Daily Times

An artist is not just one who plays with clay, paintbrush, pencils and such other items but one who moulds and shapes roughness into refinement which becomes an invaluable artifact cherished by all. This was beautifully elucidated by Seth Godin, an American bestseller, entrepreneur and agent of changeas: “An artist is someone who uses bravery, insight, creativity, and boldness to challenge the status quo,” and “Art isn’t only a painting. Art is anything that’s creative, passionate, and personal.”

Examples of artists are scientists like Marie Curie who discovered radium;Thomas Alva Edison who has to his credit many devices such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures; Jonathan Ive, who designed the iPod. Then there are those artists who use numbers, words, music, minds, ideas, bricks, skills as mediums for their creations.Hence, restricting creativity to a few forms is offensive to the concept of art. Of all the beings, the greatest artist is God Almighty who not only created the ever-amazing universe but filled it up with qualities that are inimitable and to this day, man is still grappling to understand its manifold secrets.

Similarly, teachers should also be considered as artists who, with their knowledge and abilities transform students into noteworthy human beings. Whether that teacher is giving the very first lessons to kindergarten attendees or over-seeing a complicated thesis of a doctoral student, they are part of the process of creativity that eventually leads to a more beautiful and artistic society. Any attempt to undermine the importance of a teacher tantamount to committing an unforgivable misdemeanor. Most of the renowned philosophers have been teachers in their heyday. Barring a few, many of their students are unidentified today but their own names shine forever in the annals of history. Their work stands out even in this modern world and is reverted to, repeatedly by scholars.

Unfortunately in the degenerating Pakistani society, where the majority is obsessed with collecting material riches alone, idolizing the wealthy and the powerful, disdain for teaching as a profession should not come as a surprise. Those who are unfortunate in seeking executive jobs in public and private sectors or do not have the capacity to conduct their personal business usually end up becoming teachers. Very few venture out to adopt teaching as a passion or profession of first choice. Even the near and dear ones suggest taking up teaching where they see an unemployed friend or relative thus implying that this noble profession is at the bottom of the list of desirable career paths. As a source of livelihood, teaching has no glamour, no power play, not much money, no nuisance value, no excitement, very slow promotions and at times may even become rather monotonous with the same mundane routine day in and day out.

If a doctor’s, engineer’s, lawyer’s, accountant’s or architect’s job is considered challenging and tedious, its redeeming factor is the heavy monetary compensation that accompanies it but a teacher, whether school, college or university, has to rely on the paltry sum he gets as salary to make ends meet. He feels shy to introduce himself especially if he is in the gathering of so-called successful (read rich and powerful) men even if the children of these tycoons are under his tutelage. What is more loathsome than suffering from an inferiority complex on account of one’s extremely dignified source of income? In our society, where marriages are mostly arranged by parents, finding a suitable bride for a teacher son could become an onerous task as few would be willing to give their daughter’s hand in marriage to a person who may not seem to have a ‘promising’ future.

Unfortunately in the degenerating Pakistani society, where the majority is obsessed with collecting material riches alone, idolising the wealthy and the powerful, disdain for teaching as a profession should not come as a surprise.

Even the government’s attitude is far from reasonable where teachers are concerned.The income tax law of Pakistan originally had a provision for reduction in tax liability of certain teachers to the tune of 75 percent on tax pertaining to their salary income but the Finance Act of 2014, promulgated by Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), reduced this rebate to 40 percent – a highly deplorable step disincentivizing those aspiring to become teachers especially in government run/recognized institutes which are already suffering from acute shortage of competent instructors. This clearly goes to prove lack of commitment, unwillingness and apathy of the government to give due recognition to the teaching profession.

Having eulogized teaching as one of the most desirable professions, it may be emphasized that while educators enjoy an indisputable position as far as their scholastic activities are concerned, the burden of responsibilities on their shoulders is much greater than their own estimation. A conscientious tutor’s duties are not restricted to mere textbook coaching but stretch out to the domains of intellectual, moral and social training of his students. To achieve these objectives, those who wish to become architects of the nation, would need to do some soul searching. Are they tuned to instruct pupils about their social obligations and to carry out their civic duties? Before they venture out to pursue teaching as a career, a few words of advice might come in handy.

There is a need to understand that after parents, the most important person in one’s life is the teacher. An exemplary one can leave lasting impressions while an execrable can ruin a life even before it begins. Teaching requires commitment and a relatively high moral character where a person keenly observes his students and along with academics, tries to provide a moral and ethical guideline. Since he is under the radar of sharp eyes of his students, he should abstain from objectionable conduct like partisan attitude, disinterest in subject, use of foul language, plagiarism and such other things that may reduce his worth. If he does not observe rules, he cannot foster the same values in his students.

“To Sir with love” a noteworthy British drama film of 1967, ably depicts the true nature of a teacher. One cannot expect a teacher to interfere in his students’ personal lives but simultaneously he should also not remain indifferent to their behavior, thinking and camouflaged vices in their character. His few words of sympathy or rebuke may prove more effective in shaping lives and building nations compared to the many paper degrees doled out each year, for there is no substitute to a good teacher, the artist par excellence.

The writer, lawyer and co-author of many books, is Adjunct Faculty at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)

Published in Daily Times, October 17^th 2018.