Teaching : The most judged profession a boon or a curse ?
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Chabungbam Aruna Devi
Are teachers the hired help? Are they in an open season to be criticized from every angle? Can anyone be a successful professional if they are constantly analyzed, judged, and scrutinized?
Every profession is unique in its own way. We have landed in a situation where students do as they please, and parents are so empowered by social media that defining the required qualities of teachers has become a free-for-all. *Education is increasingly treated like a retail transaction, where a "customer service" mindset rules and the teacher is always assumed to be wrong.*
A teacher can be anyone in one’s life. Our mother is our first teacher, so there is no need to explain why teachers are a blessing for us as well as for society. Teachers function as a societal multiplier, creating human capital that matches civic and economic values. They encourage students to dream and prepare the path for them to make those dreams come true. They give their lives to upgrade society by bringing people out from the shadows of illiteracy, misconception, evil practices, and gender biases, while promoting women's empowerment.
Yet, some parents pay an extremely suffocating level of attention to their children, trying to shield them from failure, rejection, and minor injuries. *By overprotecting them and refusing to hold them accountable at school, parents risk raising fragile individuals unprepared for the real world.* They believe everything their child tells them without further clarification, readily blaming school staff or threatening teachers. They are quick to assume that their child is being bullied, or they rush to blame others when their child has done something wrong.
The sad part is that people always listen to a parent or student's story, but no one ever asks: *Was it intentional? Was it a mistake? Or was my child misunderstanding the situation?*
*NO ONE STANDS FOR THE TEACHER.* Instead, they make the teacher out to be the villain. *When we demonize educators this way, we shouldn't be surprised when the best of them burn out and leave the profession entirely.*
Parents feel free to message whatever suits them at 4:00 AM or 11:00 PM. There are no boundaries at all. Furthermore, they expect immediate answers and do not care that the timing is completely inappropriate.
It is vital to keep in mind that we, as parents, are the first primary teachers from whom children learn the good, the bad, and the ugly. Let’s remind ourselves that parents and teachers are not enemies; they share the exact same goal:What is best for the child. None of this is easy, but it is essential for both parties. Instead of blaming each other, keep the relationship open and healthy. When parents and teachers come together, children grow beautifully and build a wonderful foundation for their future.
Are teachers the hired help? Are they in an open season to be criticized from every angle? Can anyone be a successful professional if they are constantly analyzed, judged, and scrutinized?
Every profession is unique in its own way. We have landed in a situation where students do as they please, and parents are so empowered by social media that defining the required qualities of teachers has become a free-for-all. *Education is increasingly treated like a retail transaction, where a "customer service" mindset rules and the teacher is always assumed to be wrong.*
A teacher can be anyone in one’s life. Our mother is our first teacher, so there is no need to explain why teachers are a blessing for us as well as for society. Teachers function as a societal multiplier, creating human capital that matches civic and economic values. They encourage students to dream and prepare the path for them to make those dreams come true. They give their lives to upgrade society by bringing people out from the shadows of illiteracy, misconception, evil practices, and gender biases, while promoting women's empowerment.
Yet, some parents pay an extremely suffocating level of attention to their children, trying to shield them from failure, rejection, and minor injuries. *By overprotecting them and refusing to hold them accountable at school, parents risk raising fragile individuals unprepared for the real world.* They believe everything their child tells them without further clarification, readily blaming school staff or threatening teachers. They are quick to assume that their child is being bullied, or they rush to blame others when their child has done something wrong.
The sad part is that people always listen to a parent or student's story, but no one ever asks: *Was it intentional? Was it a mistake? Or was my child misunderstanding the situation?*
*NO ONE STANDS FOR THE TEACHER.* Instead, they make the teacher out to be the villain. *When we demonize educators this way, we shouldn't be surprised when the best of them burn out and leave the profession entirely.*
Parents feel free to message whatever suits them at 4:00 AM or 11:00 PM. There are no boundaries at all. Furthermore, they expect immediate answers and do not care that the timing is completely inappropriate.
It is vital to keep in mind that we, as parents, are the first primary teachers from whom children learn the good, the bad, and the ugly. Let’s remind ourselves that parents and teachers are not enemies; they share the exact same goal:What is best for the child. None of this is easy, but it is essential for both parties. Instead of blaming each other, keep the relationship open and healthy. When parents and teachers come together, children grow beautifully and build a wonderful foundation for their future.