The oldest and largest profesion: teaching

Every one of us is a teacher in one way or other in everyday life. We all teach and we all learn throughout our lives. A great many relationships in ordinary life depend on teaching and learning: parents and children, husband and wife, managers and employees, and so on. However, in real-life school, it is not always easy to become a teacher. First of all, there are some people who should never take the charge of a classroom, and there are others who seem to be perfect for the work. “Born teachers” we call them.

The task of teachers is central to education. Teachers must transmit to new generations the cultural heritage of a societ – the knowledge, skill, customs, and attitudes acquired over the years. They must also try to develop in their students the ability to adjust to a rapidly changing world.

The task of teachers has increased in complexity. There are many more students enrolled and they present a broader range of ability, background and interest. Besides, school and university curriculum have become increasingly specialized. This places new demand upon the competency of teachers. They often need intensive preparation in a subject field.

Teachers are also “instrument of society”. They are responsible to the community. Their contacts with the community usually extend to the parents of their students and to the neighbourhood of the town. In the deprived areas, students may lack good food, clothing, shelter and the incentive to learn. The successful teachers find ways to build the self image of such students so that they can develop in themselves a strong interest in learning.