Teaching, the Nobel Profession?
By Dr. Marci D
Teaching is considered a noble profession because those who teach, impart knowledge to students and tend to inspire, mentor, and impact the students to achieve higher in their life. Abdul Kalam once said that “Teaching is a very noble profession that shapes the character, caliber, and future of an individual.” Many years ago, I entered this noble profession primarily because I wanted to make a positive impact on students’ lives and some students have even said that they have learned from me. I must say that I know that I have done so in more ways than one. Somehow the last year or so, I am beginning to question the validity of that statement.
One of things that I can say is that growing up, it was almost like a rule of thumb that teachers were respected for one and that students and parents respected teachers and were seen as role model and respected in many ways. In a sense, some might even say that they were seen as “the law”, and whatever teachers said were considered important enough to be done or else, you were not obeying the law!
I recently spent some time with a friend’s 94-year-old father who was a former educator. We spoke for a long time, and he was reminiscing about being an educator. One of the things that he spoke fondly about was that he enjoyed being a principal most of all. He said that he enjoyed being a disciplinarian and simply leading his faculty and he knows that without a doubt that he impacted the lives of both teachers and students. In fact, as we were speaking another friend of mine called to wish us best wishes for the New Year. I told her where I was and with whom I was speaking, and she immediately wanted to talk to him because she said that he had hired her as a teacher when she was just out of college. She wanted to express thanks to him for the years she was under his leadership as a new teacher. To top it off, he remembered her and was smiling as they spoke. Talk about positive impact! I was really impressed, and it made me think that educators are like trees planted by the river, we send out our roots and we grow fruits in the people whose lives we touch. The environment that we create helps to sustain lives and these lives can become strong with the proper guidance.
My 95-year-old mentor educator also said that he didn’t think that he could be an effective principal in present day schools as there seems to be a loss of respect for administrators as well as teachers. He referenced the talking back and sometimes fights that were mentioned in the news or on social media. He thought it was a sad period since at one-point educators were considered noble and were respected. We even talked about the section in Jamaica’s National Anthem that says, “Teach us true respect for all, Stir response to duty’s call, strengthen us the weak to cherish, Give us vision lest we perish.” Well, somehow the idea that everyone deserves respect no matter who you are or what circumstances you are in, does not seem to make a difference in this time.
Respect for all? Teachers are sometimes not respected by parents, parents have meaningless complaints, parents are not involved in the students’ education, students’ misbehavior, students’ interruption during class, teachers bullying each other – yes bullying in the workplace is real! Teachers are abused mentally by parents, students and even administrators.
Is the profession still considered noble? Are educators respected? Maybe it’s a break down in the society or world in general. How did we get here? Are we too far gone to be considered noble again! Somehow, I wish we could go back to being respected as a people not just as educators. Use the light we have, to shine to others.
P. S. Two weeks after I spoke so candidly with my mentor educator, former principal, noble educator, father, and grandfather, uncle, friend, he went to sleep peacefully. He had run the race well. Rest in peace, sir! He made his mark in the education field.
