Do not be afraid to fall in love with your students

Falling in love is a normal feeling for all humans. Teachers, as human beings, also fall in love. Some teachers find their romantic mate inside the faculty lounge, some on their way home, and some inside the malls. In addition, other teachers find romantic love with their students, which I consider very disgusting and inappropriate. A teacher must avoid falling in love with his/her student because he/she can be sued for it. It’s very unethical and unprofessional. However, this does not mean that a teacher must not love his or her students. This love must purely be parental love and/or love for sharing knowledge and teaching young learners to become better citizens in the future.

            During the PAFTE Seminar, the speaker discussed about the qualities of a creative teacher. According to her, to be a creative teacher, one must not be afraid to fall in love with his/her students. She clearly explained to us that the love she was referring was not about romantic love like a teacher and a student engaging in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. The love that she was referring was parental love, and love for children’s learning.

            Is it necessary for a teacher to love his/her students? Yes. Because if the teacher loves his/her students, he/she will be able to teach the lessons with the desire to change the lives of the students, and to make learning meaningful for the students. Furthermore, the teacher will be able to create a non-threatening classroom environment where learning is fun and enjoyable.

            As a future teacher, it is important for me to have knowledge of the subject matter, and the delivery skills. Aside from these, I must also have love for my students. Not romantic love, but parental love, and love of children. In this way, I will become an effective and creative teacher. I should not be afraid to fall in love with my students.