Advice to the Teacher
by
Sheykh
Sadullah Khan
ECHOES OF THE HEART
As
we enter the new academic year we present an extract from Sadullah's paper on
VALUE-BASED EDUCATION delivered at the Teacher Development Seminar in Pasadena,
USA.
ADVICE TO THE TEACHER
The
Holy Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said, "I have been sent as a
teacher" and "have been commissioned to complete the pattern of human
behaviour". These prophetic traditions emphasize the significance of
education, of ethical values and of moral conduct.
AIM OF EDUCATION
It
is my contention that the aim of education in Islam is to functionally inform
and positively transform the student; i.e. initiate a catalytical reaction
leading to continuous development of the student's beliefs, thoughts, actions,
potentialities, faculties, expressions, motivation and aspirations.
Our
academic institutions and educational systems must be faith-based and value-laden.
Learning is meaningful where there is cognizance of its usefulness. Education
is beneficial if it transmits and promotes deeply cherished values of
sincerely, honesty, integrity, sense of responsibility and concern for the
rights and welfare of others.
5
PILLARS
OF
CLASSROOM WISDOM
1. Command respect
A good teacher is a person who respects children and whose students, in turn,
respect him or her. A person who knows how to make a child feel special. A
person who is creative enough to open whole worlds to young minds. The
confluence of respect and responsibility navigates the journey to ethical
fitness.
2. The Key factor
is the "C" word
The key factor that makes students like school, study hard, achieve and stay in
school, is the "C" word, but its not "curriculum". The word
is "caring". CARE deeply about each student and about that student's
accomplishment and growth. It begins with the teacher recognizing the student
as an individual who brings particular experiences, interests, enthusiasm, and
fears to the classroom. The teacher taking time to acknowledge a student's life
outside the classroom, enquiring about the family's welfare or the student's
participation in an extra curriculum activity. To teach people enough to school
them, we must meet their deep human need to feel cared about.
3.
Know, Enthuse and Motivate
Know
the subject, convey it with excellence, enthuse the student with the relevance
of the subject-matter and motivate them to greater heights.
Teacher competence has aroused much concerns from teacher educators, education professionals and the public. Teacher competence could be classified into two main categories: interpersonal skills and classroom procedures. Interpersonal skills refers to teacher's proficiency in creating a comfortable social atmosphere, and demonstrating warmth and friendliness towards their students. And classroom procedures refers to the actual classroom practices which are teaching methods and techniques.
Teacher competence has aroused much concerns from teacher educators, education professionals and the public. Teacher competence could be classified into two main categories: interpersonal skills and classroom procedures. Interpersonal skills refers to teacher's proficiency in creating a comfortable social atmosphere, and demonstrating warmth and friendliness towards their students. And classroom procedures refers to the actual classroom practices which are teaching methods and techniques.
4.
Collaboration
To achieve holistic
development of the student, there must be collaboration between the three
primary role players in the education of the child; the teacher, co-teachers
and parents.When parents asks, "Does my child have a good teacher?"
knowing what we do today about the importance of the home in children's
achievement, I ask, 'Does your child have a good parent?" We don't have to
be perfect to be good, but we do have to be a team and we do need to make an
effort to do our job together.
"A
student's success in school starts in the heads and hearts of his or her
parents and teachers. The way we see them and the way we make them see
themselves is what they will become".
1995 Hawaii teacher
Linda Holt
of the Year
5. Information for
Transformation through Character Education
Today, the vast majority of Americans share a respect for fundamental traits so
character: honesty, compassion, justice, courage and perseverance. Yet, in
today's world, all children face great uncertainties in a complex and sometimes
troubled society. Therefore our challenge is to provide youth with the
self-esteem, stamina, and support they need to survive, to be successful, and
to develop into strong, competent, caring and responsible citizens.
Character
education presents life with context, inviting students to listen, share, explore
and reflect. Cultivating knowledge for purposeful living, students learn
through literature, art, humanities and throughout the existing school
curriculum the benefits and consequences of behaviour. They learn the power of
choice. They learn to appreciate the qualities of being human and to share
their appreciation at home, in school, and in the community.
Points to Ponder
You,
O teacher/parent, are the decisive element in classroom/home. Your personal
attitude and approach creates the climate. You possess a tremendous power to
make the child's life miserable or joyous. You can be a tool of torture or an
instrument of inspiration. You can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. Your
response decided whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated, a child
humanized or de-humanized.
The
moral message you send must be clear, consistent and repetitive. Children will
judge your values not by what you say but by what you permit them to do. They
will judge you not by your best moments but by your last worst act. Thus,
everything you say and do, and all that you allow to be said and done in your
presence, either reinforces or undermines the credibility of your messages
about the importance of good character.
"No
person gives his child a better gift and inheritance than knowledge and good
moral training".
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