Greg Michie, the author of Holler If You Hear Me, is a very inspiring figure for me. He represents the exact kind of teacher I hope to be some day, and he reminds me of a few teachers in my life who have truly impacted me. It is so evident throughout his writing that he cares deeply about his students, and I'm sure his students could feel that too when he was their teacher.
Some people underestimate the importance of this quality in a teacher that Michie so clearly embodied. In my opinion, however, it is absolutely the most essential quality of a truly good teacher. There is nothing more motivating to students than knowing that their teacher cares about them, respects them, supports them, and is there for them. Students can feel their teacher's evident desire for them to succeed, and it is a very powerful thing.
The lack of this quality in a teacher can be quite detrimental. I don't see how any teacher could be a great teacher or even a decent teacher without being like Greg Michie in this regard. How can students learn from someone who clearly does not respect them or expect anything from them? They can't. When the bar is set low and the teacher expects the students to fail, it takes away any motivation for students to achieve. They know that their teacher thinks they are failures and incapable of success, and this affects them greatly even if they do not notice it. They will not try to do their best if no one expects much from them at all.
No comments:
Post a Comment