Teachers are essential to our education. They educate us on a wide variety of topics, including historical events, the quadratic formula, writing persuasive essays, etc. However, regardless of what they teach, there is always going to be certain teachers that stand out from the rest. These teachers are the ones who take the extra step to do everything they can to help us learn.
We, as students, cannot learn or comprehend information without enthusiasm and passion from our teachers. The energy that an enthusiastic teacher radiates will in turn make their students excited to learn as well. It’s obvious when a teacher loves their job and it creates a much more comfortable atmosphere for the students. I am always excited to enter a classroom knowing that the teacher is genuinely passionate about the subject themselves. If a teacher appears to be disinterested, or even bored while teaching, it leaves me wondering, “Why am I even here?”
In addition, teachers are generally better appreciated when they instruct with constructive feedback instead of flat-out criticism. Constructive feedback encourages students to improve on our mistakes while criticism only serves to make them feel frustrated at themselves. As students, we need to be pushed to work harder but not torn apart when we make mistakes.
Kindness in a teacher also goes a long way in making a favorable impression on the students. When teachers are kind and friendly, they give their students the confidence to ask questions and engage during class. In addition, their friendliness may also encourage students to go in for help on their own time as well, such as during lunch or after school. These sessions are crucial for struggling students as it offers them a chance to get personalized instruction from their teachers.
There can be times when a teacher thinks that being strict can help students learn. However, I completely disagree with that logic. A stern teacher creates an uncomfortable atmosphere for the students, thus making their students shyer and less likely to engage with the material.
Having well-rounded teachers that are enthusiastic, fair, and kind makes going to school a lot more tolerable and interesting. It makes students want to learn about mysterious topics and it creates more ambitious students as well.
Article by MoCo Student staff writer Erin Ramos of Richard Montgomery High School