Role of the teacher – leading by example

You are dealing with children as their teachers, guides and examples. You have to equip yourselves for those roles by living the values that distinguish man.

Establish the values in yourselves, practise them, and derive great joy from them. “As the king, so the subjects” says the proverb. Live the ideals and lead the children along. Let the urges for truth, right conduct, peace, love, and non-violence blossom in their hearts. These spiritual treasures alone can ensure happiness and joy.

These authentic human values cannot be learnt from books or from lessons given by teachers or gifted by elders. They can be acquired only by experience and example.

You must be the examples that the children have to experience. When all actions are right, peace reigns, and one’s mind is free from traces of violence. Love is the sustenance of the other four.

Love as thought is truth

Love as action is right conduct

Love as feeling is peace

Love as understanding is non- violence

When these four fundamental values are practised and propagated by you in school after school, village after village, only then will man be raised to his divine nature.

Among all professions, the teaching profession carries the greatest responsibility. Teachers have to mould the young of today so that they will grow up into worthy citizens of tomorrow.

If a pupil has a vice, he alone suffers from it. But if a teacher has a vice, thousands are polluted. Therefore, it is considered that only a great teacher can mould a great student.

- Courtesy Sai Institute of Education West Indies, St Michael, Barbados. Visit them at www.siewi.org or https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/education or email siewibb@saibarbados.org.