Teaching, to me, is the way people create leaders! Teaching demonstrates one's love for the subject and builds character through that subject in students. In my humble opinion, if a student doesn't like a subject, it tells volumes about the teachers and their way of teaching! Why do people claim "Phobia for Math" in early grades in school? Scientists call Math as the Language of the Universe and how are we promoting quest for knowledge in the younger minds? How are we creating the love for the subject if we sow the seeds of fear for a subject? Teachers who love teaching teach their children to love learning!
I had a good friend's sibling in school fail a subject back in India. This was many years back. I took it upon myself to teach this subject to the student and get the student to register for the exam again and finally succeed. I may not be available for every star fish that is washed ashore, but I made a difference to that one person's life! When this person managed to contact me several years later (as we got separated due to my stay abroad), the expression of how I mattered is priceless.
Furthermore, teaching is not about showing the expertise to students but being able to demonstrate our ability to learn from the students. It is a highest form of displaying modesty and humility! At a level that others see you as an expert, you demonstrate your vulnerability and willingness to learn from the students. In the movie, "Taare Zammen Par," the teacher takes an interest in a young student's way of expression and changes the perception of the school, the student's parents, and the life of the child by relating the autistic children! Good teachers do not categorize students as 'slow poke," as one of the teachers talked about my son. I wish the teacher who called Edison as unable to learn anything can know how wrong the teacher was about Edison. As Dale Carnegie says in his book, (paraphrased) "Even He does not judge us until after death; so, who are we to judge others?
Good teachers owe their students to own 'continuous learning' and 'learning at every moment!" My classes focus on movies and anecdotal thoughts from such movies on many topics. "The ideas get cemented in my mind," said a few students from people that hear learning by association is a daily event! Students learn better when they experience their teacher's love for the subject and care for their students! That's why I continue to study not only fill my own gaps in knowledge but also demonstrate my love for making a difference. And, trust me, students monitor our progress and get motivated "Fuel their fire for growth" is what teaching to me means!
"Passion feeds knowledge and knowledge feeds passion!" No other profession other than teaching comes closer in this symbiotic relationship. Even thought I know the subject at the back of my hand, I prepare for changes in the market place, new events that are relevant, and the type of audience in the class. So, every class is a project and so requires just enough planning to deliver the message better. And, the students bring their rich experience and help you fill the gaps between sentences, words, and characters in your own subject! I am better in my concepts today because my students taught me!
Good teachers enable their students to support their ongoing journey! They share their knowledge willingly and copiously through any and many forms as possible. In fact, to me, teaching is the best form of demonstrating servant leadership, situational leadership, and transformational leadership! In the movie, Hitchki, I remember a great saying about the teachers.
"A normal teacher teaches,
a good teacher makes one understand,
a great teacher demonstrates how to apply the concepts, but
only some teachers inspire us to take a message forward"
If I can make a difference in one person's life by spreading through my life experience, teaching is the way I continue to "make a difference" by inspiring everyone that I have an opportunity to interface with.
To my parents, siblings, friends, family, all the teachers and the students that taught me and continue to teach me, thanks!
