Note From Editor: The writer here wrote a nice piece on the expanding roles of teachers, however it is too long for the front the page. To see the full story, please select “Discuss this story” below. Thanks – zolik
As I dipped my toes in education as a substitute teacher I noticed an apparent change in student- teacher relationships. As a student teacher my beliefs were confirmed. Teachers have evolved into much more than the supplier or facilitator of knowledge. Teachers have assumed many more personal, social serving roles. These new roles include, counselor, supporter and friend. My initial assumption was that this was based on the changing roles in society, and I still maintain this belief. The traditional “All American Family” does not exist as it once did. Many children are now being raised by a single parent or an alternate family member. Even in two parent homes, parents are often busy working.
The role of schools has also expanded. Before and after school programs have assumed parental responsibilities. As the needs of the students have changed so have the dimensions of schools. Working parents depend on programs like these to care for their children. Social pressure on working parents have placed more responsibilities on schools, teachers and children.
As I dipped my toes in education as a substitute teacher I noticed an apparent change in student- teacher relationships. As a student teacher my beliefs were confirmed. Teachers have evolved into much more than the supplier or facilitator of knowledge. Teachers have assumed many more personal, social serving roles. These new roles include, counselor, supporter and friend. My initial assumption was that this was based on the changing roles in society, and I still maintain this belief. The traditional “All American Family” does not exist as it once did. Many children are now being raised by a single parent or an alternate family member. Even in two parent homes, parents are often busy working.
The role of schools has also expanded. Before and after school programs have assumed parental responsibilities. As the needs of the students have changed so have the dimensions of schools. Working parents depend on programs like these to care for their children. Social pressure on working parents have placed more responsibilities on schools, teachers and children.
Teachers have assumed many parental functions. With all of the social plagues that are inflicted upon children, teachers are often left to fill in a void. Children are forced to endure divorce, separation, and death. Children spend a majority of time in school. Therefore, they often open up to their teachers. Statistically, one million children annually experience their parents divorce (Census 2000). Ameristat (2001) reports that with rising divorce rates and increasing postponement of marriage, single parent families and families headed by unmarried couples are prevalent. Further, from 1980- 1999 the number of children being raised by a single parent increased from 20% to 27% (Ameristat, 2000).
When I asked a teacher of 26 years if she felt her role as a teacher has changed, she replied “drastically”. As an experienced teacher in a suburban, New Jersey school district Jean has experienced many changes. She exclaims that lessons are often preceded by student problems. “They come to me to talk about their problems but due to the fact that they need me to talk to, other work gets set aside for later”. Behavioral problems accompanied by problems at home and school also impose on the daily curriculum. This is where the teacher takes on a role of much more than the facilitator of knowledge. Only after the problems are dealt with does the curriculum get “rushed in”. Jean further explained that children “generally come to school unfed, unprepared, tired, sick, and totally unmotivated.” “My role to my students is everything you could possibly think of, including teacher.” Jean’s role is quite apparent. She has paid for student lunches, fed students breakfast and listened to many student problems.
As teachers we need to be prepared and able to do more than teach. Our training needs to prepare us for the expansion of roles. We need to supply our students with a comfortable learning environment that will foster their creativity and stimulate their appetite for knowledge. In order to create this learning environment we need to allow students to express themselves and prepare for learning. Children are forced to face many societal infliction’s, and more responsibilities are being shifted to the teacher.
Parental involvement has also changed. Although parental involvement is very important to the education of a child, it has diminished. Jean continually has difficulty with parents. It is a struggle for her to get most parents to come to conferences or return phone calls. This is truly unfortunate for the child. Parental obligations are therefore left for the school and ultimately the teacher.
Schools need to provide a stable environment for their students and exemplary role models. The roles of a teacher are expanded by student needs. Teachers are no longer able to simply teach, they are needed for much more. As teachers, we need to be better prepared for these new roles and the legal ramifications made clear.
