Being The One Who Cares: A Good TeacherIn order to be a good teacher I feel that one needs to be open andunderstanding of different events that might take place in the classroom.
Students today are not treated the same as they were during the beginning ofeducation and we have a variety of students which attend our public schools. There are girls, blacks, whites, Hispanic, and Native Americans and a number ofother different races participating in our classroom studies. This is awonderful accomplishment in our society. The variety of backgrounds which arefound in the classrooms gives our young students a better understanding ofdifferent races and nationalities. However, with growth there are alwaysproblems. Because there are students from different backgrounds, we must caterto all their needs.
There may be students in our classroom with completelydifferent religious beliefs or no beliefs at all. Teachers must understand eachstudent and their personal beliefs to make their learning environmentcomfortable. Every aspect of our society has changed, we live in a morepromiscuous society. Our children are having children. We as teachers musteducate our student to the deadly effects of unprotected sex.
I feel asteachers earn tenure, they are more likely to effect the students in a morepersonably manner. Having a stable and open classroom, I feel the students willlearn more and be a respected citizen in our society. In this project I willdiscuss, prayer in the classroom, AIDS and tenure. Prayer in school is a controversial issue that must be considered anddealt with as quickly as possible. All people should feel free to worship andhave loyalties to whichever religion they choose.
If no religion is chosen,then the feelings of the person should be considered as will. Everyone has anopinion on this subject, but everyones opinion should not become an issue. Rather, the opinion should be offered in order to be accepted or rejected by theindividual. I feel that a time should be set aside during the day to allow formediation or introspection. This time could be used by the students forthinking, prayer, meditation or for private reflection. Therefore, those whochoose to participate can do so privately.
Since it is a quiet time, no religionis stressed, so whichever seems to be more important to the student, the studenthas the option to choose. An alternative to quiet time is to rotate prayers among all religiousfaiths with equal time being provided for all groups and religions represented. The schedule may be rotated daily or weekly between such choices as Christian,Jewish, and Catholic. No shame should be placed on the students because of theirpersonal beliefs, and adults must never censure, or in any way make light of astudents belief.
Also, no student should be forced into or required toparticipate; all children should be allowed to either join in, or to sit quietlyduring this time. Like most things, this can be used as a positive tool forteaching respect for others. I feel this issue should be decided by individual school systems and notmandated by the courts. However, if the school does choose to have a religiousmoment, all religions should be represented. This issue is a very private one,and no one should be judged by his or her feelings.
Also, no student shouldever be made to feel less than acceptable for their personal belief. Teachersshould keep in mind that not all children share the same beliefs, therefore, ifone or more students choose not to participate in the prayer or quiet time,alternatives should be offered to them. Reading may help the others to be quietwhile those who choose to participate do so. If a child chooses not toparticipate, it should not become an issue between the student and the class orthe student and the teacher. No student should ever be held up to ridicule. The teacher should try to make all of the students feel as comfortable aspossible whether they participate or not.
If the subject is handled properly, this may help contributed to abetter understanding of the difference among people. By teaching students thatpeople are different at an early age, it may alleviate some the hostilitiesbetween them as adults. Also, this will teach students tolerance to views thatare different than their own. Students learn from what they see, if they seeand share prayer with their
