Women, undoubtedly have always been served as the primary educators of children. There is a saying, “The home is a child's first school, and the mother, his first teacher”.
The learning process begins from the mother’s womb itself and slowly the mother will teach the child to walk, communicate, respect the elders, love, care, show affection and recognize moral values.
Experts and educators say women often play greater roles in raising children and they have proved themselves as a better teacher by teaching not only just to teach but to motivate, inspire, boost and encourage the children.
It has been widely observed that women educators outnumbered the men educators worldwide. Historically, there have always been more women than men going into the education field.
In Malaysia, teachers (% female) in Malaysia were reported at 68.44 in 2008, according to the World Bank. Female teachers as a percentage of total primary education teachers include full-time and part-time teachers.
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| Photograph: Paul Barton/Corbis |
Many women choose teaching because they see it as a way to combine career and family. Teaching allows them to motivate, encourage and challenge tomorrow's leaders. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the spark in a child's eye as his or her passion for a subject grows. By making a difference in young people's lives, teachers shape a good nation.
People do say that teaching is boring but they hardly realize the fact that a teacher plays a vital role in everyone’s life.
May be some of us might have a little thought in mind wondering why women are prune to be a teacher? The following ideas were taken from an article entitled Beginning to Teach Article by Queensland College of Teachers:
1. It’s a wonderful profession
2. Teaching is rewarding
3. Every day is different
4. They can teach in the area they enjoy and excel at
5. Opportunity to spend time with young people
6. The possibilities are endless
7. They can continue to learn
8. They can work overseas
9. They reap the rewards that come from helping the young people grow and learn
10. They become involved with the different aspects of school life and part of the broader community
11. It’s an exciting option if you are looking for a career change
12. Teaching offers a challenging, rewarding and constantly changing career
13. Teachers are a valued and respected member of the community
In the Malaysian scenario, there are successful women educators, as we all know the educationist Puan Sri Dr Fatimah Hamid Don, 79 years old (born 10 July 1933) was chosen to receive the Eminent Woman Award 2012 in conjunction with her contribution to the nation.
She was the first Malay woman to obtain PhD in Malaya. She started her career as an educator at the Language Institute in Kuala Lumpur also the Head of Phonetics Department. Looking back at the women's struggles and achievements in this country, Puan Sri Dr Fatimah Hamid Don, the first Malay woman to have obtained a PhD, said she was happy with their achievements thus far, as they were able to compete with men in various sectors including the male-dominated ones like the corporate sector.
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| Photo: Bloomberg |
Besides, Rasammah Bhupalan (born 1927), also known as Rasammah Naomi Navarednam is a renowned Malaysian freedom fighter and social activist who was also a teacher. She was a teacher in the Methodist Boys School Kuala Lumpur (MBSSKL) from 1959 to 1964 and was the principal of Methodist Girls School Kuala Lumpur (MGSKL) for 13 years from 1970 until she retired in 1982.
As founder president of the Women Teacher's Union, she fought for equal pay for women teachers and tried to bring disparate teachers' unions under an umbrella. On November 21, 2006, a book entitled Footprints on The Sands of Time, Rasammah Bhupalan: A Life of Purpose authored by Associate Professor Dr Aruna Gopinath was launched by Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Datuk Dr Rais Yatim.
Here, we can summarize that being an educator is not an easy task. Determination, sacrifice, fulfillment, desire to educate others and intelligence makes a better educator. For the women educators out there, whom have been condemned for choosing teaching as a profession and for those who are saying that teaching is a piece of cake, feel proud that it’s not about the salary you choose this job, it's about the determination and effort that you are putting in that.
Bear in mind that “IT TAKES A BIG HEART TO HELP SHAPE LITTLE MINDS”.
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