Teachers have to let students have a voice or say in almost every activity. The more you involve a student in the classroom, the more rapport is created. And that is of utmost importance when in a classroom.
Because if you don't have love, then what do you have?
Nothing.
Just nothing.
Think about it. If a teacher doesn't let their student talk, how will they ever love their students? Yes, teachers need some peace and quiet in the classroom to get work done, but if a teacher doesn't like their students talking, then why would students want to learn? Whether students like a class or not does depend on the student, but it really depends on the teachers themselves, the classroom environment, and the bond between each teacher and each student. Most of the time, that bond doesn't exist. When a teacher greets a student, it's a very empty "Hi." It's a very hollow smile. It's a very forced expression. If a class is like that, a student will never learn. No matter how hard a teacher says they are trying. In fact, if a student doesn't like a teacher's class, the teacher isn't trying. They're not doing all they can to get to know a student.
The bell rings. A student knows he's late, so he picks up the pace.When he reaches the classroom, he sees the teacher waiting at the door, and the teacher sticks out his hand and gives the student a high five. "Hey! What's up? Just take a seat, we'll get started in a minute." The teacher says. He grins a satisfying grin. He loves nothing more than greeting his students, seeing their faces every morning. A few minutes into the class, the teacher starts talking about a topic, but is interrupted by one of his students. He looks at them, waiting for them to speak. He hears the student out, listening to the argument the student is providing. The teacher nods. He does not tell the student to stop talking. He doesn't say "Shhh." He just nods. He listens to his heart's content. As that is what every teacher should do.
As of how to do it, it's very simple. Greet students with a bigger, brighter smile. Let students provide their side of the story. If a student is talking, don't stop them. Let them talk. Let them prove their point. If a teacher listens to their students more than they talk to them, both students and teachers will have the classroom they deserve.
Yes, our world is not a world in which everyone is at peace, and not everyone can be friends with everyone. All I'm asking is for a teacher to try. For a teacher to bond with a student and do all they can to form a relationship. A relationship, that, one should hope, is love. And if all a teacher yearns for is a silent classroom, they can't have love. They'll fall into a empty and hollow abyss, a black hole they can never exit. They won't find what they want to find in life. The truth is, if a teacher yearns for a silent classroom, the don't yearn for love. And if you don't yearn for the love of people, what will you achieve?
Nothing.
Silent classrooms are looked at as form of exceptional discipline, a way of learning. Teachers have to understand that their job is not always a one way route. The students learn from the teachers, but, more importantly, the teachers learn from the students. And teachers can not--no matter how hard they try--learn from their students if the students stay silent and listen to the teacher talk, the words slipping out of their mouth like empty, meaningless string. A string that never stops.
Eternity.
Love is not created through silence. Not in a classroom, no. Love is created through problems. Through conflict, through discussion.
Just recently, my dad and I had a discussion. It was late in the night, about 10:30 pm. We had nothing to do, so I suggested we go on a walk, just go twice around the neighborhood. My dad shrugged, agreeing. We got our sweaters, and opened the garage door. As I stepped outside, I felt an odd sense of warmth.
I learned a lot about my dad that night.
Of course, we talked before in my life, but talking to him that night made me feel closer to him. We talked about his childhood, about how he loved to play in the trees in the villages of where he lived. We talked about what happened in our daily lives, about our problems and our pet peeves. We formed love.
That kind of relationship can be formed in a classroom.
You just have to be willing to open your mouth.
Think about it. If a teacher doesn't let their student talk, how will they ever love their students? Yes, teachers need some peace and quiet in the classroom to get work done, but if a teacher doesn't like their students talking, then why would students want to learn? Whether students like a class or not does depend on the student, but it really depends on the teachers themselves, the classroom environment, and the bond between each teacher and each student. Most of the time, that bond doesn't exist. When a teacher greets a student, it's a very empty "Hi." It's a very hollow smile. It's a very forced expression. If a class is like that, a student will never learn. No matter how hard a teacher says they are trying. In fact, if a student doesn't like a teacher's class, the teacher isn't trying. They're not doing all they can to get to know a student.
The bell rings. A student knows he's late, so he picks up the pace.When he reaches the classroom, he sees the teacher waiting at the door, and the teacher sticks out his hand and gives the student a high five. "Hey! What's up? Just take a seat, we'll get started in a minute." The teacher says. He grins a satisfying grin. He loves nothing more than greeting his students, seeing their faces every morning. A few minutes into the class, the teacher starts talking about a topic, but is interrupted by one of his students. He looks at them, waiting for them to speak. He hears the student out, listening to the argument the student is providing. The teacher nods. He does not tell the student to stop talking. He doesn't say "Shhh." He just nods. He listens to his heart's content. As that is what every teacher should do.
As of how to do it, it's very simple. Greet students with a bigger, brighter smile. Let students provide their side of the story. If a student is talking, don't stop them. Let them talk. Let them prove their point. If a teacher listens to their students more than they talk to them, both students and teachers will have the classroom they deserve.
Yes, our world is not a world in which everyone is at peace, and not everyone can be friends with everyone. All I'm asking is for a teacher to try. For a teacher to bond with a student and do all they can to form a relationship. A relationship, that, one should hope, is love. And if all a teacher yearns for is a silent classroom, they can't have love. They'll fall into a empty and hollow abyss, a black hole they can never exit. They won't find what they want to find in life. The truth is, if a teacher yearns for a silent classroom, the don't yearn for love. And if you don't yearn for the love of people, what will you achieve?
Nothing.
Silent classrooms are looked at as form of exceptional discipline, a way of learning. Teachers have to understand that their job is not always a one way route. The students learn from the teachers, but, more importantly, the teachers learn from the students. And teachers can not--no matter how hard they try--learn from their students if the students stay silent and listen to the teacher talk, the words slipping out of their mouth like empty, meaningless string. A string that never stops.
Eternity.
Love is not created through silence. Not in a classroom, no. Love is created through problems. Through conflict, through discussion.
Just recently, my dad and I had a discussion. It was late in the night, about 10:30 pm. We had nothing to do, so I suggested we go on a walk, just go twice around the neighborhood. My dad shrugged, agreeing. We got our sweaters, and opened the garage door. As I stepped outside, I felt an odd sense of warmth.
I learned a lot about my dad that night.
Of course, we talked before in my life, but talking to him that night made me feel closer to him. We talked about his childhood, about how he loved to play in the trees in the villages of where he lived. We talked about what happened in our daily lives, about our problems and our pet peeves. We formed love.
That kind of relationship can be formed in a classroom.
You just have to be willing to open your mouth.
Very powerful message Nihar. Dialogue can open doors to so many rich opportunities - both from a learning and emotional perspective. Thank you for sharing your thinking!
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