Chapter 6: Role and Perception of Teachers

In Chapter 6, Spring drifts away focus from the core structure of school and its purpose to a more individualized emphasis, especially on the role of teachers. As women began to take on important roles within the developing nation, it was believed that women needed to assume the role of “republican mothers”. This eventually led to increased educational prospects for women. As more and more women were educated there was increased interest and demand for them to become teachers. Although a woman’s education was an important factor in her hiring, many believed that women were innately predisposed to be apt educators. This mindset greatly influenced what should be their main role within the classroom. Female teachers primarily had the responsibility to uphold moral values and were considered important role models for proper behavior. Although debate surged over the proper teaching technique, teachers were mainly “drillmasters” and “intellectual overseers” (p 147). More creative approaches emphasized learning through exploration for younger children instead of simple memorization; much like Jean Piaget’s constructivist approach of discovery learning.

Unfortunately, in our modern society, the thought that teachers are “paragon[s] of moral virtue” appears to be a far fetched assumption. Today, educators are often limited to teaching their students necessary information. Though there may be pros and cons in teachers having the power or liberty to inculcate moral or values, teachers aren’t held up to a high standard of conduct and morality. Horace Mann argued that “one could accept eccentricities in a friend but it becomes quite different, when the oddity or eccentricity, is a pattern or model, from which fifty or a hundred children are to form their manners” ( p 144). Our current view of teachers may have impacted and possibly caused the main problems teachers face today in the classroom. Students and parents no longer view teachers as an important influence in a child’s development, which causes lack of communication and , unfortunately, lack of respect.

Personally, I think there needs to be a renewed sense of what a teacher is and their importance. However, has our society evolved to the point where being teacher is just like any other profession? Are there tangible factors (e.g. salary) that has influenced this attitude?