It seems like a long time ago when the word teacher or professor was synonym of value and respect. When someone was qualified to instruct others, people look at him or her with such distinction and respect. But now it has changed. If we have a teacher lined up with an engineer to his right and a doctor to his left, people now will regard both of them higher. And this hasty assessment is done unconsciously without even considering the credentials of each professional.
Apart from other regions like Japan where the profession of teaching - intrinsic to their culture - still holds its honor, in most places the value of a teacher continues decreasing. As a graduated teacher, I've experienced this low consideration. Students and parents tend to have a bad concept towards educators. And some teachers even accept it.
So, how can we change this? I think we must start by identifying the real causes that contribute to this downgrade, and then we need to spread awareness about the important job professionals in the education field do for all of us.
Now, let's see the causes:
Perception
Rarely is the case when a ten-year old child says he or she wants to be teacher. Children choose other careers. They even choose professions far from academic courses like fireman, electrician or driver, which have value. They are necessary for the day-to-day life. But what about education?
Children normally don't consider teaching as career. And this happen because in the mind of a child, an idea is implanted by his surrounding. And from then on, his brain, which at that age is absorbing everything, forms a concept that he will attach to certain people.
So when the child hears someone highlighting other professions above teaching, and even listening to other classmates slurring about some teachers, it is inevitable to think that such a preconceived idea, which the child will generalize, will settle down. And when he's immersed in the educational system, the rapport that should exist between teacher and student will never be well-established.
Educational Systems
Sometimes, in some places, the educational systems don't provide the help every teacher needs. There are systems that don't even have a real purpose. They treat vocational training as just a phase. For instance, in some non-English speaking countries, English language is taught without a proper reason. And if a teacher checks the curriculum, he could find guidelines, but not real purpose.
Education in primary school also suffers from the same distorted educational system. Some people think that schools are a place to drop their kids as if it were a playground. And the system encourages that belief because they don't innovate. They don't show parents with great examples that teaching is the base for constant evolution.
The world continues moving forward, applying new principles. But sadly the educational system stays away from it. And when we see this happening, it is so difficult to give significant value to those people that train us.
Lack Of Resources
The budget for education in most countries rates as one of the lowest in the government agenda. It is a shame in these days that they assign more money to the military, or split it in order to create other departments for mere bureaucratic purpose. This significantly damages the quality of teaching, giving professionals not enough room to do their job, which in turn harm their reputations in front of parents and students.
Dishonesty
Like in any profession, there will always be bad teachers and good teachers. But the difference is that there's a great chance that a bad teacher will tarnish the good ones. When we see a teacher receiving some reward in exchange of good grades, we immediately think that his colleagues must be doing the same.
Why does this happen? Well, it is the preconceived idea I explained above. We grow believing that, and such idea spans, poisoning our brain. We don't have the same assessment for doctors. We could have a bad experience with a particular physician, but we don't disqualify his peers.
However, the original problems is not in the moral of a teacher. We must keep in mind that teachers are commonly badly paid. And though this is not an excuse to stain the honorable work of teaching, it creates a murky environment where professional can succumb to immoral activities.
Parents also have to change their perception. We usually see parents talking to friends and family members about the dreams they have to see their children becoming doctors or other profession with the same regard level. But what about the people behind the stage. The ones who train students to help them become competent professionals.
I think this is something we must analyze deeply. And it naturally requires the intervention of the whole society.
This entry is part of a series about teaching taken from a teacher's point of view.
