These are some thoughts I just had meddling in my mind as I woke up.

I am glad for my job as a tutor, both financiall and morally.  It certainly provides good pay without sacrificing long hours, wearing a uniform and being ordered around by a boss, and I certainly enjoy my work in helping people.  But there is also a side of me that says, this isn’t the way it should be, on the behalf of the students.

After all, the only reason I have this job is because the teachers are not able to effectively teach, that is the bottom line.

I see it as a very inefficient process.  As in, there is too much input to get the desired output.  Here, the kids have to get up and go to school everyday for 7 or so hours a day to “learn” when often times, it is a waste.  Then to pass the classes that they are in, they, or most often times the parents, must pay a tutor outside of the school so the student can pass the class that the teacher should have been teaching well in the first place.

What I would like to see one day on a much larger scale than is currently present is simply the vast majority of teachers who can actually teach well.  This goes to show that good education is truly a path-dependent process.  The ends absolutely justify the means.  To simply go to class, have an instructor effectively transmit and infuse the material into the students, and that’s it! Simple as that.

Not only would this save much time and effort on both parts, but it would create for a much better atmosphere.  Students going to class who respect the efforts and prowess of their teachers will be much more willing to learn, and the overall energy will be much happier, encouraing and warm.  

Success breeds success, and respect gets respect.

So what is the general solution in my opinion?  The hiring process for teachers must be a whole lot stricter, and based on merit/personality rather than mere credentials, accolades and all of that bureaucratic nonsense.

However to be a great teacher, to be a notable leader, to be a great chef, to be a professional athlete you must have one thing, and that is an unconditional love for what you do.  When you have that, all efforts and “expenses” put towards your work can be written off, because they don’t count.  When your actions are based on condition and your heart is not in sync with your actions, then each ounce of energy you put toward your work drains you, and leaves a bad aftertaste.  

Let us look at a simple example.  Let’s say you absolutely love playing golf, a couple clubs might cost you let’s say $500, but wouldn’t you be glad spending that money?  Because the small financial setback is much less than the joy and love you will get out of that new equipment.  As opposed to having to spend $500 on a speeding ticket.

Same material “cost”, much different “aftertaste”.

Would this system be perfect?  Will 100% of the students respond positivley? Will everybody graduate with a 4.0?  No, because human life is not perfect.  But certainly, it would work out much better and the vast majority of students would improve from this, and education/schooling will be seen in a new light as it’s experience will be much more enjoyable for both teachers and students.

Often times people are so business oriented, and concerned just with getting the job done, getting from A to B at any cost, that they forget to have fun and make the ride enjoyable.  There is certainly nothing wrong with having this disciplined attitude, but as with anything, it can certainly fall out of balance when gone unchecked.  Having a disciplined attitude is a product of the mind, while enjoying the moment and simply having fun is the work of the heart.  One must learn to balance both body and mind.

How then are we able to connect the body and mind?  Well, what is in between our heads and our hearts?

Just some thoughts…

;)