In the debate on schooling and education, talk is all about what a good education is, pedagogy, how to inspire children, how to evaluate real understanding etc. etc. All this is absolutely required. And every item is a must. But who is going to deliver all this fancy stuff - the teachers of course, who else ?
Yet, shockingly there is no talk about teacher's life in any of these debates or reforms. We understand well that for the birth and growth of a healthy child, the mother should be well-looked after. She should be well-nourished and relaxed. Yet, for a teacher - who acts like a mother of 30-50 children for 6 most active hours of a day for tens of years, there is no thought spared.
Typically, all teachers work 120% or more for their salary. They are hardly heard. There is no time to invest in their own enrichment. Yet, they are suppose to lead the revolution.
If good learning happens when children are happy in schools, isn't it obvious, that good teaching can happen only when teachers are relaxed and happy in schools ? Not a chance, there no debate today, anywhere, to make teachers relaxed and happy in their work-environment.
While having sky-high expectations from teachers, there is not a thought given to what it takes. Teaching profession must be unique in that, it demands most creative, inspiring, physically/mentally demanding work and yet the work environment is uninspiring, menial and exploitative for the meagre salaries that are paid. Just imagine, how much would an IT professional ask for doing - equally creative work, managing 30 people for equivalent time. I know no other profession where the contrast between expectations and reality is so stark.
Make teachers happy and relaxed in their environment, give them paid free time to enrich their knowledge. Educators, Administrators, policy makers and governments should stop selling dreams for a while and focus on teacher's life. That is what it takes.
Yet, shockingly there is no talk about teacher's life in any of these debates or reforms. We understand well that for the birth and growth of a healthy child, the mother should be well-looked after. She should be well-nourished and relaxed. Yet, for a teacher - who acts like a mother of 30-50 children for 6 most active hours of a day for tens of years, there is no thought spared.
Typically, all teachers work 120% or more for their salary. They are hardly heard. There is no time to invest in their own enrichment. Yet, they are suppose to lead the revolution.
If good learning happens when children are happy in schools, isn't it obvious, that good teaching can happen only when teachers are relaxed and happy in schools ? Not a chance, there no debate today, anywhere, to make teachers relaxed and happy in their work-environment.
While having sky-high expectations from teachers, there is not a thought given to what it takes. Teaching profession must be unique in that, it demands most creative, inspiring, physically/mentally demanding work and yet the work environment is uninspiring, menial and exploitative for the meagre salaries that are paid. Just imagine, how much would an IT professional ask for doing - equally creative work, managing 30 people for equivalent time. I know no other profession where the contrast between expectations and reality is so stark.
Make teachers happy and relaxed in their environment, give them paid free time to enrich their knowledge. Educators, Administrators, policy makers and governments should stop selling dreams for a while and focus on teacher's life. That is what it takes.
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