THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE TEACHER

Nowadays, the educational system seems to be anachronistic and out of fashion and it should be adapted to the evolution of time and society.

Many teachers have the same teaching method that our grandparents used. This makes children get bored in class and consequently, they have bad results. This teaching method should be changed by enhancing motivation and arousing in students an eager want to learn.

The daily work of the teacher in class should meet current society requirements. There is no point in giving any more brilliant classes to forty ‘hypothetically  homogeneous’ students sitting in rows and attending on-site classes that tend to be dogmatic and silent. Needless to say, the 21st century teaching techniques in Spain have evolved significantly and there is no similarity with those from the past.

The teacher is no longer the erudite who was admired years ago. On the contrary, teachers give interactive classes, teach through projects, solve conflicts, use new technologies and educate in values. For this purpose, their training should be focused on these new techniques.

It is worth stressing that Neill´s[1] teaching methods were really valuable: according to Neill, methodology in education is not as important as the environment where the educational process is developed. For better or worse, people have got to learn several areas of knowledge in spite of the different educational methodologies.

However, the education of our emotions, principles and values that mark our personality along our life is strongly influenced by the environment. In turn, the conventional environment ignores abstract aspects and gives life to resigned human beings who are not satisfied with their lives and become conformist. On this account, Neill developed some principles that promoted self-fulfillment and freedom.

In conclusion and based on the reasons given, we think that it is necessary to change the school in its whole. Education needs a revolution, it is necessary that everything changes and all traditional and boring methods disappear. Teachers should focus on students’ motivation and get the development of the 21^st century children. We need an educational system that enhances customized education through social learning.

Likewise creativity, passion, energy and talent should be stimulated because our future will bring new challenges that will demand new solutions. These solutions will be linked to the student’s creativity and liveliness.

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[1] A. S. Neill, Scottish pedagogue. He founded the Summerhill School.