As children, we embark on a journey of learning that continues throughout our adult lives. Through education, we understand the world around us and learn how to positively impact society as responsible adults. Teachers nurture us over the years and provide us with the capability to observe, record, analyse and react appropriately to various situations in life. This makes the role of a teacher as significant as that of a parent in a child’s upbringing.
How do teachers impact the future of the world?
Jose Rizal once said, “Youth is the hope of our future.” This timeless quote has held its ground since time immemorial. This quote defines the role of a teacher as one who moulds our youth into responsible citizens who bring positive changes to our world—making teachers the most critical link for the betterment of society.
Famous teachers and their impact on society throughout history
The role of teachers has been well known throughout history. Chandragupta Maurya—the founder of the great Maurya Empire in India, was the first to unite most of India under a single state. The driving force behind Chandragupta Maura was his teacher—Chanakya. Chanakya was his teacher, strategist, philosopher, economist and royal advisor who helped Chandragupta create the largest empire in the Indian subcontinent.
Swami Vivekananda an acclaimed Indian educationist believed education is the manifestation of perfection. To Vivekananda, education was not only collection of information, but something more meaningful; he felt education should be man-making, life giving and character-building. To him, education was an assimilation of noble ideas. He helped people understand the importance of education and women’s rights and made societal reforms that worked for the betterment of our nation.
Savitribhai Phule and her husband Jyotirao Phule founded the first school for girls in India and brought a progressive change in women’s rights through educational and social reforms.
Aristotle laid the foundations of philosophy and fostered a culture of analytical thinking known today as scientific thought. His treatise, Poetics, is used to describe and teach poetic theory.
How are teachers helping to build better global citizens?
Teachers can change our lives for the better. They act as support systems and role models that inspire us to go further and dream bigger. They shape future leaders in their classrooms and benefit society locally and globally. Here’s how teachers make an impact on society every day:
Better opportunities through guidance and counselling
Teachers guide and counsel students in their classes. They can quickly analyse a child’s strengths and weaknesses and help them raise the bar and bring out the best in them.
Improving productivity and creativity
Teachers encourage students to approach problems creatively. This transforms students into innovators and problem solvers who can quickly analyse the issue and solve them faster using novel and creative techniques. This improves the student’s productivity and creativity, which are highly sought-after skills in every discipline today.
Building a transformative thought process
Teachers help students to think out of the box, challenge the status quo and change things for the better. This allows students to gain an entrepreneurial mindset, which eventually leads to a country’s economic development.
Boosting the society’s morale
Teachers boost and nurture children’s self-esteem by empowering them with knowledge and modern-day skills. This boosts the morale of the students as they are better prepared for the future.
Leading by example
Teachers help build future leaders for society by inculcating a habit of taking initiative. This allows students to learn how to step up and face challenges head-on, inspiring others in the process.
Building happier citizens of the world
Teachers impart knowledge and life skills to their students. This results in the creation of well-adjusted, knowledgeable, emotionally balanced individuals who bring about positive change in society and make the world a happier place for everyone.
How can I help to build a better world?
Although there are many ways to make the world a better place for everyone, an excellent way to begin is to become a teacher. Chitkara University’s world-class B. Ed. and M. Ed. programs will provide practical, hands-on experience that will help you to shape the minds of your students better. You can help make a positive impact in the lives of hundreds of children during your career and continue to positively impact society—and the world at large.
These programs are built on Chitkara’s legacy of providing learners with world-class teaching-learning, evaluation and guidance skills such as flipped learning, problem-based learning, storytelling, blended learning and comic strips. Additionally, Chitkara’s undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programs benefit from constant innovation, relevance, practicality and a focus on modern teaching skills that will help you build a better career for yourself not just as a teacher but also as a counsellor, researcher, mentor, edupreneur or an NGO worker.
Teachers are indispensable to society, they can transform nations, build happier citizens and boost economies from a classroom. A teacher is a leader, mentor, guide, counsellor, friend and innovator extraordinaire—blending these skills to transform a child from a learner to a leader and shaping the future of society for generations to come.
