Responsibilities of a teacher transcend the act of merely passing on knowledge and disciplining students. A proactive teacher can direct a student to lead a fulfilling life that can go beyond a successful career. Read on to know about the several responsibilities a teacher needs to fulfill.

If you thought a teaching job was a cakewalk, think again! The responsibilities and duties of a teacher are many and varied. Teachers act as facilitators for incorporating and encouraging intellectual and social development in the formative years of a student’s life. The emphasis that education helps uplift someone socially, intellectually, emotionally, and personally is what a teacher fosters in children all through preschool, high school and college. A preschool teacher plays a pivotal role in a child’s development, and although, the role of a preschool, high school and a college teacher may differ to meet specific age and subject criteria, it cannot be argued that the duties and responsibilities of a teacher will always remain the same.

Towards Themselves

• To be a teacher out of choice, and not by default.
• To acquire relevant professional education and training to get the right concepts of teaching.
• Honesty and sincerity towards the profession.
• Accept that being a teacher does not make you a ‘know-it-all’; so it’s important to become a partner in the learning cycle with the students.
• Accept that no two students will think, act and react alike, and respect that diversity.
• Upgrade knowledge and learn new ways of teaching.
• Avoid indulging in unethical behavior, and at all times maintain the dignity of a teacher-student relationship.

Towards Students

• Inculcate model behavior and mannerisms by self example.
• Prepare long-term teaching programs and daily lessons in accordance with the guidelines of the school’s education system.
• Provide activities and materials that engage and challenge the students intellectually.
• Understand and implement the use of information technology in lesson preparation and teaching.
• Shift between formal and informal methods of teaching, like debates, discussions, practical activities, experiments, projects and excursions.
• Plan, set and evaluate grade test, exams and assignments.
• Supervise student conduct during class, lunchtime and other breaks.
• Understand the diverse background students come from, their strengths, weaknesses and areas of interest.
• Be honest in student appraisal and avoid favoritism.
• Enforce discipline by firmly setting classroom rules.
• Resolve conflict among students by encouraging positive debate.
• Be ready to adjust teaching styles to meet individual needs of students.

Towards Parents

• Keep parents well-informed about their ward’s progress.
• Take time out to discuss an issue, or a problematic behavior.
• Encourage parents to promote various diverse interests of their children.
• Inform parents about after-school activities like excursions, meetings, as well as detention.
• Keep the parent feedback journal updated.
• Encourage parent participation in parent-teacher meets.
• Finally, work with parents for the betterment of their child’s future.

Towards Management

• Actively involve in staff meetings, educational conferences, and school programs.
• Voluntarily participate in organizing sporting events, and other excursions like camping trips, picnics, educational tours, etc.
• Maintain a healthy relationship with all teaching and non-teaching staff members.
• Help out in formulating school policies.
• Carry out administrative duties relevant to your position in the school.

In an emerging world, responsibilities of an educator have increased several folds. From being a person who just imparts bookish knowledge, an educator now has the power to shape a better world for the students and empower them with knowledge to take on the world!

By: Myrna A. Marquez | Teacher III | Bangal Elementary School | Dinalupihan