Every teacher is a friend first

Showing Kindness And Empathy Is As Important As Imparting Knowledge

Topic
In your opinion, what is more effective for a teacher - being a practical educator or a
sensitive friend?

A friend in need
“During my journey as a teacher, I have had the opportunity to interact with students of different age groups. In all these enriching experiences, one thing has been constant - different children communicate differently. I believe that what differentiates a good teacher from a great one is the connection and compassion they share with students. A teacher must stand beside their students in times of crisis, guiding them like a true friend.”
Nivedita Verma, AIS Noida

Nurturing personal growth
“Being a sensitive friend to my pupils has made me realise that education is not about facts and figures but also  about nurturing personal growth. There are many benefits of being a sensitive friend. Learners are more likely to get engaged and motivated. They feel more comfortable in expressing their concerns and feelings. However, the best teachers are the ones who can combine the practical approach with sensitivity to create an environment that fosters happiness, academic growth, and emotional well-being.”
Geeta Joshi, AIS Gur 46

Assets for society
“Practical educators aim to prepare students to effectively navigate the challenges and demands of the real world by providing them with the tools they need to succeed in practical situations. On the other hand, a sensitive friend is someone who can offer emotional support in a compassionate and caring manner. I believe that an educator must be a blend of both. A teacher should be able to strike a balance and work on the pupils in such a way that they are equipped with academia and are also an asset to the society due to their virtues.”
Surinder Kaur, AIS Mohali

Relationship of trust
“Establishing a relationship of trust and friendship enables students to develop a bond with their teachers. Every year, several Special Education children enroll for the subject of Home Science. They often feel scared because no one makes the effort to listen to them. In such cases, by becoming their friend, I can understand their fears and at the same time, maneuver a strategy to help them overcome these fears. Teachers must make their students develop a character that would help them not only to excel in the chosen field but also make the world a better place.”
Anju Middha, AIS Gur 46

Nurturing human values
“In today’s fast-paced world, it is not a bad thing to be practical, but I personally believe that if I have chosen to be a teacher, and if I think that I am nurturing the future generations of our country, then it is my responsibility to be sensitive towards my students. When we become friends with our students, they not only study well, but they also imbibe better values.”
Sujata, Amitasha Saket

Tailoring teaching strategies
“I firmly believe in being friendly with my students because they are more likely to ask questions and take risks when they feel understood, valued, and supported. They seek clarifications and actively participate in discussions. By being a sensitive friend as a teacher, I can better understand the unique needs, strengths, and challenges of each student. This knowledge enables me to tailor my instructional strategies and provide personalised support. By creating a safe and nurturing environment, teachers can enhance students’ confidence, motivation and overall well-being. In an ideal scenario, a teacher can strike a balance between these two approaches.”
Bhawna Bhardwaj, AIS Vas 6

Understanding the balance
“Teaching is a profession which requires a blend of both head and heart. Practical education emphasises the importance of delivering knowledge and skills while the role of a sensitive educator is to provide emotional support. Both are equally important and complement each other.”
Parul Gupta, AGS Noida

Find a middle ground
“The most effective teacher often finds a middle ground, combining practicality and sensitivity. They adapt their approach to suit the needs of individual students and the context of the lesson. A practical educator should be able to recognise when a student requires emotional support while a sensitive friend should know when to provide clear guidance and academic structure. This holistic approach fosters well-rounded individuals.”
Meenakshi Dhawan, AIS Gur 43

Conversation is key
“This generation has no dearth of educators. Apart from school educators, they have private tutors, Google, ChatGPT etc., but what they all lack is a real connection. Teachers need to understand we can no longer ‘talk at’ but need to ‘talk with them’. We must recognise the value of relationship building, as this creates an environment of loyalty where we can suggest innovative ideas. A friendly teacher would listen deeply and motivate adroitly. In a world that is filled with judgements, this friend can provide solace.”
Manisha Batra, AIS MV

A congenial classroom
“An age-old predicament for teachers has been whether they should be friendly with their students or not. But in my opinion, being friendly with students definitely leaves a positive impact on their lives. It makes them less nervous in voicing their opinions and concerns. As I am a friendly person, my students always look up to me as a mentor and share their personal problems and dilemmas. I, too, have fond memories of teachers who helped me in my school days, and it automatically leaves a smile on my face.”
Sonia Rao, AIS Vas 1

Best of both worlds
“The effectiveness of a teacher lies in their ability to be both a practical educator and a sensitive friend. To inspire the students to grow academically while also helping them develop into well rounded individuals is a quality that a good teacher possesses. In fact, successful teachers strike a balance between these two roles and help their students reach their full potential.”
Priyanka Nayak, Amitasha Gur 46

Forming their individuality
“When a child feels overly stressed, s/he can choose a wrong path in life. Only a teacher has the sensitivity to guide the child and show them the true meaning of life as it is only in student life when one’s individuality is formed. From the values imparted at home to the ones provided by teachers and friends in school, all help to make the child a good citizen. If there is a need to develop sensitivity among students, we must show them the same kindness. If appropriate measures are taken, children will be raised to become caring, kind, compassionate, and egalitarian human beings.”
Amita Kushwah, AIS Gwalior

A supportive environment
“The advantages of the practical educator approach are evident as these fulfil the mission and vision of a school. Students benefit from a structured curriculum and gain a strong foundation in their studies. But this sometimes creates a rigid and monotonous environment. Hence, sensitive teachers create a nurturing and supportive classroom environment. With such teachers, students open up readily, showing acceptance for their weaknesses and find ways to work on them. Students who are otherwise vulnerable, feel valued, heard, and understood.”
Mili Garg, AIS VKC Lucknow

Show the way forward
“Sensitive teachers not only impart education; they also understand the students’ mental and spiritual growth. They acknowledge the feelings a child expresses, and they try to help as much as they can in finding solutions to problems. Since they show the way forward, a sensitive teacher is indeed a child’s best friend.”
Neelam Sharma, AIS Saket

Best role model
“The most effective teacher is one who can combine the elements of a practical approach with the qualities of a dear friend. Students think of their teachers as their role models and are inspired by them, hence it is imperative that teachers should be able to have qualities of both a practical educator and a sensitive friend.”
Sonia Gaur, Amitasha Noida

Don‘t take a binary approach
“The decision between taking a practical approach or being a sensitive friend is not a binary one. Skilled teachers understand the value of striking a balance between these two approaches, adapting their methods to suit the unique needs of each student and situation. They recognise that different students may require different levels of support and guidance, and they are able to adjust their teaching style accordingly. By combining elements of structure and discipline with empathy and understanding, teachers can create a dynamic and effective learning environment that promotes both academic achievement and personal growth.”
Geetika Nawani, AIS Saket

Weaker kids need attention
“A teacher should be sensitive towards his students, only then s/he will be able to treat everyone equally and will be successful in increasing self-confidence in all. Not every child is the same when it comes to academic progress. Hence, if special attention is not given to weaker children when they are in school, these children will not be able to survive in the future. Every teacher does the work of imparting education, but children remember those teachers throughout their life who have given them love and care.”
Dipti Singh, AIS Jagdishpur

All the experiences shared on page 9-10 are extracts from the winning essays penned by teachers as part of the sixth essay writing competition conducted under
the guidance of Chairperson, Amity Group of Schools & RBEF, Dr (Mrs) Amita Chauhan, on the special occasion of Teachers’ Day 2024.