Good morning to all
“The capacity to learn is a gift the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.” Brian Herbert.
An American author Brian Patrick Herbert speaks about three important points of the teaching-learning- evaluation process. There is giftedness, a skill, and a choice. Having the ability to learn is a skill, but having the willingness to learn is a choice. Learners’ capabilities, abilities, and willingness are inextricably linked to giftedness, skill, and choice.
Let us look at two other views to explain the above concept: The line of thought of Sydney J Harris (1917-1986) an American journalist: “Education is making one’s mind a pleasant place to spend the rest of one’s life.”
In India, Gandhiji has said that every teacher is like an open book. With that in mind, he says, “I have always felt that the true textbook for the pupil is his teacher.”
It is impossible to overstate the importance of textbooks in education. Gandhiji’s craft-based education is the outcome of all his experiments. For his dream education to come true, he has insisted that teachers must be men of excellent character. In other words, they must be honest like an open book. Whenever we print, there is the possibility that we could make a mistake. However, we should recognise that we are always able to improve and improve. We should guide ourselves with this positivism.
The teacher-student relationship is considered divine in Indian culture. We are not only teachers for the sake of getting a job, it is a divine intervention to be a teacher, how many of us are thinking and responding accordingly.
Gifted teachers need to develop their inborn capabilities with sufficient training. More than a profession; we must be driven by professionalism. Only through constant training can we sharpen our skills. Our task as teachers is to deal with living beings in the classroom, which requires us to update our teaching techniques, micro and macro methods of teaching, technological know-how, and high levels of professionalism and commitment.
There was a time when people opted to become teachers instead of getting any other job. Now, the situation has changed. In the educational movement, age-old ideas were replanted. Even the ministry of higher education, the new education commissions, and the National Education Policy have benchmarked necessary qualifications for teachers in higher education. Their goal is to bring the best brains to education so that the next generation will benefit immensely.
In addition to skill training, value education, and peace education are important subjects for teachers to emphasise. Currently, there is a lot of anxiety and confusion in the world due to new developments.
There is a rapid increase in weapon culture everywhere. It is highly recommended that reconciliation lessons be taught for coexistence. The important steps include conflict prevention, conflict resolution, conflict management, and conflict transformation.
Skills for building peace need to be passed from generation to generation. We must put a lot of emphasis on reconciling different cultures, addressing historical perspectives, growing sustainably, measuring human happiness, and gender equality, among others. Additionally, skill and experience must be nurtured through competent education and dedicated mentorship.
Learning abilities and skills can be modified. It can be influenced and enhanced by the presence of a skilled, dedicated professional mentor.
Hence, William Arthur Ward’s view is important. He stated: “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change, and the realist adjusts the sails.”
Have a blessed day.
Fr.Dr.P.S.Varghese,
Principal MGM College,
Dimapur
