The guru is a spiritual leader and teacher, who is highly revered in Indian culture. Indians are reminded that a teacher is equal to God and should be treated as such by the Sanskrit phrase “Acharya Devo Bhava” which is taken from Taittiriya Upanishad. Trust, respect, and dedication are the foundations of the holy connection between a guru and a shishya. It was a great deal of respect the teachers were treated with. Even if we analyse the situation until 19th century, teachers were esteemed members of society, and pupils highly appreciated their expertise and direction. It was expected of pupils to treat their teachers with respect at all times since it was embedded in the culture. This relationship has, however, seen a dramatic change in recent years. Students now have access to a wealth of knowledge at their fingertips because to the growth of social media and the internet, and they are more inclined to doubt the authority of their professors. The conventional teacher-student connection has also broken down as a result of a fall in discipline and behaviour standards in many institutions.
Sadly, there has been a significant reduction in the amount of respect students have for their teachers in recent years. But relax; this isn’t a depressing piece. Instead, it is focused on what the teachers can do to try to restore the lost trust and foster an environment where everyone feels valued and respected. Despite the fact that a variety of factors have contributed to this trend, it is evident that teachers must make an effort to win back their trust. There are various reasons why students today may be treating teachers with less respect than they did in the past.
The changing character of society itself is a significant element. Students have become increasingly used to a society where authoritative figures are questioned and challenged as technology has developed and social standards have changed. It may be more challenging for teachers as a result to establish themselves as respected and authoritative individuals in the classroom. Although a teacher cannot gain the respect of their students only by intelligence. While subject-specific knowledge and expertise are critical, a teacher also needs to have strong communication, empathy, and understanding skills. A teacher may gain the respect and trust of their pupils by fostering a good and encouraging learning atmosphere, which will result in a more successful and fulfilling educational experience for everyone. The evolving nature of education itself is another element. The students feel that they are being treated more like goods to be assessed than as individuals with distinctive abilities and interests as standardized testing and other types of evaluation have become increasingly prevalent. In today’s era which has a tendency to quantify every possible thing, it is difficult to personalise the tests and evaluation.
Notwithstanding these difficulties, it is critical for teachers to understand that it is their duty to restore the lost trust between themselves and their students. Focusing on developing strong bonds with pupils is one important strategy for doing this. In order to do this, teachers should take the time to get to know their students on a personal level, show compassion and understanding when they are struggling, and show a sincere interest in their experiences and lives. It is crucial for teachers to set an example for the behaviour they wish to see in their students. This entails treating students with respect, treating them kindly and fairly, and taking responsibility for their mistakes. When teachers model the way, they want their students to walk on, it sets the tone for the entire classroom and can support the development of an environment of trust and respect. Naturally, restoring trust between teachers and students is not always simple. It necessitates endurance, perseverance, and an openness to making mistakes.
It is apparent that there is a problem today with students’ lack of respect for teachers, but it is also obvious, that teachers must make an effort to win back students’ lost faith.
Teachers must create a setting where students feel valued, interested, and driven to learn by putting an emphasis on developing positive connections with students, fostering a sense of community inside the classroom, and setting an example of constructive behaviour. Though it might not be simple, teachers’ efforts to regain students’ trust are ultimately well worth it.
Alisha Verma is Assistant Professor (Law), Amity University, Rajasthan.