TEACHERS AS LEADERS
"A teacher affects eternity.He can never tell where his influence stops."
- Henry Adams
A long,long time ago, in the epic age of the Mahabharata, it was Guru Dronacharya, the royal preceptor of the Pandavas and the Kauravas, who set the standards where teachers came to be revered and equated not with parents, but with gods!
It was another great teacher, lord Krishna who transformed and motivated a troubled and indecisive Arjuna into decision making and action through lessons of the Bhagwad Gita. These teachings touched eternity as they hold good even today.
Pullela Gopichand, today, empowers his student P V Sindhu to win laurels for our country by winning the silver medal at the Rio Olympics - the first Indian woman to do so!Coach Gopichand is a true teacher leader(as i would like to address them) and a reflection of John Maxwell`s definition of a leader.
"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." Is a great teacher any different?
Teacher leaders change lives. Being the right person at the right time in one`s life may be enough to change a person`s life forever. Having a positive influence in the form of a teacher can make us a good human being. And what best than the school teachers. years, after we pass out of school, we remember the teachers who changed our lives. in most cases these might the first people who believed in us and that same belief carries us forward.
Our country celebrates Teachers` Day on 5th of September every year, honoring all the teachers who have transformed the lives of their students.Fittingly the day is the birthday of the greatest teacher leader and President of India, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. when he became the president some students wanted his permission to celebrate his birthday . His reply shone through with great humility common to all great leaders and said" Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would be my privilege if that day is celebrated as Teachers` Day." What a Man!
There are a myriad of roles a teacher leader has to play in these changing times. With the advent of technology seeping in through our daily lives, they have to understand that technology and connectivity have brought Indian education to the crossroads.Not only do teachers need to be ready for "lifelong learning" they also need to mentor other teachers and pass on their learning and the skills. Whats new, what works and does not. How do new technology and new online tools impact student learning. Is curiosity stimulated through a different class structure using technology for good.An environment that is open to learning, collaborative and focused on innovative learning is required. Teacher leaders will build in their schools and colleges and continue to transform lives.
Last but not the least, a teacher leader is someone who, even though has problems in his personal life, always inspires and motivates his students and tries to get the best out of them.
"A teacher affects eternity.He can never tell where his influence stops."
- Henry Adams
A long,long time ago, in the epic age of the Mahabharata, it was Guru Dronacharya, the royal preceptor of the Pandavas and the Kauravas, who set the standards where teachers came to be revered and equated not with parents, but with gods!
It was another great teacher, lord Krishna who transformed and motivated a troubled and indecisive Arjuna into decision making and action through lessons of the Bhagwad Gita. These teachings touched eternity as they hold good even today.
Pullela Gopichand, today, empowers his student P V Sindhu to win laurels for our country by winning the silver medal at the Rio Olympics - the first Indian woman to do so!Coach Gopichand is a true teacher leader(as i would like to address them) and a reflection of John Maxwell`s definition of a leader.
"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." Is a great teacher any different?
Teacher leaders change lives. Being the right person at the right time in one`s life may be enough to change a person`s life forever. Having a positive influence in the form of a teacher can make us a good human being. And what best than the school teachers. years, after we pass out of school, we remember the teachers who changed our lives. in most cases these might the first people who believed in us and that same belief carries us forward.
Our country celebrates Teachers` Day on 5th of September every year, honoring all the teachers who have transformed the lives of their students.Fittingly the day is the birthday of the greatest teacher leader and President of India, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. when he became the president some students wanted his permission to celebrate his birthday . His reply shone through with great humility common to all great leaders and said" Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would be my privilege if that day is celebrated as Teachers` Day." What a Man!
There are a myriad of roles a teacher leader has to play in these changing times. With the advent of technology seeping in through our daily lives, they have to understand that technology and connectivity have brought Indian education to the crossroads.Not only do teachers need to be ready for "lifelong learning" they also need to mentor other teachers and pass on their learning and the skills. Whats new, what works and does not. How do new technology and new online tools impact student learning. Is curiosity stimulated through a different class structure using technology for good.An environment that is open to learning, collaborative and focused on innovative learning is required. Teacher leaders will build in their schools and colleges and continue to transform lives.
Last but not the least, a teacher leader is someone who, even though has problems in his personal life, always inspires and motivates his students and tries to get the best out of them.
