A Giving Profession

When you teach your son, you teach your son's son. ~The Talmud

That is what a teacher does, pass down to us and to ours, wisdom and knowledge, values and inspiration. Today, as India celebrates Teachers' Day, this post is dedicated to teachers. Much is written about bad teachers, but unfortunately not much about the good. Teaching is a profession where the rewards percolate down after years, not to the teacher but to society. Long after the teacher is dead and gone, his/ her values remain, imbibed and lived by others. Is it any wonder then that we call teaching one of the most 'giving' professions.

"If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job." ~Donald D. Quinn

Yet teaching is demeaned by many and it is often said of teaching that "Those who can do, and those who can't teach." To say this is to negate the immense influence a teacher has on us. The power and influence of a teacher is often underestimated. Most of us remember our teachers, both those who evoked dread and scorn and those who inspired and motivated. But we remember that teacher the best who invoked in us a love for learning, aroused our curiosity and really taught us the principles of 'learning to learn', something that we need to do for the rest of our lives to be successful in whatever profession we choose to follow.

While teachers help sustain the values in society to a large extent, the Special Educator besides this, also helps to sustain the family of a child with special needs. He /she plays many roles : teacher, parent, counsellor, therapist, friend.. Those who deal with children/ adults with special needs measure success in the small steps taken by those they teach. Has the child sat in one place for 5 mins, stopped flapping his hand long enough to copy 2 lines, has learnt to jump, to control unexplained outbursts of anger? There are days when the teacher and the child are equally frustrated, the parents are in tears, all effort seems to have literally gone down the drain and then suddenly a miracle takes place and like the blossoming of a tree, changes happen and the child begins to learn, slowly at first and then with increased confidence, more rapidly. These are the moments that make all the effort and the frustration worthwhile for hope prevails.

As we ready ourselves for the Joy of Giving week, let us commit ourselves to give to those who have contributed to our being able to think and to learn; are responsible for our success as it were. Visit your old school, meet your teachers, set up an alumni fund, repay the debt in part for it can never be repaid in full. Let your teacher know that what he / she is, is important and has made a difference.