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Teacher Development

The role of teachers is central to right education. Teachers are the single most crucial factor in bringing about a well-rounded development of the student. It becomes necessary then to devote effort in teacher development in providing right education.

Teachers carry with them their own conditionings, contradictions, push buttons, prejudices, etc. When they are not aware of these, and have not processed them, then they will not be in a position to help the students work out the latter’s own contradictions. The result will be a perpetuation of the unwholesome conditionings rather than being free of them.

The school must therefore conduct a continuing series of sessions with the teachers that will help them process the contradictions in their lives. The sessions should also be opportunities for the teachers to discuss their difficulties in handling classroom subjects or situations.

The better option is to have one’s own college of education, where teachers are nurtured for four or more years in an atmosphere and environment that are conducive to a more enlightened approach to education. Such a college itself must be run by living examples of the educational philosophy being espoused.

The atmosphere of the school must be such that all the teachers and staff are engaged in individual growth and development. Every day is an opportunity for learning something new.

Are the teachers emotionally exhausted after the day? Are they constantly stressed? Is it possible to teach without accumulating stress? The sessions must address these things.

Are the teachers facing personal problems that they seem unable to solve? Can the sessions help them with these? A job is often considered by most businesses and institutions as separate from one’s personal or family life. Thus the problems of the home are not supposed to be mixed up with the job. But unfortunately life is not like that. A teacher who is constantly upset about a marital relationship will tend to be less effective as a teacher. Education is about living, and not just about physics or chemistry. Hence if the teacher is personally bothered about something, then the school community must try to help as far as feasible.

Teachers too are in a learning environment, not just engaged in teaching. They go through difficulties, challenges, opportunities, and stresses. They are in the process of maturing and perfecting themselves. The more effective they are in facing their own challenges, the more effective they are in being teachers.

Another aspect of teacher development is in upgrading their competence in their respective fields, whether it is physics, math, language, drama, music, etc. The school environment must nurture a spirit of excellence in the chosen field of expertise of the teachers themselves. For this, adequacy of library, equipments, and other resources would be needed. Where possible, the school should encourage research, article writing, presentations, lectures and similar activities, including the publication of an in-house journal where their writings can be published.