|
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Teachers had a greater influence on young people in the past than they do today.
Teachers play an important role in a student’s life. They serve as role models and mentors to students. The role of a teacher in students’ lives has not changed much. Monday through Friday, students still go to school and spend a large amount of time interacting with their teachers. Teachers today, as in the past, continue to make a significant impact on students’ lives.
First, the role of a teacher has gone largely unchanged for at least the past 60 years. Maybe a few classroom procedures have been altered and textbooks have of course been updated, but in general school schedules and the basic classes offered have not drastically changed. If schooling systems had adopted a radically different approach to education, I would say that I teachers’ roles might be different. This has not happened, and therefore I think the amount of influence a teacher has on a student has not altered much.
Some might argue that technology has created a disconnection between teachers and students, but I think technology has only made the connection stronger. Technology has helped improve teachers’ lessons and enables teachers to reach out to students even more. Using technological tools like SmartBoards help make teachers’ lessons more effective, possibly making more students interested in school. Email is also something that helps teachers develop a stronger relationship with their students. If a student has a problem, they can easily communicate with their teachers. Technology has probably increased the influence of teachers.
Finally, the role of a teacher is to help guide his or her students. Teaching comes with many responsibilities, not just the responsibility of teaching lessons. Next to their parents, teachers probably play the largest role in influencing students’ future. I still remember my seventh grade history teacher. She is the one who inspired me to study history in college. Her lessons literally brought history to life. There may be some teachers who just stuff their students’ heads with boring facts, but there will always be those teachers who are able to inspire a deep thirst for knowledge in their students. These special teachers will always be around. They are a constant.
To say that teachers had greater influence on their students in the past is false. The general system of education has not changed drastically enough to change the role of the teacher significantly. In addition technology has probably helped teachers make a larger impact on their students. The call for a teacher to be a role model and mentor has also not changed. Teachers will always play an influential role in their students’ lives.
|
