Teaching plays a crucial role in human progress and development. Regardless of whether it is formal or informal, teaching has a significant and positive impact on society. A teacher is anyone who contributes to someone else’s growth through their guidance. Although the term “teacher” is commonly used in educational settings, it can apply to anyone who offers advice or guidance to improve another person’s life. This is why teachers are highly esteemed and respected in societies around the world.
According to various human development organizations, a child’s life is divided into stages from birth to age nineteen. For instance, the first four weeks of life are referred to as the “newborn” stage, followed by “infancy” from four weeks to one year, “toddler” from twelve to twenty-four months, “preschool” from two to five years, “school-age” from six to twelve years, and “teenager or adolescent” from thirteen to nineteen years. These stages are crucial because each one plays a key role in a child’s development, leaving a long-lasting impact on their future life. Teachers and other caregivers play an equally important role in shaping a child’s growth during these stages. Children are the precious assets of any society, and the future of the society depends on how these children are raised and prepared to contribute to the global community.
A child’s emotional, social, and physical development directly affects their overall growth and the kind of adult they will become. This makes it essential to invest in children at a young age to maximize their well-being and the welfare of the society. Everything a child experiences in these early years leaves a lasting impact on society. Therefore, it is necessary to teach children from a young age in order to shape a better society. By nurturing positive qualities in children, we can address social, economic, political, and environmental challenges. By the time children reach maturity, they should have a strong foundation to take on their responsibilities in society.
Teaching usually takes place in two modes: institutional and community-based teaching. For now, let’s focus on community-based teaching. This informal method of teaching has existed for centuries and depends on the moral codes practiced within the community. It helps children develop into responsible citizens. In tribal societies, where formal education was limited, teaching was based on community learning processes, such as through folktales and stories told by elders, who played the role of teachers.
Community-based teaching also begins within the family. Every family should regularly impart knowledge to their children. While most children now attend formal educational institutions, many parents and elders fail to realize that a child spends only six or seven hours a day in school, while the remaining sixteen to seventeen hours are spent within their community. This highlights the importance of community-based teaching, which should be emphasized by parents and elders in every community.
Psychologists note that non-verbal, indirect teaching often has a more lasting effect on children than direct verbal teaching. Therefore, both parents and formal educational institutions should model good behaviour to teach children through actions, so that they can grow up with strong mental preparation and become leaders who are ready to address the world’s challenges.
Let us live in a way that children learn by observing teachers and elders, adopting the essence of collective leadership to protect and improve the society as they grow and face the challenges ahead.
~ Thsachoba TS