From very ancient times, teachers have been honoured as builders of a nation. Indeed, they show the way and lead the pupils from darkness into light through thick jungles and dark glades. They are the wise priests in the holy temples of learning where all students are the devotees. Hence, teaching is a very noble profession. It requires a kind of temperament, a sense of sacrifice and a feeling of dedication. In this dignified profession, the teachers as the torchbearers and pathfinders of the future citizens of a nation must realize that work is worship and the school is the sacred temple of learning.           The students must have deep regards and unfathomable devotion for their teachers. They should always remember that their parents have given them birth, but their teachers by shaping their destiny, give them rebirth. They, therefore, must be loyal and committed to their teachers in their attitudes, behaviour and activities. They must be obedient and disciplined, and the true followers of their teachers.But in present time the scenario has changed. The teacher-student relationship is not so healthy like before. Most of the teachers nowadays are not the real pathfinders. They are no more the true friends, philosophers and guides of their beloved students. The students on the other hand, have no proper regards and devotion for their teachers. They are no more the mad followers of their teachers and are not so much influenced and inspired by them. Blaming, criticizing and scolding the teachers have become a general   practice. Similarly, abusing, torturing, providing intentional punishment, discriminating and taking revenge have become the basic characteristics of some teachers. Why such things are happening? The answer is very clear.

Our society today is passing through a terrible crisis of character; the ancient Indian edifice of moral and spiritual values is crumbling to pieces. Everywhere corruption, favouritsm and other illegal practices are rampant. The sanctimonious educational institutions have now become centres of many evils. Meritorious students are often the scapegoats of this social malady.  Ideal, talented and honest teachers have become the suffering souls thrown into dark recesses.

Again, each and every one cannot fit into the distinguished profession of teaching. Learning is one thing and teaching is another. Not everyone who has acquired knowledge or who has secured good percentage of marks can impart education. Another vital reason for the degradation is that years before teachership was a noble profession by choice, but now it has become a job in majboori. Again, as every stone is not a gem, similarly there are some teachers who lack the basic qualities for the noble profession of teaching. They neither possess the requisite temperament of a teacher nor have a true sense of sacrifice and dedication. Being in the noble profession, they play all dirty games for power, self-interest, self-benefits and money. Some teachers favour some children by getting precious gifts and financial supports from their parents. There are some who torture and punish some students for not joining their tuitions. Some cruel teachers also harm the students keeping anger on their parents. These types of fellows forget that they are in the noblest profession and are the man making machines.

The students and their parents are also responsible for the degradation in the teacher-student relationship. In present time there is a cat race for marks. Most of the parents and their children are so crazy about the marks of the class examinations that they do not hesitate at all in adopting any evil means to get it. The teachers who provide them questions before examinations become their favourite teachers and ideals. The teachers, who illegally help them in school examinations and school competitions, provide them lead roles in school functions inspite of their poor talent and discuss their names as school’s meritorious students knowing their average standard are highly praised by them and by their parents.  The parents achieve all these by keeping some corrupted teachers in their pockets. They become so blind that they forget that those teachers are spoiling the life of their children. Again, there are some parents who are not so cultured and are so much motivated by their children. They always think that their children do not tell lie. So, when their children lie against the teachers, they blindly believe it without verifying the fact. Hence, the teachers, who really want to improve their standards, try to develop their skills and abilities are misunderstood by some students and by their parents.

The degradation in teacher-student relationship can be improved and become a healthier one if the priests and devotees of the temples of learning understand their moral duties.  The teachers should realize that as they are in a noble profession, so they have to be very dedicated, sincere, impartial, ideal and honest. The students and their parents too have to consider the sanctity of the holy educational institution. They should not adopt evil means to do well in the examination or to get good marks without doing well. They should raise their voice against the corrupted teachers. They should not be motivated by the teachers who show goodness only in their speeches and should follow them who practice goodness, and have the ability to shape their destiny.