The impact of the “teacher” figure

The multifaceted role of a teacher & their impact, as seen by a student.

A teacher in this narrative could be any person who assists anyone in acquiring knowledge, learning, and growing. The term “teacher” is more of an umbrella term to an array of characters that falls under it. Grandparents, parents, qualified teachers, lecturers, instructors, tutors, coaches, and even Youtubers can be teachers. We might have already heard most reasons why teachers are so important in a person’s life, especially the classroom teacher. This is already existing knowledge, and all of it is available on Google, so repeating all the pros and cons would be a waste of time. And I am in no way a skilled expert to analyse the role of a teacher, so this is my observation of these figures in the Sri Lankan context.
The most common disparity we see in high-school teachers in Sri Lanka and the rest of the world is the lack of standards established into being a qualified educator. Excluding the professionals who have undergone years of training in teaching and understanding child psychology. I’ll share a personal experience to back up my discussion. Coming from an affluent girls’ school in Colombo 7, anyone would assume the school to be infested with teachers of high standards and regulated teacher’s qualifications before being accepted as a teacher. Though in most instances, they did have proper qualifications, some were seriously questionable. Back when I was in the sixth-grade music class, we spent most of the period listening to the teacher’s life rants. One thing I learned from her was, the sole reason she became a teacher was because she was fed up with her 9 to 5 job as a banker. This is the leading factor which makes many people become teachers. Not the liking towards their profession or children. Short working hours, extended holidays, a carefree lifestyle, a considerably good salary are all tempting in the long run for many people. Then there were the teachers who had absolutely no sense of empathy. The teaching role for them was just another job that pays well, with linear schedules. They maintained a poker face and an IDGAF attitude; they will slap you in the face and drag you by the pigtails if you ever dare to question them, even on subject matters. Another such instance was when I was doing my A/Ls, and one of the teachers left the school to pursue her Master’s abroad; at least, that’s what she told us. A month later, she was featured in a leading International school’s monthly newsletter as the head principal (age 25). Showcasing networking in the form of being one of N. Grero’s exes would prove out to be highly beneficial. During my school years, my parents’ schooling years, and even today, we hear numerous encounters of incompetent educators taking the role of being a mentor to children. The mere fact of excelling in a specific subject field has earned them their occupation, but certainly not the skills to be working with highly susceptible minds. For some children, their childhood tyrant could have been a self-centred teacher. I met many incompetent teachers in my school days growing up, which led me to have little to no respect towards many. Another thing I observed mainly in Lankan schools is favouritism. This is not the innocent act of a teacher taking an interest in a student, but when the parents interfere with a child’s education to gain special treatments. I have no clear insight into how things function in government sector schools but in private and International schools, let’s just say the teachers are easily buyable, which is a tragic situation in itself. This was very prevalent in my school, where we witnessed moms waiting by the gate all day until they can ambush an unsuspecting teacher and bribe them with shiny goodies and candies to get their child to the choir team or the prefects guild.
Another aspect that is very noticeable among all the educators I have met with is the superior role they strictly maintain — the yearning to be called with respect and a title. Miss, Sir, Madam, Mr., etc, must be added if one needs not be punished. The sad part about this whole ordeal is them associating respect with a title. It is not the title that earns them respect; it is their behaviour. As the quote implies, “You can’t ask for respect. You have to earn it”. Referring to educators with a title may be a form of respect for some, but it only creates a gap between the two parties. It makes you see them as your superior, makes it harder for us, as students to freely communicate. Students naturally become more well-mannered, aware of what they do because the educator’s title is embedded in the student’s mind. This was very apparent to me with the teacher-student relations I had with the Lankan tutors versus foreign tutors. The foreign tutors were adamant about us calling them by their name without any titles, and even if by mistake we did call them sir or madam, they would be quick to correct us as not to do it again. This might be a personal preference but, it does make a world of a difference. Even if the educator or mentor was of several years (around 2 years) difference, and if they still insist us to call them by a title, there would be an instant rift between the student and the teacher. It is inevitable. The words, acts are all filtered, censored, and discreet around such people. Even be it the title of “Akka” and “Ayya”. There were many acquaintances in the University premises that insisted on being referred to as “Akka, Ayya” and for them, a young person referring them by their name was like a stab to the heart. While at the same time I met those who insisted on being called by their names, regardless of the age differences. This instantly creates a bond and a feeling of trust. I have noticed I’m much more comfortable and gravitate towards people who are like the latter example (and to say adios to the former category). A personal observation is — there’s a significant change in the way we treat people once we start to call them by a name other than their birth name. If we’re on a first-name basis, many people feel comfortable opening up, because now you get to see them more as a friend than a superior.
This brings me to the present context of educators I’m surrounded with. In the short time that I encountered educators after high-school, I came across a whole variety of teachers. But most of the encounters were brief and some might not even know of my existence. But a recent encounter that I faced in the University premises, literally made me question the mentality of certain so-called instructors and the eligibility, standards set for them to be in a position of a teacher. One of such not-so-pleasant encounters in the past year written with a fairy tale element (originally posted on IG) as not to expose them and get me in trouble. In this story, there are people of three tiers. First-tier compromising of the well-established members, second-tier — the ones who are trying to reach the established position within the institute.
“Oompa Loompas lived amongst the demonic Wonka Wannabes on a faraway Candy land. It was yet another scorching hot weekday in the Chocolate factory. A little fun fact about Natalia, She loves to mind her fucking business, stay away from drama, but the world is like, “Nope, not today!”. As customary, she was summoned to the chocolate factory because a new potion master came to prepare the young Loompas for the finals. The day was filled with anxiety, and all the Loompas were murmuring potions equations, trying their very best to not fail the potion class. This wannabe Wonka, let’s say, was… interesting. Although she loves to mind her fucking business, Natalia sometimes can’t, not because she doesn’t want to, but she just genuinely can’t. Natalia was to take care of the potion equipment that day; did she ask to do it? No. Did she have to? YES. Natalia had absolutely no idea about this potion equipment. Why, you may ask? Well, let’s just say that the wannabe potion’s master was not of the best in terms of his appointed task. But ask Natalia anything about this wannabe Wonka’s liking to make potions with naked Oompa Loompas and Wannabe Wonka’s mini version; she would respond with the most accurate data. Rewind to mid-day when the wannabe Wonka ordered Natalia to fix his broken cauldron. Natalia, not knowing how to do it (and she had enough reasons as not to know), asked the help of one of her fellow potion experts, Loompa. Little did Natalia knew how this triggered the Wonka wannabe. Wonka Wannabe stared at Natalia; if looks could kill, Natalia would have been ten feet under! And as all the Loompas watched, the Wannabe Wonka started to turn beet red and mustered up the words, “wHy DiD yOu Do tHaT!?” as he stormed off, leaving a trail of smoke behind him. 15 mins later, wannabe Wonka approached the unsuspecting Natalia in a corner, got real close to her face, smiled showing all his rotting teeth and asked more like rhetorically.
“i SaW wHaT yOu DiD tHeRe!
aRe YoU dUmB?
dO yOu EvEn sPeAk EnGlIsH?
hOw dId YoU eVeN gEt In To tHe cHoColAtE FaCtOrY!?
yOu WiLl NoT LaSt A dAy In tHe WoNkA sTuDioS!!”
-Exits Natalia crying — “

