I believe the responsibilities of a teacher go well beyond the inside of the classroom. Teachers are the foundation of society as they shape young minds into productive, successful members of society. Their first responsibility comes with understanding; they must understand that each student is an individual with his or her own special personality. Students come to teachers with different viewpoints and learning styles. Some love to talk aloud, while others remain reserved. Some are creative, while others are logical in their thought patterns. They come in all shapes, sizes, races, and nationalities. Often their only commonality is the classroom teacher, and with this, I believe the teacher's first goal, before any effective learning can take place, is to build a caring community within the classroom. Students must feel secure in their environment so that pedagogical experiences can occur. It is the teacher's obligation to create this atmosphere. The teacher must serve as a role model in behavior and set standards for his or her students. I have discovered through my experiences that students want to be acknowledged and listened to. They want to know that their teacher is a real person who truly cares about their individual lives. If a teacher demonstrates this kind of admiration for his or her students, then a caring community will evolve as students learn to have respect for their teacher and their peers. This is when true learning will occur. .
As teachers demonstrate positive behavior, students will begin to understand the value of education. Teachers should be knowledgeable and excited about the subject in order to bring their lessons to life. Students are concerned with what is relevant to them; it is the teacher's responsibility to convey this to his or her students. I truly believe any student is willing to learn if he or she is touched by the right person. I consider it my duty to reach each of my students in some way.
