“The true teacher is he who can immediately come down to the level of the student, transfer his soul to the student’s soul and see through and understand through his mind.  Such a teacher can really teach and none else”— Swami Vivekanand.

Among the greatest of all services that can be rendered by humans to the Almighty, is the education and training of children, so that they can grow like pearls of divine bounty in the shell of education and will be one day the jewel in the crown of abiding glory. Obviously,  teachers who are in charge of imparting teaching, wear many hats :-friend, counselor, judge, and mentor- hundreds of roles and different roles for different classes, students, and extracurricular duties. Hence, teachers are the yardsticks that measure the achievements and aspirations of the nation.  The worth and potentialities of a country get evaluated in and through the works of the teachers. The people of a country are the enlarged replica of their teachers.  In reality, teachers are thus, true nation builders.

The teachers are the pivots of any educational system of the younger students.  On them rest the failure or the success of the system.  If teachers are properly educated and if they are intellectually alive and take keen interest in their job, then only, success is ensured.  But, if on the other hand, they lack requisite skill and if they cannot give their heart to their profession, the system is destined to fail.  Hence, teachers are the vital component and the  dynamic force of the school.  A school without ideal and good teachers is just like a body without the soul, a skeleton without flesh and blood, a shadow without substance. 

Education in our country appears to be in a degrading condition. Education  imparted by most of the teachers is far from satisfaction.  Majority of the students lack fundamental knowledge in different areas of education. Such teachers do not feel it to be their responsibility. Commitments to their profession have been reduced to a great extent.  Therefore, there is a need to make the teachers aware of their     accountability to their profession. There is no greater need for the cause of education today than the need for strong manly men and motherly women as teachers for the young. The followings are some great qualities of a teacher. 

1. Ability to be  Role Models :- Role Models are persons who set good examples by the words they speak and by the actions they take. Students tend to copy the behaviour  and mannerism of the teacher. The teacher’s entire personality is a reflection on the minds of the students.  If the teacher is honest, leads a balanced and disciplined life, the children adopt these virtues as an ideal conduct unconsciously. The ideal teacher is one who through his thoughts, words and deeds, gives an impression of an honest upright life which can serve as a model for the students to copy, follow  and emulate.

2. Good Character:- A  man is viewed as having achieved everything in life when he becomes perfect in character.  If the noble souls among mankind take to teaching, society is abundantly enriched.  Hence the teachers must be embodied of right conduct in thought, word and deed. The students by their association will learn virtue and can be humanized, and can live and act like ideal human beings. 

3. Pleasing Personality :-Every  teacher must have a good personality.  Radiant, pleasing and impressive personal appearance, pleasant manners, enthusiasm, initiative, open mindedness  are some of the essential traits of an ideal teacher. External appearance has a psychological effect upon the students.  By pleasing personality, he/she can win the love and affection of his students and can command respect. 

4. Good  Mental &  Physical Health:- Education is the lamp removing darkness,   making life worthy and a nation prosperous.  We can achieve these objectives, if the teachers have good mental and physical health.  Students develop interest in those subjects, which are taught by pleasing and genial teachers. A mentally and physically  sound teacher  is always alert, cheerful, happy, dynamic and enthusiastic. He/she can create love, interest and enthusiasm for learning and a taste in the subject he teaches.   A neurotic teacher  spreads fear, nervousness and worry in the classroom and a fanatic-teacher may spread hatred, prejudice and hostile feelings among the students. 

5. Healthy Social and Family Life:- Sociability is another important quality of a teacher.  He should have a sound social philosophy and should mix well in society to have a large body of friends and to take a helpful interest in his neighbours.  Normal and good family life is also most essential to keep her cheerful and stress free and to make the  school’s environment healthy.

6. Strong Commitment to Profession :- There are some teachers who consider their job as a profession, work only for money and acts only for their own sake at the cost of others.  But  true teachers are those who consider their job as honourable and work with a sense of self-fulfillment and self-realization. They do not  exert any pressure upon  students or their parents to engage for their illegal self benefits.

7. Accountability:- Being the “ human engineers” teachers are accountable for the progress of the children they teach.  Their accountability is very important because modern teaching-learning process involves teaching, co-curricular activities and development of students moral and ethical values.  They should have knowledge of psychology, educational philosophy, aims, contents, methods and materials of instruction and interest in teaching.  They must possess a fair knowledge of current affairs. 

8. Duties towards Students:- It is the  primary duty of the teachers to understand students, to be just, courteous, to promote a spirit of equality, fellowship and joy in them, not to do or say anything that would undermine their personality,  and to set before them a high standard of character, discipline and personality. They should tell students about purpose of education in the schools, build one to one relationship with students, know everything about  students, make students aware of realities of life, and  inspire students to face problems bravely.