Defending Students Against Personal Influence
However, this approach can be problematic. It can lead to a narrow-mindedness that stifles creativity and critical thinking. It can also create a power imbalance between teacher and student, with the former holding all the cards. In short, it can be detrimental to the learning process.
To be a truly effective teacher, it is important to defend our students against our own personal influence. This means putting our own biases and beliefs aside and allowing our students to explore their own ideas and perspectives.
This does not mean that we should abandon our role as a guide and mentor. On the contrary, it means that we should be even more vigilant in creating a safe and supportive learning environment in which our students can thrive.
One way to do this is to encourage open and honest dialogue in the classroom. This means creating space for students to express their opinions and ideas, even if they differ from our own. It also means being willing to listen to and learn from our students, rather than simply dispensing knowledge from on high.
Another way to defend our students against our own personal influence is to embrace diversity. This means recognizing that our students come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, and that their perspectives are just as valid as our own. It means celebrating these differences, rather than trying to stamp them out.
Of course, this can be easier said than done. It can be difficult to put aside our own biases and beliefs, particularly when we feel passionate about a particular issue. However, it is important to remember that our students are not blank slates to be moulded in our own image. They are individuals with their own unique perspectives and experiences, and it is our job to help them explore and develop these.
Ultimately, the true measure of a teacher’s success is not how well they are able to impose their own ideas and beliefs on their students, but how well they are able to inspire and empower their students to think for themselves. By defending our students against our own personal influence, we can create a learning environment that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and independent thought. That, when all is said and done, is what education is all about.