The verbal encounter we had (by we had, I mean he talked and I listened) was by no means exaggerated; in fact, it was downplayed. Which in some ways contributed to have an outlook of disappointment towards the “teachers” the institute continues to bring in. This was not the only time “Natalia” ended up crying due to incompetent instructors in the one year of university she endured (the fact that these incidents happen alone would be sufficient to create an overall impression of educators usually). As per any topic of conversation, there’s both the good and the bad. The yin and the yang, that balances out everything. There’s an abundance of good mentors that can outnumber the bad encounters. Something we often disregard is that just because one has several academic qualifications or years of expertise in a field, that doesn’t naturally qualify them to be teachers. But it is, unfortunately, the main deciding factor when accepting mentors or educators to a certain institute. An educator can be equipped with multiple MSc’s and Ph.D.’s, 100 years of working experience, and a whole list of LinkedIn credentials and yet make a whole classroom fall asleep with one speech. At the end of the day, these educators though they have fountains of knowledge and wisdom, their incapacity to teach is what I see as the overall incompetence of an educator. There are many teacher figures, mentors that I met along the way that completely changed my perspectives, views, and outlooks on life, and most of them to this day might not know the impact they had on me by their mere existence.

In conclusion, it is evident that anyone could be a teacher, educator, or mentor. It isn’t the academic qualifications that make anyone fit to be a teacher but the unorthodox methods one uses to teach so the students get to actually learn, rather than be a seat filler. The ability for an educator to be more empathetic and look beyond the paradigms of the teacher role he/she is playing. The role played by a teacher doesn’t have to be conventional, it is multi-faceted. A common misjudgement of teachers is underestimating the students. Most of the errors on a teacher’s part occur because they don’t believe their students have the capacity to understand just as much as they can. Every small thing an educator or a teacher figure does is very obvious to a student. What they forget is, they just have one pair of eyes on a whole class versus a dozen of curious and analytical eyes on one person. A video that explains these roles clearly is What makes a good teacher great? | Azul Terronez | TEDxSantoDomingo.

