"I have come to a frightening conclusion. I am the decisive element in the classroom. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher I possess tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor; hurt or heal. In all situations it is my response that decides whether crisis will be escalated or de-escalated, and a child humanized or dehumanized."
--- Dr. Haim Ginott, Between Teacher and Child.
This quote has such a powerful meaning that we usually wouldn't recognize. We all have our good days and our bad days. But it's how we react to the bad days in front of children who are so impressionable that makes the difference. How do you feel about this quote?
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5 comments:
I have definitely had some bad personal days while I have been working with children, but I've always covered up my frustrations and anxiety and was always happy and pleasant with my students. You have to learn to push through that and teach as you would any other day. Nothing is worse then taking your personal frustrations out on a child.
This quote is so true. As teachers we really possess the power to make a child's life "miserable or joyous" especially when children don't have it easy at home. The other people they look forward to being with is their teachers so we really need to remember how important our job is and how we can take charge of our day by doing our best and making the best out of challenging circumstances.
This quote is absolutely amazing! In the beginning of my Junior Field I was really struggling with what emotions to show or not to show. Many times a teacher can be having a horrible day or he/she can be feeling exhausted, however if the students can pick up on this it can result in a negative climate within the classroom. As teachers we all have the power to make our students worlds or classrooms a happy, safe, and educational one.
I think that this quote is important, especially to us doing our Junior Field, just beginning to realize what being a teacher is about. I remember how when I was a student, the teacher's attitude, whether over the entire year or just that period, would have a direct effect on us students. Knowing that, I do my best to project a positive attitude in the classroom.
This is such a powerful quote because it really makes you realize how much power teachers possess. With that power, comes the responsibility of not misusing that power. Not only can teachers do great things, but they unfortunately can also cause a child pain. As a teacher, I know that I will take the positive road in any situation. The thought of hurting, embarrassing, or making a child's life miserable is totally unacceptable. No matter how bad of a day I might be having, I know that it must be left outside the classroom. I want all my students to have a good feeling about coming into the classroom. Creating a safe and positive classroom climate is of great importance to me. Teaching students is a privilege, and I would never do anything to compromise the integrity and well being of the students, no matter what personal problems or stresses I might be faced with. Inside the classroom, it's all about the students and their needs. Our purpose as teachers is to help, not hurt.
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