[Kerala University
English Teacher Educator’s Forum - KUETEF]
Austrian born Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner (1861- 1925) does not find mention in the Philosophy paper
of the BEd curriculum of the University
of Kerala. He became famous as a
cultural philosopher and through the
spiritual movement- Anthroposophy. Recently, while surfing the Web, I came across a series of lectures delivered by him in
1919.
The last
lecture- # 14 was delivered on 05 September 1919. Incidentally, 05 September is celebrated as Teachers’ Day in India. The following is an extract from the Pdf version of the book entitled Practical Advices to
Teachers : Fourteen Lectures : I thought it would be an appropriate message for the members of our KUETEF fraternity on the
eve of Teachers’ Day:
At the end of those lectures, Steiner made the following
concluding remarks:
Today I would like
to conclude these discussions by pointing out something I want to lay upon your
hearts; I would like you to stick firmly to the following four principles.
First, teachers must make sure that they influence and work on their students,
in a broader sense, by allowing the spirit to flow through their whole being as
teachers, and also in the details of their work: how each word is spoken, and
how each concept or feeling is developed. Teachers must be people of
initiative. They must be filled with initiative. Teachers must never be
careless or lazy; they must, at every moment, stand in full consciousness of
what they do in the school and how they act toward the children. This is the
first principle.
The teacher
must be a person of initiative in everything done, great and small.
Second, my dear
friends, we as teachers must take an interest in everything happening in the
world and in whatever concerns humankind. All that is happening in the outside
world and in human life must arouse our interest. It would be deplorable if we
as teachers were to shut ourselves off from anything that might interest human
beings. We should take an interest in the affairs of the outside world, and we
should also be able to enter into
anything, great or small, that concerns every single child in our care.
That is the second principle. The teacher should be one who is interested in the being of
the whole world and of humanity.
Third, the teacher must be one who
never compromises in the heart and mind with what is untrue. Teachers must be
true in the depths of their being. Teachers must never compromise with untruth,
because if they did, we would see how untruth would find its way through many
channels into our teaching, especially in the way we present the subjects. Our
teaching will only bear the stamp of truth when we ardently strive for truth in
ourselves.
And now comes
something more easily said than done, but it is, nevertheless, also a golden
rule for the teacher’s calling. The teacher must never get stale or grow sour.
Cherish a mood of soul that is fresh and healthy! No getting
stale and sour! This must be the teacher’s endeavor.
{Steiner, Rudolf Anthroposophic
Press 2000 P 187-88}
Dr.
C. Praveen
Secretary,
KUETEF
