Profession : Teaching as a Profession

The word „Profession‟ is derived from the Latin word „profiteor,‟ which means „to profess‟.

“A profession may be defined as an occupation-based upon specialized intellectual study and training, the purpose of which is to supply skilled service or advice to others for a definite fee or salary.” ~ Saunders~

A profession is an occupation with a set of competency-based knowledge acquired through many years of academic training, the goal of its members being a commitment to service guided by a code of ethics.

A professional is one who possesses specialized knowledge and skillsets and has a commitment to a particular code or set of values and their application in service of humanity.

• The profession requires a formal educational qualification
• mastery of skills
• prolonged training
• code of ethics.
• demands a possession of specialized knowledge and skills with extended practical training.
• it sets up its own professional organization

Characteristics of a Profession

• it has a clearly defined membership of a particular group with a view to safeguarding the interest of the profession.
• it renders an essential social service.
• it demands continuous in-service training of its members.
• it must have responsibilities and social justice.
• Entry into the Profession is strictly controlled: It is strictly guided by setting and enforcing standards for selection, training, licensure and certification. There should always be an entry qualification.

• Legal Recognition of the Profession : The public should recognize a typical profession. For eg, teachers, doctors, lawyers and engineers are highly recognized and respected in the society. The public trusts their judgment and skills because of their outstanding services to humanity.
• Motivation on Public Services : The professional practitioners pledge their first concern to the welfare of the clients.The income of professionals is generated by charging a fee or salary for the service rendered to their clients.
• Licensed Practitioners : Professions seek to establish a register or membership so that only those individuals so licensed are recognized as bonafide. Professionals habitually work directly with their clients rather than through intermediaries or proxies.
• A professional should have qualities like Honesty, Humbleness, Loyalty & Commitment, Self temper /Tolerance, Punctuality & Regularity, Accountability

Teaching as a Profession

Teaching, The mother of all professions; the noble profession that creates all other professions.

The teacher shapes the destiny of the nation through the education of young minds.

According to Albert Einstein

“Teaching is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”

A career that receives high respect in the society.

Teaching should be a passion … service to mankind.

The best teacher teaches from the heart not from the book.

Even in ancient age disciples and society are highly indebted to their teachers throughout their lives and worshipping the teacher as divine.

The essential qualities of a teacher include activeness, awareness, trust relationship, learning ability, punctuality, resourcefulness, effective teaching skills, communicative skill, moral code, competency in global market, critical consciousness and logical thinking, scientific attitude, soft skills, etc.

Besides these, the teacher should possess the necessary academic qualification, professional education and practical knowledge of child psychology

T = talent, tolerance, truthfulness

E = enthusiasm, efficient

A = academic aristocracy, affectionate, accountability

C = commitment, curious, confident

H = honest, humour, hard-working

E = ethical, energetic, empathy

R = resourceful, rational

Teaching…

• It requires a sound body of knowledge.
• It requires specialized training and practice.
• It is a multi-skilled process
• It creates all professionals.
• It has a rigid code of ethics.
• It possesses high social status & dignity.
• It focuses on character formation
• It emphasizes on social & moral values
• It requires continuous updating of one‟s knowledge.

TEACHER AS A LEADER

“The destiny of a nation is shaped in her classrooms and teachers serve as the driving force in moulding best citizens.”

So the teacher should assign the role of a leader under the following heads

1. As an instructional input

2. As a manager

3. As a facilitator

4. As a counselor

5. As a community leader

6. As a systemist

Teacher as an instructional input

Teacher as a reservoir of knowledge. It refers to the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values which students are required to acquire in accordance with our national goals. In order to play this role effective, the teacher has to

1. Update his own knowledge

2. Read widely

3. Adopt appropriate and innovative teaching strategies and practice

4. Come down to the horizontal level of the students

5. Emphasize on learner rather than teaching

6. Use variety of improvised learning aids with greater skill and efficiency

7. Provide equal opportunity to students for fruitful learning irrespective of their caste, religion, community, sex and disability

8. Encourage students to review, rehearse and practice

9. Conduct continuous and comprehensive evaluation

10.Make diagnosis of students learning difficulties

11.Provide remedial instruction to students

Teacher as a manager

As a manager the teacher has to

1. Plan his work carefully

2. Set his objectives; short term and long term objectives clearly

3. Organize students and physical resources systematically

4. Execute his plans properly

5. Control and monitor the process regularly

6. Evaluate the performance of the group continuously

7. Modify his plan as and when necessary

8. Follow the principles of democracy in classroom management

9. Create a conducive learning environment

10. Be a leader of the group under his charge

11.Be approachable and understanding in nature

Teacher as a facilitator

As a facilitator a teacher must

1. Be warm, understanding and self-controlling

2. Listen attentively and accept students feelings and ideas

3. Observe students‟ reaction skillfully

4. Ask questions to students , praise and encourage when necessary

5. Be responsible, systematic, flexible and work- oriented

6. Explain things clearly and reward fairly

7. Encourage students to dream high and think out of box

8. Foster creative thoughts

9. Encourage classroom discussion, panel discussion, peer tutoring and co-operative learning.

10 Lecture, demonstrate and explain things with examples

11.Promote joyful learning

12. Encourage independent study habits

Teacher as a counselor

As a counselor teacher creates situations whereby students will be able to develop insight into their problems and make their own decisions to solve their own problems.

As a counselor, the teacher has to

1. Help students to choose subjects in accordance to their needs, interests and abilities

2.Help students to choose streams in medical non-medical and humanities in higher education in accordance with their aptitudes and aspirations

3. Assist students to take advantage of scholarships and financial assistance

4. Advice students on the procedure of admission in the institutions of higher education

5. Help students in developing proper study habits

6. Help students to choose appropriate books and reference materials

7. Assist students to solve their personal problems

8. Help students to solve their health problems

9. Guide students to make proper use of leisure time

10. Assist students in their personality

Teacher as a community leader

The most fascinating role, teacher as a social engineer

As a community leader the teacher has to

1. Create awareness among community members about welfare schemes

2. Participate in developmental programmes initiated by the government and local bodies

3. Organize advocacy programmes relating to these schemes, educational reforms and innovations

4. Mobilize the community for participation in all such activities for the attainment of the goals set in the stipulated period

5. Advice and guide the community for communal harmony, emotional and national integration

6. Participate the community in literacy campaigns, population education, environmental cleanliness, immunization, tree plantation, crisis and disaster management

7. Attend community meetings, festivals and functions which offer opportunity to the teacher for establishing contact with community leaders

8. Include the public in school programmes

9. Be familiar with all changes of community

10.Conscientize with the development in educational policies and programme.

Teacher as a systemist

A modern teacher depends on various instructional inputs for making the instructional process effective. As a systemist the teacher has to

1. Select the most essential appropriate instructional input from the available alternatives.

2. Evolve a new instructional system

3. Decision making with regards to the inputs to be used for a particular instructional context.

4. Integrate instructional inputs

5. Equip outside the system boundaries

6. Create and improve the system rather than a participant or a subsystem within the instructional system.