Function of a Teacher

Teaching is the most respectable profession in the world but the governments are
using teachers as a tool. Bertrand Russell in his essay “Functions of a Teacher” spreads
light on this issue. According to him, teaching is not different from slavery. Teachers
nowadays do not talk about revolutionary ideas nor do they help students to increase their
creativity. In other words, they have no passion of teaching. Teaching is just a boring job
for them since they have no freewill.

History is evident that teachers like Socrates were put to death. Similarly, Plato
was thrown into prison. Regardless of that they did not stop their doctrines. In modern
world, situation is entirely opposite. In whole essay, Bertrand Russell wants to prove that
“Functions of a Teacher” in modern world are very less. If they have any, they are
beneficial for the State only. Every teacher is a puppet in the hands of government and
system. He fears that teachers have no freedom at all. They can’t teach as per their own
desires but as per desires of their respective governments.

Bertrand Russell is of the view that in modern world government has reduced
functions of a teacher. A teachers can’t teach what he thinks best for his pupil rather his
duty is to instill such beliefs and prejudices which his employers thought useful . In this
way, teachers have lost their freedom of teaching.

He accepts that education is necessary for everyone and it should be given by the
State but boundaries should not be assigned to teachers. He further argues that in vast
majority teachers have become civil servants. Teachers’ only attitude towards education is
of a propagandist. Education in every country is different because it is based on
propaganda. Bertrand Russell gives some suggestions in “Functions of a Teacher”,
through which profession of teaching can be reverted from slavery to creativity and
revolution. His intention is to save a teacher becoming a tool in the hands of the
government.

Biased attitude of a teacher ruins a nation. Teacher should differentiate between

right and wrong. If he is preferring his own nation, religion and culture without making
difference between right and wrong then he is not a teacher but a propagandist. He should
teach his pupils what is right and not what is beneficial for a State. Humanity is above all
thinks Bertrand Russell and one of the major functions of a teacher is to teach humanity
to his pupils. He should not twist reality as per desire of his government. Welfare of
mankind should be the first priority. If a teacher is preferring his own nation and country
to other nations and countries of the wold then it means that he is teaching envy, pride
and cruelty to his pupils.

While defining functions of a teacher, he says that a true teacher turns cruelty into
kindness. In this way, Bertrand Russell differentiates a teacher from a propagandist in
“Functions of a teachers”.

Bertrand Russell is right when he says that functions of a teacher are to educate
and teach equality. Doing so, a teacher serves mankind and promotes education.

Russel’s philosophy is very much universal and acceptable. Moreover, it is

practically applicable. In his whole life he promoted love and peace. In “Functions of a
teacher”, Bertrand Russel’s aim is not different. He wants peace for every country, each
nation and all religions.

A teacher must have freedom says Russell. He should not teach what his
employers want but what is suitable for his pupils. We see Bertrand Russell depicting the
truth in his essay “Functions of a Teacher”. His opinions have worth. Factually, most of
the institutions compel every teacher to teach his students State’s prescribed education.
He can’t teach beyond it. In a very short time a teacher has to prepare his students for
examinations.

“The teachers have no authority to decide what shall be taught or what the methods of
instruction are to be.”

Russell uses the word self-determination to clear that the teacher determines what
is necessary for the pupils but alas

“the immense majority of educational institutions are hampered and controlled by men
who do not understand the work with which they are interfering”.

Russell very beautifully defends a teacher from becoming slave or a tool in the
hands of government. He writes:

“The only way to prevent totalitarianism in our highly organized world is to secure a
certain degree of independence for bodies performing useful public work, and among
such bodies teachers deserve a foremost place.”

Furthermore, Bertrand Russell, in “Functions of a Teacher”redefines the meaning

of education. Education does not mean preparing students for examinations. It means to
differentiate right from the wrong while ignoring the concept of superiority of nations.

One more thing, which is in the mind of Russell is the overworking of teacher. He
says:

“Most teachers are overworked and are compelled to prepare their pupils for
examinations rather than to give them a liberalizing mental training. The result is that
many of them become harassed and nervous, out of touch with recent work in the subjects
that they teach, and unable to inspire their students with a sense of the intellectual
delights to be obtained from new understanding and new knowledge.”

Russell adds another suggestion. A teacher should teach his pupils tolerance. Lots
of custom differences are there between nations. A person, who has no tolerance becomes
furious on tiny controversial issues. Custom and religious differences are two main
reasons behind it. If a persons has no tolerance, situation may become worse. No custom,
religion and society is inferior or superior to another and no one should make sarcastic
remarks about anyone. If one makes, the other should tolerate. Hence, tolerance is a very
important trait. It is one of the most important functions of a teacher to teach tolerance to
his students, says Bertrand Russell.

Suggestions of Bertrand Russell are reliable and much adequate. His philosophy is
acceptable. Teachers are facing similar kinds of problems. Students of every country are
taught that their religions, customs, nations and countries are better than the others.
Teachers hide one side of the story and teach only the other side. In order to ensure a
successful civilized future, every teacher and nation should reconsider their methods of
teaching. They should follow Russell and adopt his methodology for a better future.

Suffice is to say that Russell’s philosophy saves a teacher becoming a tool in the
hands of government. Conclusion of “Functions of a Teacher” by Bertrand Russell lies in
the following lines:-

“The function of a teacher, however, is not merely to mitigate the heat of current
controversies. He has more positive tasks to perform, and he cannot be a great teacher
unless he is inspired by a wish to perform these tasks. Teachers are more than any other
class the guardians of civilization. They should be intimately aware of what civilization
is, and desirous of imparting a civilized attitude to their pupils.”