We have all seen the enthusiasm and happiness of a child as he picks up his school bag for the first time and carries his pencil, eraser and notebooks to school. It is a brand new exciting world. The idea of learning, playing, communicating and creating is welcomed by the child. Away from their parents, the child is seeking a caring environment. So many things to see and learn… a world of wonder and beauty…
Twenty years later, this same child has now grown up, has a job and is perhaps even looking at getting married. As an adult, how able is he or she? How skilled, how confident and how compassionate? This all depends on what happened in the school environment with the child. It depends on the the kind of teachers the child had at school. One good teacher at a school, can change the entire future of a child.
Why do parents send their kids to school? They have a dream of having the child grow up to be a person with skills. A person who will have an earning potential. Perhaps he or she will save lives. Or maybe invent something that will make the world a better place. They want the child to become an adult who is compassionate and caring. To one day become prominent and famous for their achievements. This is not an unrealistic dream for any parent to have.
On the first day that the child is walking with their parents to school, he or she is stepping into a view of our society. What is this view like? It can be different in different schools. Some schools have a strict discipline, others are lenient. Some pay attention to Sports or Religion, others to Arts or Sciences. School environments are set by school administrators and teachers. Children fall into the pattern of operation offered in the school. They don’t question the environment or the teachers. They accept what is given with full trust in teachers and parents. They believe that we as parents and teachers, will select the best things for them.
What happens within the school environment with other children and teachers, impacts on the child’s knowledge, skills and attitudes. The person that influences the child the most, is their teacher. A teacher who knows their subject and who can inspire students to learn, can markedly influence a child’s present and their future.
Early childhood teaching creates an attitude towards learning and work. This impacts on later life. Students who are well taught lead a life that is about more than earning money. It is about creativity and thinking for themselves.
For example, as a doctor they would aim to prevent and cure diseases. If they are a geologist, they would try to find ways to make life better by preventing harm through earthquakes and floods.
The focus of a well taught student is towards how to use what is learnt to produce something that is worthwhile in life for others. Teachers are the key to this. This attitude in students leads to competent individuals and a prosperous nation.
How do we know a teacher is good? Judge how good a teacher is by looking at their students. See if their students apply the subject they are learning to life. Can they think with the subject and solve the problems of life that relate to this subject? For example, do students just get right answers in a Maths test or do they use fractions and percentages to solve mathematical problems in their life? As a result of learning geography, do they then grow plants and look after animals in their personal life? A teacher may work very hard. If however, their students are only able to produce a bunch of memorised facts on an examination paper, then that teaching is of no value to anyone. It does not matter if children got first division or are gold medalists. If students cannot apply the subject to their life, then teachers have failed in their classroom duties. Such teachers are not only wasting their own time, but also the precious time of many students.
How do you know a teacher is good? If the students can practically use the subject in their life, then you know the teacher who taught these students is good. We should value this teacher, as this individual will change the future of the world, by producing brilliant students.
Youth Together for Human Rights Education has been working to train teachers so that they can produce brilliant students. We value Teachers greatly, and thank all those individuals who have joined this profession. There is no doubt this profession requires dedication, compassion and constant learning. We have been working in both government and private schools to train teachers. Our programmes are welcomed by teachers and further training is being scheduled in the coming months.
Our message to teachers and parents is as follows:
“The child is young and relies on grown ups to ensure that he or she has the right environment to study in. Teachers and parents need to monitor the quality of teaching in schools and demand a higher standard of teaching. It is often said there are no failed students, there are only failed teachers. This is so true. Training of teachers must be placed on high priority if we are to see a prosperous and peaceful nation.”
We urge each to learn the 30 Human Rights. These are present on our website in Urdu English and Sindhi. Practise these rights in the home and workplace. Set a great example of behaviour and help create a culture that supports the rights of all. Working Together we can Create a Better World!
The world will change for us, provided you and I play our part in it. You are welcome to join our efforts. Together we can make a difference!
Fareeda AbbasiEducation ConsultantCEO Youth Together for Human Rights Education.www.ythre.org