Teacher

 

For a teacher to be a teacher, in my opinion, three qualities are necessary conditions and two more are sufficient conditions. (The phrase is borrowed from Aristotle, of course modified – means disfigured – beyond possible recognition and identification)

 Necessary conditions:

1. Passion for the subject he is teaching (or trying to teach)

2. Respect for oneself and students – I strongly believe that if one does not respect oneself, he can’t respect students. Respect for others devoid of respect for oneself is a display of inferiority complex, and it can’t be genuine, it will be superfluous. It is the slave’s respect for his master and waiting for the opportunity to putdown the master. 

3. Reasonable communication skill: reasonable flow of language, not having radically different pronunciation, not being too monotonous.


Sufficient conditions:
1.  A constant search for knowledge in the subject he is teaching

2.  Knowledge about students: what is their motivation, level of knowledge and their values, and what they like and interested and what puts them off instantly.

These are the qualities I have observed in teachers whom I respect. If a teacher fails to have even one from the necessary conditions, he disappears into oblivion. And they become the villains, since students inherently perceive themselves as innocent victims in the present educational system.

If sufficient conditions are also present in a teacher then he is seen larger than life (Salman Khan type, Khan in reel and not in real), otherwise he is tolerated and forgiven eventually.

If a teacher possess only the second point of the necessary conditions, and not having any other points then certainly students will give him the benefit of doubt. But I wonder why did he opt for teaching? May be it is a historical blunder, May be his vocation was designed by some unknown forces, May be it is time for him to consult either a psychiatrist or an astrologer.

I am looking for an astrologer, any recommendation?