Teachers as Rolemodels

With stacks of papers to grade, classrooms to manage and maintain, and all kinds of administrative duties, teachers already have lots to do. With all of this work on their plate, do teachers have the responsibility to be good role models? Yes!! Of course they do! This reminds me of something that one of my professors at Touro College always said, " in loco parentis." I'm sure some of you have heard this before but for those of you who haven't, it means "in place of a parent." As teachers, that is exactly what we are. We are their parent figure during their time at school. Many times, students even spend more time with us in school than they do with their actual parents. For this reason, it is vital that we act as a good role model for these children, teaching them how to be successful and how to be respectful citizens in society. Not only do children spend a lot of time with their teachers, but some of them even look at school as an escape from their home life because they are not receiving the attention they need at home, family issues, etc.

As early childhood educators, we are one of the first people to influence our students and start them on a path to a successful future. We will make a huge difference in their lives because education is a part of people for as long as they live. As a teacher, it is important that we treat each student as if they are our own and guide them to reach their full potential. It is also important that we make them comfortable enough to look up to us because we are one of the only influential people in their lives.
Of course teachers have a lot of duties, but they also have the responsibility to be a good role model. Teachers are human so it is only normal that they sometimes feel stressed. Especially in today's school system where teachers are expected to do a lot of paperwork, a teacher can become very overwhelmed. However, it is important that teachers put this stress behind them when they walk into the classroom and do solely what they are there to do - teach our future generations. However, I do feel that this comes natural to most teachers, especially those who really do feel like teaching is their calling. There is a time and place to wear your heart on your sleeve, but the classroom is not it. A classroom is supposed to be a positive and comfortable enviornment for our students. It' a place where our students can open up and be the best they can be. We must model good behavior because modeling is a very important teaching tool. When we model, we are showing the students what is expected of them and giving them an example of how to do something appropriately. As a teacher, we have to model appropriate behavior for our students and be a good role model so that they grow up to be successful and be the best person they can be. Isn't that our ultimate goal, anyway?

Despite all of the time consuming work that we have, as teachers, it is vital that we put that stress behind us and do what matters most, and that is to teach our future generations. We must remember that these students look up to us teachers because we are an important part of their lives. They spend 6-8 hours a day with us in school, more than they spend with many other people in their lives (besides their parents/guardians, of course). Not only do we prepare them academically, but we also prepare them to live in society.  Educators are responsible for stepping into a classroom and putting on a smile, being positive, and guiding their students to make the best decisions possible.  Any outside distractions should not be brought into the classroom.  Students need to feel safe and like family in the classroom setting.