It is not only the knowledge and personality of teachers that affect students’ learning, or the different approaches and strategies that they use in the classroom. A growing number of researchers consider spiritual intelligence to be a critical component of effective teaching, teachers’ leadership and students’ learning.

But what is “Spirituality?” According to Cacciope(2000), this is a broad term with no generally agreed upon definition. He conceptualizes spirituality as the discovery of a meaning, a value, or a purpose for one’s life and work. He further said that it is a part of humanity’s going on search for meaning and purpose embodied in a super rational being or a force greater than the self.  On the other hand, Fullan (2002), stated that spirituality involves identifying a moral purpose for our lives that will connect principled behavior to something that is greater than we are. What might be the connections between teachers’ perceptions of themselves or identity as spiritual beings and leaders and their dispositions of honesty, truthfulness and fairness in dealing with others, humility, modesty in behavior and attitude and a genuine willingness to learn, and a commitment to service to others (assisting or benefiting others) Researchers believe that these dispositions are essential to the effective operation of an organization, such as the school. Teachers should be able to identify their own spirituality and leadership.

Discussions of the relationship of teacher quality and student achievement have focused recently on the knowledge, skills and dispositions teachers bring to their work with students. It is not surprising that many teachers give importance solely to teaching competence in terms of the mastery of the subject matter and a demonstrable set of technical skills.. teachers must be equipped with professional knowledge, e.g., knowledge of subject matter, curriculum, and pedagogical skills, interpersonal knowledge, which reflects the teacher’s relationship with students, the community, and the educational community; and the interpersonal knowledge, which represents the teacher’s knowledge of self and commitment to an ethos of caring and disposition toward continuous learning which influence the teacher’s decision and has the greatest impact on students.

As teachers we must have a well-rounded personality, ready to be a good role model inside and outside of ourselves, that is when you will be classified as a teacher with “Spiritual Intelligence”

Reference:

Ozaki, M. Kobayashi,& Oku,T.(2008) Healthy Spirituality and genuineness: Journal of   International Society of Life Information Science.

 

By: MEL KATHLYN CAREL BASILIO | T-III | BATAAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, City of Balanga, Bataan