The
beginning of a new school year makes students consider many things. Will I have
friends in any of my classes? What will
we play in gym? Will I be able to
remember my locker combination? Will my
teachers be any good? I propose that the
last question is one of the most important asked by every student at all levels
of academia. This question makes one
wonder what qualities are necessary in a good teacher. This being said, it is my opinion that the
four qualities a teacher must possess are: approachability, trustworthiness,
passion, and the ability to inspire.
When meeting
new people, human beings tend to gravitate toward those who are friendly and
respectful. Being approachable makes it
possible to form lasting relationships that can stand up to stressors produced
by the outside world. This trait is
doubly important for teachers to possess.
Students who feel connections to their teachers are more likely to be
engaged in class. If they are given the
chance to see that their teachers are actual people (yes, they do exist outside
of school), students will understand that their teachers are not lofty,
smarter-than-thou people whose job it is to make them feel inferior. They will see other human beings who deserve
respect and will give it because they have received it.
Trustworthiness
is another important quality for teachers to possess. Students will be skeptical, to say the least,
if they feel as if their teachers are not trustworthy. Trust can be established through the simplest
actions. For instance, teachers should
realize that they do not always have to be right. If they do not know the answer to a question,
they should admit it and seek an answer.
This genuine approach to students will help them see their teachers as
flawed human beings who are still learning.
Through this, solidarity can be established. Furthermore, if a teacher makes a commitment,
they must keep it. Teachers are pillars
in the lives of their students. If these
pillars appear to be faulty, students will not feel safe. Trust must be established and maintained in
order for students to learn. Also, it is
important to understand that trust should be earned, not just expected.
Although knowledgeability
is important in any profession, teachers would be remiss if they lacked passion
for the content they teach. It does not
matter if you have Toni Morrison or Stephen Hawking teaching your classes—if they
are not passionate about what they do, students will not be either. The best teachers are those who get excited
about Shakespeare or theoretical cosmology.
These subjects truly interest them and that interest is realized in the
palpable, excited atmospheres of their classrooms.
The final
quality required for a good teacher is the ability to inspire students. In some ways, this quality is synonymous with
being passionate. A teacher can inspire
their students by being a living example.
Being passionate is not enough, though.
Inspirational teachers tell their students that: their best is good enough;
they are good enough; it is good to make mistakes; and they are worth the
effort of teaching. If students feel
like any of these statements are true, they will not be afraid to take
risks. They will be able to pass that
encouragement on to others someday.
Maybe, if we are lucky enough, our students will actually be able to see
themselves as we see them. Wouldn’t that
be amazing? Things teachers say can last
for a lifetime—inspirational teachers make sure what they say should be
remembered.
