What should be the professional aims of a teacher ?

Question

...a classroom teacher to be precise.

Answer 1

To educate the students...

That's easier said than done nowadays, because students have more power therefore less willing to listen to the teacher. The teachers power are more limited than ever, yet the teaching standards have increased.

The US student behavior is the #1 challenge, and why teachers leave the profession. If US students behave like the Chinese students then teachers wouldn't be blaming administrators about support, and administrators wouldn't be blaming parents, etc.

Why do you think the teaching turnover rate is 50% within 5 years?

Answer 2

I think that depends a great deal on what your ultimate goals are. The most simplistic are that you should strive to do the best for your students each and every day. If you are more subject matter oriented than student oriented you might want to pursue becoming a department chair or curricular leader. If you see yourself in a leadership role more than a classroom role you might want to become an administrator. If you enjoy dealing with emotional and planning issues you might want to pursue counseling. If you enjoy working with young people from different cultural backgrounds you might want to pursue training as an ELD specialist. If you like working with young people with physical or learning handicaps you might want to pursue Special Education. It is probably a good idea to spend a couple of years in the classroom to get a solid feel for what it is you really enjoy and what it is you are lukewarm about. After that move in a direction that interests you most.

Answer 3

The professional aims of a teacher should be to be a motivated teacher and have high demands of his/her students. Studies show that these two are the key elements in increasing student performance and lowering dropouts.

Answer 4

To inspire a child to want to know why and how -
To inspire a child to think for themselves and follow their hearts - even when others think the opposite-
To share from their heart and be ears to listen,a hand to hold and a heart to care - even when it feel unrealistic-
To be a advocate for they believe and to stand behind what they believe.
Not to teach to the test but to give ones students the skills to do any problem / situation.
To have a want to learn themselves and give credit to those who teach them something new.
To have a life away from the classroom- it's fine to work at home but it cannot consume all your time.
To love what they are doing in the classroom and know when they don't, that it's time to walk away.

Answer 5

To enlighten young minds... to guide them in their pursuit for more knowledge and nothing else...

It is not a teacher's job to be a parent, guardian, politician or religious leader.... only to educate.

I think too many teachers get wrapped up in "caring about their students" and lose sight of the main objective which is to "care about EDUCATING their students" - which is very different.

I'm not saying that teachers must be heartless school marms but I just see too much drama and not enough information in schools today.

Answer 6

Note to previous poster: << To enlighten young minds... to guide them in their pursuit for more knowledge and nothing else... It is...a teacher's job...to educate...lose sight of the main objective which is to "care about EDUCATING their students..."

The teacher's primary goal is not to teach or educate; if it was, you would see markedly different scores on achievement tests.

No, the teacher's primary goal is to inspire. You cannot force a student to learn, but you can make him want to learn.