Dear teacher, be a role model

 “Children learn more from who you are than what you teach.” 

--- Unknown 

We all have been fascinated, enthralled and zapped by an idol at some point.

Just activate your grey cells to pull up a memory where you ended up playing teacher- teacher at home as a kid on every weekend. You were the teacher while your parents, friends and relatives were students. And trust me you were simply a replica of what your teacher rolled out to you in class that week. 

Even today though we call ourselves as matured we do follow somebody else's footsteps. Be it a father, mother, star, celebrity, business person, friend as well as foe.. well we do respond to what our foe does... And in turn we too turn out to be a foe..irony  isn't it. 

We follow this all the while unknowingly. After all we are all genetic descendants of monkeys in the process of evolution. 

Think my dear teachers, our students are looking up to us as role models. As you hop on to a class today, just let a small thought seep in your mind.. 

Students are observing me. They would imitate me, they would just do what I do, the way I do , they will utter the same words as I do, maybe even in the same tone.

An ideal teacher would be thinking on these lines before heading for the class each day. 

1. I am going to be assertive today.  Firm yet clear and precise  

2. I am going to be empathetic while  trying to understand my class's perspective 

3. I am going to practice being an active listener while I lend a listening ear as      ' my way highway' does not really work. 

4. I am dressed appropriately - My students look up to me with respect as I carry myself comfortably 

5. I am organised and time-bound. I have planned well for the class and would finish it on time. 

Now the ball is left to us whether we hit a six by grabbing this as a golden opportunity to nurture these young minds or just stand still and get stumped. 

Prajakta Sachin Bhide 

8 Dec 2024

 #vikasitshikshak #vikasitbharat