World Teachers' Day: Elevating the Teaching Profession Amidst Challenges

We observed World Teachers' Day on 5 October, which was a reminder of the challenges and the opportunities facing those entrusted with the task of guiding the next generation.  

The teacher is a pivotal factor in the development of young minds, and the teaching profession is one of the highest to which one can aspire. According to the Bahá'í Writings, “Among the greatest of all services that can possibly be rendered by man to Almighty God is education and training of children…”.

While teaching is a profession deserving a very high esteem, the value of teaching as a profession in most parts of the world has declined. Although attempts are being made to improve the situation by such means as increased pay, however, there are a number of challenges that need to be addressed. 

One such challenge is that the moral authority of teachers as respected members of the community is eroding, but at the same time schools are being asked to address more and more of the social and moral concerns that were traditionally the family responsibility. 

What are the root causes of this dichotomy? A main contributing factor is the common materialistic approach taken by societies globally. 

To overcome such challenges, teachers must become role models, transmitters of morality and builders of character, in addition to imparting academic knowledge. Children must acquire a balanced set of capacities that are academic, spiritual, and vocational.  

Behaviour and conduct

The Bahá’í Writings state that “schools for academic studies must at the same time be training centres in behaviour and conduct, and they must favour character and conduct above the sciences and arts. Good behaviour and high moral character must come first, for unless the character be trained, acquiring knowledge will only prove injurious. Knowledge is praiseworthy when it is coupled with ethical conduct and virtuous character…. A physician of evil character, and who betrayeth his trust, can bring on death, and become the source of numerous infirmities and diseases”. 

Education must be relevant to the true needs of a community and contribute to the unification of humanity. Serving humanity should be considered an essential component of education, and there should be practical means for its expression in the education process through service-oriented programs.  

Children are often brought up to be loyal only to their own country, and sometimes hatred towards another nation is engraved on their young minds. They are made to believe that their race, religion or ethnic group is superior to others. In the Bahá'í view, the aim of the education must be to bring up a future generation who believe that “The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens”, as stated by Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith. 

While teachers are normally well equipped to teach, there is always a great deal one can learn during the process of teaching. Through a shared learning process with their students, teachers can demonstrate that they, too, are learners. This will help students realise that learning never ends, take ownership of their learning, and determine the course their own life would take. 

For feedback please contact: tshwane@bahai.org.za; or call 076 582 3879

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