A Balanced state of Mind

In recent years minimalistic lifestyle reached an unexpected peak due to the major boost it was given by western media. With the introduction of the Konmari method in 2014 to the Western states, there was a significant hike in people’s inclinations to incorporate a minimalistic approach in their day-to-day lives. Though the minimalism movement was utilized in most households, it was chiefly through materialistic aspects. De-cluttering, becoming less attached to corporealities, etc. In the process of minimalism presenting to the Western world, the essence of the practice was lost, and a form of gentrification can be seen in the viewing patterns of minimalism and how at present it has become an ideal state of living to flaunt rather than to indulge in for inner-most peace. The discipline of minimalism has become a source for clickbait, increased views, and a romanticized concept. In the discussion of minimalism, it is to be noted that there is a diverse pool of ways one can express minimalism. Be it through their art, architecture, designing style, lifestyle, mindset, fashion sense, etc. There are so many potentialities on how one can incorporate minimalism into their lives, but out of them, the minimalistic lifestyle is one of the categories that has undergone a lot of transformation from its original teachings.

The origin of minimalism dates back to the unrecorded days of Eastern history. Minimalism, as we know it today, is commonly known as a state of Zen living. Zen lifestyle which derives from the teachings of Mahayana Buddhism does not carry religious ideologies, but it is more of a philosophy or a way of conscious living. Taoism accompanied by Xuanxue is believed to be derived from the original teachings of Zen Buddhism. One can argue that Zen living and Taoism are all religious dogmas but another can counter-argue that both can be perceived as philosophies as well. Minimalism, Zen, Taoism in hindsight seems like three dissimilar teachings since they have three distinct names, yet all share the same introspect on life. Which is to be in-tune with one’s emotions, inner peace, spirituality, inner balance and to be one with nature. The minimalism taught in western practices focuses mainly on de-cluttering the living space and one’s surrounding as it is directly related to creating a parallel with the state of one’s mind to the environment one lives in. This is like the iceberg model and is not a long term solution. As the Chinese would say, there needs to be Yin and Yang for balance. Focusing on de-cluttering alone will not give the same yield as living a wholly zen lifestyle accompanied by an equal mindset.

On the topic of Yin and yang philosophical pedagogy, the Chinese teach the duality in everything around us. There is a duality in the Sun and the moon, night and day, climates, seasons, emotions, and temperaments of man. This duality creates a much-needed balance. The co-existence of both carnivores and herbivores creates a balance in nature and the eco-system. The weeds would not be overflowing as a result of herbivores and the plants will not go extinct as a result of carnivores consuming the herbivores creating a balance in population. This is better explained scientifically through Darwin and his theories. If Earth was to be covered in greenery, which is what some global warming activists view as an ideal state, 70% to more land could go underwater due to floods and increased levels of rainfall. To balance this phenomenon, on the opposite side of the globe to rainforests we find desserts. Nature simply knows what’s best to maintain life on Earth by creating balance. The simplest of imbalances in nature can create long-lasting and detrimental consequences. This is why the conservation of wild parks, water parks, marshlands, and greenery is much needed. But the majority in the world have doubts or speculations when it comes to believing in certain notions. There are religious and spiritual extremists who completely contradicts the scientific findings and work according to the teachings of their religion, cult, spiritual leader, or intuition. Flat earthers, anti-vaxxers, maskholes all believe with the power of praying, manifesting, the belief of the divine, herbal, and organic lifestyle that they can achieve anything they desire. Then there are the scientific extremists, who solely function with facts and data. Even the thought of believing in the possibility of something existing beyond the scientific knowledge and understanding triggers them. To them, science is the almighty God of all answers. This too is very problematic. Whatever end of extremism you are in is unhealthy as it naturally creates an imbalance in one’s mindset. Being able to accept the unknown around us and not invalidating other possibilities can open up different opportunities as well as novel outlooks to the world around us. This brings me to the controversy around holistic medicinal practices which is highly scrutinized by the scientific medicinal field while it has attained a speculative narration during the process. Holistic practices, Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Ayurvedic medicine are considered to be a few of the most historically antiquated methods of medicinal practices known up to date and are termed as alternate medicinal practices as the western approach to ailments have become a high priority and the leading solution at present. Thanks to the new and improved technologies we cannot blatantly disregard the pivotal role western medicine has bestowed on humanity and to improve the overall living status of all living beings. Since medieval times there has been a decrease in mortality rates, total elimination from diseases that were once considered incurable such as smallpox. Though there’s a lot to be thankful for because of the new technological findings it should not be forgotten that there are still many deaths that occur as a result of prescribing the wrong medication, evaluating the ailment wrongly, overdosing, and many more other mishaps. One of the many reasons for this is the western practices solely depending on technologies for proper diagnosis. There are numerous instances when patients were put through faulty medical procedures, overdosed, or were prescribed improper medication due to an improperly evaluated scan, x-ray, blood checkup, or else. The doctors in most western practices take the least amount of time to get to know their patients to go through a lot in one day. This has created a quality over quantity atmosphere in hospitals which could lead to more complications than possible positive outcomes. The same applies to the context of veterinary care for animals. One of the main rationalizations for me to not pursue my dream of being a veterinarian might have occurred from the fact that there are more deaths a vet causes in their lifetime than the amount they cure. There were countless times that I have lost many of my beloved pets to wrongly prescribed medicine than of natural and timely deaths. Where in most instances I have gotten used to doing my own research and recovering them through natural means than opting for veterinary care which has elicited far more positive results especially when it comes to smaller animals like rodents, hamsters, rabbits, squirrels, and birds. Because of what we are exposed to through media it is natural of us to think badly of natural and holistic treatments. It is by no means saying that deadly pandemics like Covid-19 can be cured through holistic practices. The faith put on to alternative medicine has declined significantly due to people such as Dhammika Bandara who candidly share and spread their idiocracy which leads to people putting their blind faith in Dhammika Paniya, Rawana paniya, and such idiocracies.

