Professional titles should be descriptive. For example, if you meet a gardener, you would assume that their job is to garden. As a student who at this point is fifteen years old, I sometimes wonder if the title of ‘teacher’ ought to be changed, simply because the title is misleading. I doubt that teachers actually teach. It seems that they are more like ‘Crowd Control Engineers’ than teachers. Some are police officers while others are facilitators or disciplinarians.
I have been observing how teachers perform during the 45-minute lessons, and I can’t help but wonder at which point in the lesson they are actually the ‘teacher’ versus the miserable adult who shouts at the kids. Sure, most teachers are pleasant, but are they teaching? Sometimes it seems that I am the one who is sent home to study, just to make up for the useless class time.
Or, am I mistaken? Are teachers just guides and counsellors? Are they just traffic controllers and project managers? It seems ever so easy for someone to walk into class and tell the students to sit down, read chapter five, and do some homework. But my Mum could have done the same thing? Why bother going to school just to be sent home again to finish what they barely started? We already have the text book, so what value is it to be in class, with endless distractions, rowdy students who are understandably bored, and unhappy teachers who rarely inspire a love of learning.
In this world of options and choice, and supposed technology, I would prefer to stay home, and do my homework by myself or with a few friends, than trek to school each day, where little value is received.
Hi Mr Strangerist. Cool question. In fact, if you can prove your case, that teachers do not teach, then you might be able to claim a refund from your school, because it seems that you are paying for a service that is not being delivered. I think that you would be bored at home, and you might end up watching too much TV. So I would prefer a great teacher who can inspire, entertain, and enthrawl. Alas, in all my years, I have only known one or two. So perhaps, you are right: can I joing your home study group? P.S. I am not avaialble between 12 and 1 because I have to watch Jude Judy!
[...] Do teachers teach? – A tough question, offering refreshing view. The author begins by observing: “Professional titles should be descriptive.” – and then demonstrates how “teacher” is a misleading title, in traditional school setting. That got me thinking about titles in the software development industry, and could not stop from smiling – here are the titles , just for fun – the fun begins as you move beyond ‘Programmer’: [...]
I completely agree with your blog about education. Teachers really do just tell us students what to do in a 45 minute lesson. But if we did the work in the classroom why do we have homework? It is completely misleading the fact that you are meant to be taught at school when you are really self teaching yourself for sometimes hours on end at your home. We are paying $15 thousand dollars a year, and for what teaching ourselves at home?
agreed. that’s some mind blowing revelation you’ve got going on. haha. i know exactly how you feel. unfortunately i can not express those feelings as well as you.