Teaching: The Personality of the Teacher
The teacher’s personality is what makes school a vital experience. When a radio program conducted a poll in which thousands of children were asked to write about the teacher who had been most helpful to them, letter after letter indicated that it was the qualities of the teacher’s character which meant more to the student than the subject matter which was taught.
The “best teachers” were given high ratings in: cooperation, democratic spirit, kindness, consideration for the individual pupil, patience, wide interests, personal appearance, fairness, sense of humour, interest in students’ problems, and disposition. An interesting note: at the very end of the list was “skill in presenting the subject matter!”
A teacher possessing all these traits will have no trouble providing a healthy, secure atmosphere for his or her class, an atmosphere suited to learning.
It is sometimes said that good teachers are those who have a natural ability for teaching. Yet often a teacher preparation institution screens teacher for their practical knowledge rather than their instinct for teaching. Demonstrated success in working with students is essential for a good teacher. Many students do not discover that they have no teaching ability until they begin practice teaching.
Janet Fine in
Opportunities in Teaching
The teacher’s personality is what makes school a vital experience. When a radio program conducted a poll in which thousands of children were asked to write about the teacher who had been most helpful to them, letter after letter indicated that it was the qualities of the teacher’s character which meant more to the student than the subject matter which was taught.
The “best teachers” were given high ratings in: cooperation, democratic spirit, kindness, consideration for the individual pupil, patience, wide interests, personal appearance, fairness, sense of humour, interest in students’ problems, and disposition. An interesting note: at the very end of the list was “skill in presenting the subject matter!”
A teacher possessing all these traits will have no trouble providing a healthy, secure atmosphere for his or her class, an atmosphere suited to learning.
It is sometimes said that good teachers are those who have a natural ability for teaching. Yet often a teacher preparation institution screens teacher for their practical knowledge rather than their instinct for teaching. Demonstrated success in working with students is essential for a good teacher. Many students do not discover that they have no teaching ability until they begin practice teaching.
Janet Fine in
Opportunities in Teaching
