Praghna Week 11: The Power of Telling People What to Do
In the realm of education, few roles hold as much authority and influence as a teacher. Behind the closed door of a classroom lies an undeniable force that shapes minds. It's a power that resembles order and pedagogy; it's the power of telling people what to do.
Teachers, whether they acknowledge it or not, are delegated a crucial duty. They not only spread information but also develop young minds through the process. The development of the student can simply not afford the misuse of such a power.
Like Uncle Ben said, "With great power comes great responsibility." The influence exerted by teachers requires a profound sense of virtue, passion, and responsibility. They must recognize the weight of their words and the impact of their actions. They must also continuously strive to improve their skills and knowledge.
The importance of good teaching lays the foundation for a brighter future, equipping people with the proficiency, skills, and values needed to navigate through an increasingly intricate world. Good teaching exceeds textbooks and lesson plans; it's about promoting a love of learning and establishing the significance of practice and improvement.
It is meaningful to reflect on the impact teachers have on our lives and appreciate their dedication and passion for building a better future for society.
Hi Mansi! I agree with your message that teachers inherently hold a great amount of responsibility due to their position and students' perception of them. While I do think teachers play a significant role in building fundamental skills for students to carry into their lives beyond and outside of school, I also think teachers play a large part in shaping students' views of education and creating a fun, encouraging environment in class. The most memorable teachers I remember having have always been those who were positive and made learning less formulaic and more engaging. Though school can often be redundant and exhausting, classes in which the teacher fosters a nurturing, upbeat environment are the ones that make me look forward to coming to school. Thanks for your blog!
ReplyDeleteI just realized that I called said Mansi instead of your name at the beginning of this. Please forgive me I was delirious and confused.
DeleteI agree that teachers have a great responsibility. As a kid, I always wondered what it would be like from my teachers’ perspectives, having to keep students constantly engaged during class time, preparing tests, allocating time to grading homework and tests, and also occasionally modifying the pace of the class to accommodate the educational needs of all students. I could not trust myself with being a teacher back then, and even now, I don’t think I’m qualified enough to teach anyone. Overall, I liked the structure of your blog. You began with a claim that may seem baffling to most, that teachers have one of the most important jobs, and supported it with various explanations for why the responsibility that teachers possess, to encourage the growth of young minds with engagement and approval, is so significant. I also appreciated how you not only described how essential the jobs of teachers are and how they deserve respect for what they do but also how dangerous that can be. I can imagine the impact that a few bad teachers in elementary school could have had on me. I could have ended up hating all subjects and learning in general, something that could happen to anyone without the proper guidance from good teachers. I am grateful for the teachers I have had over the years, and I truly hope that the quality of teaching only gets better in the future.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Praghna, teachers do have a lot of power in shaping how we act and think. I think I wrote about this last week, but I really wondered the effects of teaching a child only things that were wrong, and although your blog isn't as extreme as mine or nearly as dark, I think it touches upon some similar topics. I think if we were taught things wrong or influenced as children by authority figures, say teachers, we'd all be in a rut right now. To us it might seem obvious that 2+2=4, but what if that teacher had always told the child that 2+2 in fact equals 5. The point that I tried to touch upon, and I think your blog also touches on is that deeply rooted belief based on what our teachers or other figures have told us impact us throughout our lives in either a positive or negative way. There's no convincing someone who always thought that 2+2=5 because that belief has been rooting within them since they were young, and if you've ever tried arguing with anyone who's already made up your mind, you know that it's basically impossible. Authority figures in the early stages of our lives clearly impact us more than we think. Just as teachers have to the ability to shape the way we think and learn, they also have the power to mislead us and teach us the wrong things, and that's why, especially for us now, being able to distinguish what is true and not is important, and we shouldn't let others completely dictate how we think.
ReplyDeleteHi Praghna! I completely agree with you about the importance of teaching. Like you mentioned, the power of telling people what to do should not be taken for granted and if used well, it can “promote a love of learning” in younger generations. Though teaching is not limited to kids, younger students are especially impacted by teaching because they are impressionable. A good teacher might cause the student to love the subject and choose a career in it while a bad teacher might dissuade the student from pursuing it further.
ReplyDeleteThis blog affects me personally because I love teaching. I taught my first art class in 7th grade and feel in love with sharing the joy of a subject. I loved that I was able to share my knowledge with younger kids and create a spark in them. Many students would stay after class and share their drawings with me which made me feel amazing. I loved creating an impact in their lives and teaching them an extra skill. From that point onward, I have taught classes relating to art, python or debate every week. In fact, I am writing this blog after coming back from teaching debate at Thornton. Teaching is something I genuinely enjoy and your blog reminded me why it is so important. Like you said, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Next time I am in a classroom, I will remember the responsibility I hold when I am teaching.