Thoughts on the Responsibility of Teachers
There is no greater blessing than to have the opportunity to shape the next generation. Whether as a teacher, mentor, coach, babysitter, older sibling, or in some other role, people charged to work with children must take into account every interaction, ensuring the holistic development of the young charge. Every action or inaction experienced, by nature, youth question, integrate into his or her understanding, and make part of the developing being. When we offer guidance, praise, constructive criticism, and encouragement in childhood, youngsters learn about support, nurturing, and positive social skill development. However, if we demonstrate a lack of interest, negative criticism, or ambivalence. The child learns: his or her ideas do not matter, to question self-worth, and may demonstrate self-deprecating behaviors.
Adults working with children need to remain attune to personal feelings, behaviors, and actions. More than with any other responsibility it is imperative that people functioning as role models are aware of how he or she is portraying self to the world. Are they moving with confidence, exuding positivity, and leaving negativity at home or are the hardships of personal experiences impacting how others will view them? Children notice and internalize everything. One misstep on the part of the mentor and the young person immediately believes it is the child’s own misdoing, not a bad day on the part of the teacher. There is nothing worse than accidentally breaking the heart of a child or making that child question self, simply because the person viewed as a guide let personal spill into public persona. Perhaps, more than any other role, people working with children need to be self-aware enough to say, “today, I need a personal day.”
By definition, the world of the child revolves around that child. Children are self-centered from the start and it is our obligation to teach them social empathy, to help build self-esteem, and to promote positive self-worth. Children mirror the behaviors of those to whom they look up. A role model demonstrating a strong sense of self, and offering encouragement to a young person can assist in shaping that child’s own self-identity. By showing the child, it is okay to make mistakes and turning those into moments of learning and experimentation, children learn perseverance and self-acceptance. By being honest and trustworthy with the child, children learn to trust adults and to error on the side of truth.
To spend time with children is an honor and a privilege, to teach children is a blessing and responsibility, but people who get to do so also have the reward of getting to shape the future. With a little luck, adults interacting with children also relive what it is like to view the world through the eyes of a child and remember that we can learn from everyone, including youth.
