They aren't saints!

Well, I've came across this blog, http://rateyourstudents.blogspot.com/ yesterday and out of curiosity, I checked it out( that's a catchy title, no?)

It is actually a place where college lecturers/professors rant about their students and how frustrating it is to teach (It is exactly what we students do, just the other way around)
Reading their posts allowed me to see things from the other side; the tutors' point of view.

I'm sure at some point of our lives, we have criticized/condemned about a certain teacher (have to admit, I did that all the time); complained about their ways of teaching, them giving too 'much' homework etc...

But how many of us actually 'tried' to see from their perspective? ( I mean really taking some time off and sincerely putting yourself in their shoes instead of just saying "I tried")

There are paperwork, homework-checking, co-curricular activities, setting up exam papers(for both public and school exams) and not to forget, marking them. Sometimes, they have to attend courses on the new marking scheme and stuff too.

Then there are those meetings with the unruly superior(the higher-ups) and also with mean parents who plays the blame game. Many parents think that it's the responsibilities of the teachers if anything goes wrong while in reality, children only spend certain hours in school and MOSTLY at home. Those ignorant parents should realize that teachers only serve as a guide, and it is in actuality the parents' duty to teach their children rights from wrongs; and to instill moral values in them. Parents are the one who plays a crucial role to determine that their children would grow up to be wise men.

Some parents' mindset of 'those who can't do, *teach*' only made it worse because they already presumed that teachers are not 'smart' enough or good enough to teach their child( a factor contributing to the blaming game and also discourage the co-operation between parents-teachers)

With so much pressure of getting their job done with insufficient time ( that includes finishing the syllabus) and also uncooperative parents(higher-ups too) could be too much to bear.
The public view of teaching as a 'low-class' profession and their lack of respect for teachers is very demoralising as well.

While the fact that some teachers are not taking their job seriously cannot be denied, most of them have tried their best although the best might not be good enough( there are similarities between being a teacher and being a parent in a sense)

It's all trial and error in parenting. And it is the same trial and error principle used by teachers for teaching. After all, you wouldn't know what actually works before you try it, right? So, should the parents be so hard on the teachers who has been trying so hard, giving their everything when they made some minor mistakes? They are only human, just like you and me....

And one cannot expect teachers to sacrifice it all on one student (unlike in movies where teachers would even quit their job and sacrifice everything they have for the sake of the students)
They also got their own family to support and mouth to feed!
So, that kind of expectations might be rather selfish, ain't it?
It is not like they don't care about their students, but teaching some might prove to be quite a challenge (what's more with them being stubborn and unappreciative)

Instead of being judgmental, parents should try to be more involved in the education of their children and offer their support as well as cooperation to the teachers. They could also give their opinions and ideas on how certain things can be improved. There won't be any good done by playing the blame game but by working together, so much can be done(in the positive light). And it's going to benefit everyone; parents, teachers and students