Teaching, The Noble Profession

Teaching has its root from ancient times. The profession remains noble.

Life's greatest people were teachers. You can name them, starting from The Lord Jesus Christ to the next teacher.The list goes on.....

A teacher is all round person. Because, you can't give what you don't have. In the classroom are children with exceptional abilities. If you have ever taken a course in psychology and special education, you would understand children as individuals and treat them as special people with diverse abilities.

The work of the teacher especially, those in basic and high schools is very difficult and it only takes those who have the passion to transform and touch lives in many small ways.

Children spend most of their time with teachers.
That is why parents should appreciate the works of teachers, but in our part, it's not always the case.

Have you ever tried helping a child with their homework and they tell you with confidence, "no ! madam says that's not how we do it. "

In Ghana, many parents think teachers are paid for their service so it ends there.They easily forget that,a teacher can make or unmake a child.

Steve Harvey In his book ,"Act Like A Success,Think Like A Success" explains, the influence as teacher has on a child's success.

The hardwork of teachers often go unnoticed .They say "the teacher's reward is in heaven. "

To be a teacher comes with great fulfilment because, it's a profession that guarantees direct impact.

Every profession can boast, but the teacher made them.

It's high time, we start rewarding the efforts of teachers because, during vacations,even parents struggle with their own children. The noise, the complains ,and the numerous rhetorical questions are enough evidence to buttress this assertion.

Last week, I invited a friend to teach basic technology skills, and after 2 hours of talking and struggling with class control he said "Ken, teaching is not easy, I'm very tired and right now, I have gotten headache. Trust me, teachers are underpaid in Ghana ."

With just 2 hours, he was exhausted.It is not easy to stand infront of young ones, trying to impart into them, things they have no or little interest in.

Teaching, is the only profession which puts you in a position of mother, father, counsellor, pastor, imam, facilitator, mentor, guide and life coach.

As for issues of remuneration, I don't want to delve into because,if it was only about the salary ,I don't think some people would work in the talk and chalk fraternity. A teacher looks beyond money.

The teacher is a contributing factor to nurturing generation of young people who would put this country on the world map of innovation, excellence and leadership.

Every country that ignores the contributions of teachers and fail to give them the necessary motivation and resources is bound to be underdeveloped for centuries. This is because, the teacher is the convener of quality education, which is a solid foundation to sustainable growth and development.

School vacate tomorrow, I want to use this piece to honor the gallant army of the 'talk and chalk' profession.

We don't teach to live, we live to teach.
By Kenneth Gyamerah..
A Teacher.
Photo credit :Tsotsoo Vanderpuye , Trinity Lutheran School, Tema.