“Teachers versus Students” is an article designed to explore the concept of a learning teacher. The article will guide you in determining whether you are a teacher and then delve into the requirements of being a teacher who remains a learner while teaching others. With that introduction, let’s dive in.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A TEACHER?
Teachers are individuals eager to share their knowledge. They are born with this inclination, much like leaders. While one can learn and improve teaching skills, becoming a teacher is not merely a matter of learning; it’s an inherent trait.
If someone is not naturally inclined to teach, they may enter the profession due to external pressures such as financial incentives, family expectations, or social circles. These factors, combined with the need for survival, can drive individuals to pursue various paths, which is perfectly acceptable.
Consider someone ordained as a pastor, yet it’s not their true calling. As circumstances evolve, they will eventually find their rightful place. Such an individual will likely abandon the pastoral path upon discovering their true passions. Indeed, people can be coerced into roles they do not resonate with. However, there’s always a predominant aspect in one’s life.
For instance, I embody multiple roles, yet teaching consistently emerges as my central pursuit. Despite being a web designer, motivational speaker, writer, international author, and ICT consultant, and even though some may refer to me as a pastor, it is teaching that remains my core focus.
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Some may perceive me as religious, which I accept, but I identify more as a philosopher than a theologian. My fundamental values are Freedom, Awareness, Uniqueness, Learning, and Openness (FAULO).
I appreciate when someone challenges my views, particularly on abstract knowledge, indicating my open-mindedness, unlike many religious instructors. I believe that our understanding of God and the spiritual realm is constrained by our physical existence. Indeed, teachers are born, not merely created.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A STUDENT?
Being a student is synonymous with being a learner. At the age of 15, I learned that a student is typically someone enrolled in a higher education institution, like a college or university. This illustrates how words can have varying meanings to different individuals. I was informed that a young boy or girl should be referred to as a pupil, not a student.
I held a similar perspective, shaped by my own experiences regarding what defines a student. I believed a student to be exceptionally clever, sharp-minded, or intelligent, influenced by the way teachers presented the term. This perception instilled a sense of pride in me when I became a student later in life.
However, a student is fundamentally a learner or a follower. The disciples of Jesus were his students in that they were his followers and learners, with Jesus as their teacher. In today’s world, there are numerous leaders and teachers. A student, or learner, can study any subject, which implies that learning is limitless. Teachers themselves are perpetual students because without continuous learning, they would have nothing to impart.
If you are currently learning something, then you are a learner, a student. This holds true even for teachers, who must continually pursue knowledge.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A LEARNING TEACHER?
As previously stated, we are all learners. Whether mastering reading and writing or cultivating positive thinking, we remain students. We might be acquiring a new language or learning to sing. Regardless of the subject, we are students. To be a learning teacher is to stay informed with the latest essential human knowledge and wisdom. Indeed, human wisdom is imperfect, and human knowledge is riddled with biases and mistakes. Yet, through continuous learning, we stay updated.
Online learning platforms have incorporated four methods into their systems: listening, watching, doing, and reading. While the eye is responsible for both reading and watching, these represent distinct approaches to absorbing information.
A web search on ‘teachers vs students’ might yield surprising results. However, online discourse on this topic appears limited, with only a handful of related videos and games, primarily on Facebook.
Additionally, our minds, these spiritual entities, interpret the information received through our eyes. Our ears are not only for watching but also for listening to audio messages. Our hands, or any other part of the body involved in learning, transmit this information to our brains. Our brains serve merely as receivers for our souls, spirits, minds, and hearts. It’s important to note that spirit, soul, mind, and heart are considered the same non-material aspects of humans and animals alike.
While some religious teachers may contest this view, the certainty of animals lacking spirits, souls, minds, and hearts is not absolute. They possess these qualities. This is why all animals are believed to communicate with God, although that is a topic for another time. If you’re interested in discussing the souls of animals further, we can explore that subject.
The article on teachers versus students is insightful. Would you like to delve deeper into the topic of teachers versus students in future discussions? Your input on these significant questions in the comments section is invaluable.
Teachers are perpetual learners. They are exemplary students, even outside the classroom. Indeed, the concept of learning needs redefining. Learning isn’t confined to school premises; it’s a fundamental aspect of all life. Parasites adapt to combat medications. Microbes, wombs, insects, plants, birds, reptiles, and fish—all are capable of learning. The process of learning is continuous for both animals and humans.
WISDOM FROM JOHN MONYJOK MALUTH
Here is my concluding advice for you, dear reader. Firstly, thank you for engaging with my words to this point. Secondly, balance is essential in all aspects of our earthly existence. We may not know much now, as much as we are known, but perhaps one day, we will understand everything.
This signifies that whether we are teachers continually learning, or students persistently studying, we are all human. What binds us together is our shared humanity. I trust this article has been of personal benefit to you. Please feel free to share your reflections in the comments section below.
