession only by rich or poor people. People who take the profession of teaching should be committed to their students. If God is the creator of man, a teacher is the creator of a good student. Not all people can become teachers. It needs certain qualities. A teacher should think what is the best contribution that he can give for his students. To be more effective a teacher should ask what self-development do I need? What skill and knowledge should I acquire for making the contribution? Intelligence, imagination and knowledge are there in each and every student. It is the job of a teacher to mold them well and bring out the best results.

UMA RAMAKRISHNA

Jakarta