Teachers as Role Models

Posted by teacher on April 4, 2010

When you ask a small child, especially a student with a disability what he/she would like to become when he/she grows up, most of the time the reply that one gets is ‘a teacher’. This explains the importance, the influence that a teacher has on a child. It is clear that ‘Teachers are Role Models’ for their students. Students tend to pick role models from their teachers, trainers, facilitators, coaches and parents. A classroom, a playing field, a workshop, a lab are of much importance in providing influential learning places for students. The interaction that we have with our students at all such places tends to be exemplary. As a teacher, facilitator, trainer – ‘role model’, whatever we do and say to the students has a great impact on them. Our behavior goes a long way in shaping the kind of human beings, they will evolve into. I have a small example from my school life.

I very well remember Ms. Sushma, my mathematics teacher in 10th grade. She was nearly heartbroken when she assessed my pre-board paper for a math exam. She had just one line to say to me, “I thought when the time for studying would come, you would study.” I took the assessment sheet, thinking that what does she know; she doesn’t know how big a problem mathematics is for me. An after- thought made me realize, that I was being defensive; the problem was not in mathematics, the problem was in the effort that I was putting in to learn it. It was grossly inadequate. I changed that and I cleared my boards with good marks not only in mathematics, but in all the subjects. After that examination, I never really scored poor. Every time I felt nervous about an exam, I remind myself of the conviction that Ms. Sushma had in me. Not just academic examinations, any exam that life makes me go through I remind myself ‘Ms. Sushma believes you can do it.’ Even today it is Ms. Sushma who ensures my success. Every student with a disability needs a Ms. Sushma.

Believing in students also goes a long way in controlling behavioral problems at the learning centre. Teachers need to remember that we cannot ask our students to be what we are not. I am sure if I would have even suspected a hint of deceit in my mathematics teacher, I would not be remembering her as fondly. She had every quality that I desire as a professional.

The objective of being a role model is not to create photocopies. The objective is to trigger a thought, an assurance, a vision, a character and a way of life, which can serve as the impetus for a students’ personal and professional growth. The pressure of giving the fundamentals of mathematics, science, languages is so high that at times the larger objective of creating human beings who can add value to the society gets lost. For students with disabilities, teacher belief is a major objective in creating an effective learning environment.