Functions of A Teacher By Bertrand Russell 

Q.        Regardless of how feasible or otherwise Russell's ideas on the role of a teacher may be, we do not, and perhaps cannot, have ‘his teacher’ in our educational institutions today. Affirm or refute with evidence from his works, especially ‘Unpopular Essays’. (2012)

OR

Q.        Can we check the social, economic and political decline if we succeed in making our teachers impartial and neutral in the real sense of the word? Elaborate with reference to Russell’s ‘Unpopular Essays’. (2010)

OR

Q.        What are the practical difficulties in employing ideal teachers and how can they be overcome? Discuss with reference to Russell’s ‘Unpopular Essays’.

(2008)

OR

Q.        Russell’s views on teaching and education have been of immense use down the years. Elaborate with special reference to his ‘Unpopular Essays’. (2007)

OR

Q.        What safeguards does Russell suggest against a teacher’s becoming a tool in the hands of government and how far are they adequate?

                                                                                   (P.U. 2003)

OR

Q.        What functions does Russell recommended for the teacher? Do you find it viable in our own society?

            (P.U. 2005)

OR

Q.        Russell views on teaching and education have been of immense use down the years. Elaborate with special reference to his ‘Unpopular Essays’. (P.U. 2007)

OR

Q.        What are practical difficulties in employing ideal teacher, and how can they be overcome, discuss with reference to unpopular essays. (P.U. 2008)

Ans:    The functions of a teacher is one of the most important and thought provoking essays of Russell, which compels the reader to think over the real function of a teacher and to ponder that am I a well-taught person. The teaching profession has almost completely changed now-a-days, than the old ones. Though the teaching profession has an honourable tradition from pre-historic time to today’s world yet it is quite different in nature and methodology now. In older days the function of a teacher was to inculcate in his students, the ideas he considered to be good and mature but now-a-days a teacher has become like a propagandist who teaches according to the wish of his employers. His only function is to preach the teachings which are in favour of bureaucrats and state. But state-controlled education can turn men into unthinking fanatics, and for his own survival the teacher must play the pact which the state cuts out for him in this task.

According to Russell, the most important function of a teacher is to inculcate in his pupils beliefs which are wise and sensible, in his mature opinion. In antiquity as well as during the Renaissance teachers had comparatively greater freedom, but in modern times this freedom and self-determination exists only at a handful of great historic universities, the teacher of today is not expected to teach what he believes to be right, but only what his employers decide that he should teach. This attitude can never produce good thinkers of a nation as well as of the world. A teacher should remain aloof from strife of political parties. He should be neutral and impartial in his teachings. Russell thinks that the teacher’s real function lies in letting the child develop his inborn faculties and encouraging the kindly impulses that are latent in him otherwise thwarting of natural impulses can breed cruel and selfish urges in the child and make him grow up into a criminal or an antisocial creature. Modern Psychology also affirms and agrees to this view point of Russell. Russell stresses that teachers should act as guardians of civilization. They should spread and promote the culture of a mind. A true teacher must rise above material considerations and must be the real safeguards against the possibility that our civilization may vanish shortly. The teacher must rise above the temptation of flattering the prejudices of those in authority, even if he can improve his professional prospects by doing so. A teacher can be great only if he is fired by the passion to perform positive tasks. He must have feelings to warm affection towards his pupils and a genuine desire to impart to them what he himself believes to be of value.

As matters stand today, teachers are unable to do their best for a variety of reasons. One is that they have to overwork which creates tired and monotonous feelings in them. Teachers should not overwork themselves as well as to compel the students to do so. Students should not be prepared only for examination but they must have the thirst and hunger for the real knowledge. According to Russell teacher must above all inculcate a spirit of tolerance in his pupils which would enable them to bear and understand manners as well as strange people. Ignorant tolerance is the very reverse of a civilization.

To conclude, a teacher is the guardian of a nation. He should impart true knowledge to the students. He should teach objective realities being impartial and neutral. He should not surrender before state or dictator. Rather he should instil the teaching of freedom and tolerance to produce a healthy nation.

Points to Remembers:

1.         The role of a teacher in antiquity and modern age.

2.         Emancipation of a teacher in pre-historic times.

3.         Modern teacher mere a slave of government.

4.         Teacher should be a guardian of civilization.

5.         He must be impartial and neutral.

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