‘Teachers must act as Social Engineers’

Sir,

The 130th birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the great teacher par excellence, is celebrated today, 5th September 2018 throughout the length and breadth of our country.

Gone are those days when teachers like Chanakya and Dronacharya possessed qualities such as diplomacy and political foresight which were considered essential qualities of teachers of that period.

In most schools today we find lack of mutual understanding between teacher and the pupil.  Most teachers are  busy in dictating notes to the students.

During Gurukula system the relation between the teacher and the taught was one of  “father-son”. It appears that as though the modern education is completely de-humanised and the role of a teacher is no better than a computer or a textbook.

Unless proper care is given to pupil-teacher relation, the problems of indiscipline cannot be solved. The basic duty of a teacher is to build individuality of his students and to promote intellectual and moral development.

The success of a school largely depends on its teachers.  As is the teacher so will be the students.  A good teacher is one who maintains harmonious relationship with his students and extends it beyond the realms of conventional classrooms.  The teacher should mould his students’ moral, aesthetic and intellectual personality.

A modern teacher should give utmost weightage to the needs of the children. Freedom should be given to the students to come out with their latent talents. A modern teacher must act as social engineer and help students to learn. This is possible only when teachers take up the role as learning facilitators and adopt constructivist approach in teaching various concepts.

According to Burton, “Teaching is the stimulation, guidance, direction and encouragement of learning.”  Teaching will become more effective if this definition is followed carefully. Only that teacher who stimulates or causes motivation to learners and guides them to develop their capabilities, skills, attitudes and knowledge will be an effective teacher. His behaviour should set an example as social engineer so that the learners may emulate him. Only that teacher who makes an image on the minds of learners and impresses them with his teaching is an effective teacher.

– Dr. N. N. Prahallada, Former Faculty, Regional Institute of Education, Mysuru, 4.9.2018

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