It is common knowledge that many young people have low self-esteem, often questioning their ability to overcome challenges. Nevertheless, teachers are thought to deeply influence their students, contributing not only to their academic success but also to their emotional well-being. But do teachers actually believe that they can have a long-lasting impact on the lives of their students?
Psychologist Julius Segal, in looking at what helps children overcome adversity, wrote that “one factor turns out to be the presence in their lives of a charismatic adult—a person from whom they gather strength. And in a surprising number of cases, that person turns out to be a teacher.”
Broadly defined, a teacher is an individual employed in educational institutions responsible for guiding students towards achieving cognitive, sensory, and behavioral objectives within the framework set by the educational system. However, in contemporary times, it is widely believed that the role of a modern teacher transcends this conventional definition.
So what exactly does that mean? Above all, it means that teachers should never minimise the role they play in influencing students’ lives. Their impact involves not only the teaching of particular academic skills but, as importantly, the fostering of student self-esteem. Teachers should constantly communicate to students that mistakes are part of the learning process and that no student should ever feel embarrassed to ask questions if they do not understand something. Such strategies for reinforcing self-esteem in the classroom are often associated with increased motivation and learning.
Teaching is much more complex than explaining abstract concepts and giving assignments; it’s taking a step back and evaluating your goals and the manner in which you present yourself to students. In order to minimise their fear of making mistakes and feeling humiliated, teachers should always ask themselves whether their teaching style allows for an environment where confidence can be reinforced or an environment that may actually impede the growth of confidence.
Why is that so important? Because self-esteem can eventually enable students to handle setbacks with ease. Instead of being crippled by failure, resilient children get up quickly, learn from their mistakes, and try again. They accept that failure is a part of life and take more chances as a result, which makes them even more successful later in life.
Overall, a friendly and helpful teacher may enhance students’ self-esteem, leading to improved confidence and belief in their talents. When teachers trust in their students' abilities and convey high expectations, students are more likely to thrive academically. A negative or unsupportive attitude, on the other hand, might undermine students' self-esteem and reduce their enthusiasm to actively participate in the learning process. Thus, attitudes among teachers influence students' general well-being, academic achievement, and personal development in a more significant way than we could have ever imagined.
Bibliography:
How Teacher Personality and Style Affects the Growth of Self Confidence- https://www.naset.org/publications/classroom-management-series/series-ii-archive/series-ii-step-5-how-teacher-personality-and-style-affects-the-growth-of-self-confidence
The Impact of Teachers: A Story of Indelible Memories and Self-Esteem- https://www.ldonline.org/ld-topics/teaching-instruction/impact-teachers-story-indelible-memories-and-self-esteem
Impact of Teachers’ Attitude On Self-Esteem of Undergraduate Students- https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/impact-of-teachers-attitude-on-self-esteem-of-undergraduate-students/pdf
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