What's A Good Teacher !

The three best things that I’ve learnt from my teachers over the years about the student-teacher relationships are as chronicled below: 

1)      A teacher is most happy when his ward exceeds him in the successes attained. – Prof. R. K. Pathak, Dept. of Physics, University of Pune. 

2)      The students are the most neglected entity in the academic system. – Prof. C. K. Desai, Bajaj Science Centre, Wardha. 

3)      Teaching is the profession which helps you to stay young as you are surrounded by the youth all your life. – Prof. A. A. Saakle, Dharampeth Science College, Nagpur.

If a teacher can achieve the first and avoid the second, he can enjoy the third to the fullest.

Let us start with the second. It has always been seen that apart from a few academically brilliant students, all others are mostly not given proper attention they require. The teacher is mostly preoccupied with the smart guys and is partial to them in one or more ways possible. But the other not-so-academically-bright students do have other qualities which can be groomed and encouraged. I personally believe that if a person is smart and industrious in developing at least one of his qualities, not necessarily academic, he can do enough justice to other aspects of his life as well. Now it is upto someone to just encourage him. Parents by large are always encouraging but they are so close to us that many a times we don’t consider their opinion to be worthwhile. Here a good observant and helpful teacher can make the difference! I was very fortunate to hear Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam recently. On the behaviour expected from a teacher he said that until and unless a teacher thinks his student to be his brother, sister, son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter, he would never be able to teach well. How correct is he!

Coming to the first, it is very important for a teacher to cherish achievements of his wards in every walk of life. If he is not able to do that, it has to be believed that he is too proud of his knowledge and such pride is sure to bring a fall. A jump of joy, a word of praise or a pat on the back can create wonders. So always be prepared to do that.

The third aspect is quite a wide one. Youth I believe is not a state of our body but a state of our mind. And a mind stays youthful when it is active and ready to accept new ideas. Teaching, like any other profession, spans over quite a few decades of one’s life. In this ever changing world, it is a pre-requisite that we keep on with time or we would be like stagnant water in a pool. Remember stagnant water stinks and nobody likes stink. A good teacher is one who remains a student for all his life. One of my colleagues rightly puts that ‘Knowledge + Experience = Wisdom’. A teacher obviously has the knowledge and with experience he can achieve wisdom which he in turn can impart to his students. And experience doesn’t just come with age, it comes with continuous learning. If one can achieve this wisdom, he will never turn old!

Continuing with Dr. Kalam; he said that when a wise teacher enters a classroom, he is surrounded by an aura around him. It seems as if knowledge is radiating from him. It’s a pity that we see such an aura around only a few teachers. Such a teacher is revered by all and acts as a source of inspiration to his students. He also held the primary school teachers in very high esteem. According to him, the three most important persons in the life of a human being are his parents and the primary school teacher. He also quoted that what a person learns in the first years of his life stays with him for his entire life. He also added that neither God nor the devil could change the kid after that.

I myself believe in this as most of my habits were sown in that age which are ripe and being cultivated now. If you introspect, you will find it true for you as well. I’m lucky to have excellent parents but I’m luckier that I’ve had teachers who have guided and showered love all through my student life. They were always there when I needed them. Along with my parents, they have helped me to become what I am today. Kabir has rightly said that the teacher is no less than God in the following couplet:

गुरु गोबिन्द दोउ खड़े काके लागूँ पाँय |
बलिहारी गुरु आपने गोबिन्द दियो बताय ||

I myself try to imitate my teachers when I teach. I hope I will be successful in imparting at least 10% of whatever I’ve learnt from my teachers to my students.