One of the main teachings of holistic practices, TCM and Ayurveda are not only to prescribe a medicine for the injury or ailment but find the root causes behind it. Which is a total acknowledgment of the patient’s physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. The doctors take more time to understand the patient, their living situations, eating habits, and mental state which is very detrimental and easily neglected due to the fast-paced structure in western medicine. One of the best ways to explain the difference between these two practices is to imagine a context where a child is taken to see a western practitioner due to a stomach ache and the diagnosis would most probably be stomach flu, unhygienic eating patterns, or a worm disease. The child would get medication to cure the ailment but it would not heal with no given medications and the child would be continuously given medications that are not fit for his ailment. But if the child was to be taken to a holistic practitioner, the underlying condition for the incurable stomach ache would be diagnosed as anxiety. This would be treated considering the child’s psycho-social needs. Though this could be diagnosed by proper western practitioners, it would take them a trial and error period to get to the proper diagnosis. Likewise, it is important to see all the sides in every situation and context and to have a balanced outlook and mindset.

At the end of the day, what zen Buddhism, zen lifestyle, minimalism, Taoism, Jainism, holistic and other alternative medicinal practices all teach in its essence is the need to find one’s inner balance, harmony, peace by getting in touch with one’s intuition and nature. It is said in almost all ancient philosophies the only way a man can truly find himself and find inner peace is by tracing one’s steps to living a life aligning with nature. One thing that all these philosophies emphasize repeatedly is the need to get closer to nature, reduce screen time, have one-to-one connections, etc. Which reminds me of a book that I recently read on how we as humans have welcomed chaos into our lives. There are so many instances we hear of the negative repercussions of messing up our sleeping schedules, eating unhealthy food, using technology way too much, and so on. There must be countless times, our parents have preached this to us yet we ignore it because of the busy lives we have got used to. Yet, once I read that book, it was as if I finally came to my senses how we literally damage ourselves and then amidst all that yearns to find peace, happiness, and comfort. In brief, the book teaches on the ways one can re-trace their steps to rewire their brain to align with nature. Starting from sleeping patterns. With the over-consumption of technologies after nightfall and getting used to artificial luminescence, night-time has extended and we have gotten accustomed to sleeping till afternoon. This has messed up our natural circadian rhythm. This is quite comparable to the previous piece on the effects of the moon, night, and moonlight on our bodies. Next is seasonal foods. With the availability of all sorts of food throughout the year, we have gotten used to eating any food at any given time. But if we switch to eating seasonal foods this can naturally align our bodies to the proper seasons and environments around us, because at the end of the day we are a creation of nature itself.

In conclusion, it can be very beneficial for oneself to get in touch with nature and find themselves through a self-awareness journey. For this, the teachings of the above-mentioned philosophies and mindsets can appear as very helpful and enlightening as it not only teaches one to find yourself and to attract the things that matter to you the most but also teaches the necessity to let go. Letting go of things, people, emotions, and unhealthy desires. If it doesn’t benefit your heart, your soul, or your mind, it might not need a place in your life. These lifestyles teach extremely valuable life lessons such as the art of pausing. Pausing from everyday hectic work schedules, mundane routines, pauses from connections, relationships, and people. The necessity to find alone time, embrace uncertainty, silence, and freedom.

Concluding with one of the most memorable quotes from that book “If you don’t stop and pause, life will do it for you.”