Perspectives On Aging
Teaching, a Noble Profession
I write this article in honor of my granddaughter, Jade, a senior in college who will soon earn a degree in education. She is the prototype of what a teacher should be. She will follow the steps of her aunt Sara, who for many years has distinguished herself teaching the children of Gainesville.
Teaching is not only a profession, as we all are teachers who have the duty of passing on our wisdom to others. A teacher not only helps the student to learn, but also serves as mentor and role model. A mentor is a guide, like a beacon that points the student in the right direction. To be a mentor also encompasses being an adequate role model as a mentor should be a living example of the finished product. A teacher should also teach how to think. Learning goes far beyond gaining information. The most important aspect is to reach solid conclusions and apply it in a meaningful way.
A good teacher relates to each student at his or her own level. Not all are alike; each one has their own strengths and weaknesses. A gifted teacher encourages his students to ask meaningful questions. One of the landmarks of a good student is the quality of the questions he or she asks. A good teacher remains forever in the heart and soul of his students.
Perhaps the most important professions in society are the teachers, the health care providers, and the spiritual leaders and educators. They are also among the least paid, but that may be a good thing after all, as it attracts only the right kind of people, for which the significance of their work goes beyond monetary rewards. If not, it might attract the greedy, and that is contrary to what is expected from a teacher, perhaps the most noble of all professions.
Teaching we all do throughout our lives. We are also perennial students who continue learning until the end. We learned from our beloved teachers during our youth and now in our golden years we learn from the youngsters, from our peers and from our experiences. The older we get, the wiser we should become. Perhaps that is the reason the elders prefer winning without fighting than fighting in order to win. Elders enjoy history, as it is the foundation of wisdom. The humanities nowadays are given a secondary role in the teaching curriculums in most schools. We elders know this is a mistake. Hard sciences are crucial, but life needs the soft touch of the humanities. They complement each other. When successful people write their life story they usually include their teachers among the most influential people in their lives.
Writing this piece has made Melesio remember that gifted Spanish teacher of long ago, a legend, Rosa Rabell (RIP). Teachers do not die, they don't even fade away, as they live forever in the memories of their students. §
Dr. Carlos Muniz is a retired psychiatrist from Gainesville. He may be contacted through the editor at editor@towerpublications.com.
