Teacher's Day: Exploring The Learning Dynamics Of Today's Students (representational image)
Since we celebrate Teacher’s Day today, honouring our teachers, praising them, and lauding their commitment toward students, there is a lesser discussed factor: “Did teachers win this long race to satisfy a kid’s will? Was the teacher able to bring a smile to the student’s face? Are teachers going through the right path of moulding students? Let’s discuss it!”
The younger generation’s perspective on teachers has shifted from one of reverence and obedience to a more nuanced understanding of teachers as mentors, guides, and even friends. It is not the same as the old generation who we typically call 90s kids. This new change in perception is a result of various factors including the evolving education system, technological advancements, and shifting societal values. However, there is something called building a relationship with students because it is crucial to acknowledge the changing dynamics between students and teachers.
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Speaking to Timeline, Basith CK, Physics Teacher and Advisor, MMVHSS Parappil, Kozhikode said, “The traditional image of a teacher as a strict, all-knowing figure is no longer relevant, students see teachers as facilitators of learning, who encourage critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration in lieu. We, as teachers, ensure that our duty is not only to teach but also to build responsible citizens.”
One of the primary reasons for this shift is a student’s ability to understand the changing lifestyle and norms. They empathetically attempt to come out of certain customs that have already been ingrained in our society. This focus has moved from rote learning to a more holistic approach. The concerns are real and they acquired the skills themselves to think logically and behave realistically. There is no melodrama in schools today. They believe that respect is gained not through modesty and obedience but through the emotional yet genuine bond.
Teachers are no longer seen as mere dispensers of knowledge but as someone who ponder on students’ mental health. Since the internet and social media have made information readily accessible, it somehow reduces the teacher’s role as the sole source of knowledge.
“The implications of the shift from a mere teacher to mentor are far-reaching. Teachers must adapt to become more flexible, approachable, and empathetic, they must be willing to learn from students and acknowledge their limitations, in my 22 years of teaching experience I understood that today’s kids are a bit more fragile: body shaming, hostile behaviour and scolding shouldn’t come from any teacher that could affect the mental health of students in a very harmful manner,” Mariya. M, Arabic Language Faculty at Salafi School, Kozhikode, told Timeline.
Today, in schools we see counselling sessions, sex education, the introduction of AI and many more experiential learning and systematic approaches, but some students rely on their teachers as the human connection seems very different from machine learning. When a student spends almost 6-7 hours a day in school there will be a gradual connection between both. But if the kid doesn’t feel interested in listening to a teacher, the teacher is jinxed.
Speaking to Timeline, Farzana TP, Primary School Faculty in PES Wadihuda, Kannur said, “The millennial generation (90s) didn’t express their love much, they kept a boundary between teachers and were not outspoken, but today’s kids are more into emotional bonding, they are very lovable. They show courage in everything they do.”
This can be seen everywhere, some students share everything with their teachers like friends. They love their teachers and call them their second mom/dad. On the contrary, students who talk less and who don’t show interest in learning anything have to be picked from the many and understand what goes inside them. Some tasks seem daunting to them and they feel like going away from all the fuss happening at the schools.
A teacher‘s commitment to understanding a kid’s plight is indeed inevitable, most kids have ADHD today, it is not visible and teachers evaluate each kid by looking at their appearance, lifestyle, behaviour and current educational status, Rather, the approach has to be direct, teachers should understand that every kid is different and they have to be treated individually,” said Reena Saleem, Vice Principal, New Indian Model School, Dubai.
As we celebrate Teacher’s Day today, let us acknowledge and appreciate the changing dynamics between students and teachers. Whenever a teacher evaluates a kid, it is indispensable to construe if the teacher has failed in any life’s subjects while educating the kid. Amid remembering and appreciating teachers, let every teacher’s day be a wake-up call for those teachers who create a toxic environment in the classroom.
