Well hello, this is a completely new thing for me - so please don't judge my poor efforts too harshly.
As you know, I am a teacher. As a matter of fact I am a passionate teacher who believes 100% that, while we alone (in our profession) are not responsible for the wellbeing of future generations; because that is - or should be - the responsibility of the parents, we alone have, in recent times become more and more readily blamed for all the ills that befall this latest generation!
I suppose the big question is, is that perception justified?
Most people would lead off this conversation with, " Well, traditionally ........................... !" However, I have given this a bit of thought and have come to the conclusion that we cannot use that particular segway to move into a conversation which must by its nature look to the future for results. Suffice it to say that we all have a stake in the future of our generations, and indeed of our species.
So what should be the role of the Teacher in our society? I believe that there should be some clearly defined rules established so that everyone knows exactly what teachers must teach and what areas they must not go near. For example, I do not believe that sex education should be the role of a teacher. A teacher should teach biology at the appropriate juncture that the education curriculum dictates, and of course procreation would naturally be a part of that subject area. The personal, and intimate, part of growing up - including the individual, family and cultural aspects - should and must be the responsibility of the parents.
Discipline and (even though the 'social workers' in our society disagree) the general lack of respect for anything resembling authority, is a more contentious issue today than it has ever been. Why? Because when governments interfere with the rights of parents and schools to demonstrate any kind of respect, then we get what we asked for! I saw a 'classic' example of this recently with a 13 to 15 year old laughing in the face of a police officer and saying things like, "So what do you think you're gonna do? Arrest me? Go on, I dare you, arrest me!" and all the officer did was give the boy a look of disgust and walk away. We reap what we have sown!!
