SHENMO MOTTO: Virtue & Wisdom

Articles

Teachers--strict to themselves first, and then preaching to others

2019-03-04 丨

The writer is from the Ministry of culture development



 

Education is far more than just teaching knowledge in classes, it also involves the transmission of moral spirits; similarly, except teaching in class, teachers’ duty also includes exerting imperceptible moral influence on students. 
 
Teachers’ duties ≠ teaching. Knowledge in books is theoretical, which is the foundation of education; however, the words and deeds of teachers are like examinations, whose process is actually the effective way to test the harvest. Why is the saying--“like begets like"--propagated on such a large scale? Because we can see the moral trait, as well as the educational ways and styles of teachers from students.
 
 
Confucius was tireless in learning and teaching; therefore, he was versatile and knowledgeable, leaving far-reaching influence on students and later generations. It was said that Confucius enrolled three thousand disciples, including seventy-two sages.
 
But Confucius didn’t think so, saying: "Speaking of sacredness and benevolence, I don't deserve it! However, I am tireless in pursuing sacredness and benevolence, as well as teaching others.” Confucius took those who had knowledge he didn’t know as his teachers; therefore, he said "When I walk along with two others, one of them may surely serve me as my teacher. I will select their good qualities and follow them,
 
For teaching, he understood and was familiar with the personality and characteristics of students. On this basis, he adopted individualized educational methods according to the specific conditions of each student, and cultivated talents in various fields such as virtue, speech, politics, and literature.
 
He practiced what he preached to influence students with his exemplary behavior. He loved his students, and students respected him very much. The relationship between students and him was very harmonious.
 
“Strict to himself first, and then preaching to others" is undoubtedly appropriate for Confucius.
 
 
To impact students in a positive way, teachers should be honest, kind, tolerant and responsible,  with profound knowledge and great personality. The enthusiasm, sincereness, warmth and passion of teachers will turn into motivation, gratefulness, and appeal, through which teachers may infinitely approach the "heart" of students, make friends with students, and win the respect of them.
Teacher Deng Jia from Midong, Xinjiang shared a warm story: a kindergarten teacher occasionally came into contact with the mother of a little girl in her class. She was shocked at the first sight by the mother's disfigured face. The mother, however, still smiled, saying "You must be very scared. In fact, sometimes I was even scared by myself in the mirror. I was burned in a fire. After that, my life was changed.”
 
Hearing that, the teacher went back to the class and made a decision. She told the little girl that she would set up a small red flower table for her. “If you could hug and kiss your mother every night before going to bed, and then took a photo and send it to me, you will get a little red flower. If you could do that for a semester, you will be the child with the most red flowers in the class,” the teacher said.
 
The little girl was excited about that, and she did it afterwards.
 
After two months, the girl’s mother came to the teacher and said: “Thank you, teacher, I know you let my child did all this. She hug me every day, and let me feel the love of my families. Thank you.”
 
Education is the bridge between teachers and students. Teachers take ardent actions to educate students, and practice what they said. The kind action is not worth mentioning, but the way to pass on love is enough to make people remember for a lifetime. Good teachers bring students not only knowledge, but also the enlightenment of life.

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