I remember I had just briefed my class on how to write a Non Chronological Record (NCR). I explained, whenever they write a report the first feature would be the title, followed by introduction. I also added that they had to write some facts pertaining to the topic in the introduction section. Having discussed all the features, I gave them an animal encyclopedia and asked them to write a report on owls. As the class settled down to start their work, I saw Azam had a question. He asked, “ma’am what do we call the biggest owl?” I was clueless as I didn’t know the answer. So I replied, “I don’t know. But I will find out and tell you. And if you find out before I do, please let me know. He agreed.
More often than not teachers get caught with such questions. Some of the questions that students ask, leave us blank. In our society teachers are assumed to know everything. Come to think of it, we are human too and there is so much out there that we still don’t know. There are things that we haven’t heard of or imagined. In my general observations however, I found, as teachers we are hesitant to learn from our children or fellow teachers. If someone tells us something or tries to teach us something it becomes difficult to accept. We evaluate the messenger more than the message. Personally though, I do not find it difficult in learning something that I don’t know. I also think, as teachers it becomes all the more important for us to have an open mind and have the willingness to learn, so we can transfer our learning attitude together with the learning.
Teaching is not just about imparting content from a book; it is about being able to give what we know beyond what the book has. It is also exhibiting the behavior and admitting things that we don’t know. I am almost certain that students would not judge us just because we said “I don’t know”. In fact, they would also learn to say “I don’t know”, which is the first step to learning. Students are a true reflection of our behavior. When we teach them to say “I don’t know”, we kindle in them a curiosity and make them inquisitive. They may be motivated to search and find the answer.
In summary – I see a good reason for constant learning. Teachers have to learn to say “I don’t know – can you tell me, if you know.” With this behavior we also teach children to speak the truth and to be humble and accept ignorance. To make progress we need help and help will come to us only when we ask for it. Someone will come to our rescue if we are humble and genuinely seek. We didn’t inherit most of these traits when we were born. We just observed people around us and learnt. Let’s continue to exhibit a behavior we want our children to learn.
I want to quote Brian Herbert who said “the capacity to learn is a gift, the ability to learn is a skill and the willingness to learn is a choice”. Let make the right choice! HAPPY LEARNING!
-Srijana
Srijana Sapkota is a teacher at Tatva Global School, Hyderabad.
Teacher Srijana has well adressed the topic , very well conceived and presented. Learning is a continious process. Every individual , moment , circumstance, incident , experience is a teacher…..To learn, Unlearn and relearn is an effort n should be put in continuation.
Ignorance is indeed bliss at times it motivates to dwell .
Well said, Srijana Ma’am!
I personally feel that everyone has a scope to learn something everyday in his life. It is up to him / her to show his / her eagerness to learn. One needs to keep away his so called falsified egos and strive towards learning the things which are really essential for him in person and for the society or national in general. And…….one needs real patience while giving an ear to the kids in the process of learning something from them.
But in practical life, it generally doesn’t happen as teachers or parents don’t feel it necessary to listen to the kids just because it is always expected that they are in the know of everything. But…..if they seriously listen to the kids, there are a lot of new things to be learned from the wonderful kids.
Whereas, unfortunately It seems people are so lost in spreading the messages of values and ethos these days that they have forgotten to listen to the minute problems that the kids are facing in the childhood either in the school or in home which can severely affect the children in their career building and is most likely to cause serious problems for the country in the future.
Ma’am, I wish people concerned can understand the gravity of the situation before it becomes a little too late. Its time to “WAKE UP!”
Warm regards.
BR Dash
well said Srijana, thats intellectual humility!