Presentation on “ the function of teacher” by B.Russell

Design by M Naseem

Presented by Ishaq IlyasNaseem

Bertrand Russell“I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong.”

Personal life

Born: 18 May 1872. Nationality: British Awards: Noble prize in literature

(1950) Died: 2 February 1970 (at the

age 97)

Main interests

Ethics Logic Mathematics MetaphysicsEducation Philosophy of language Philosophy of mathematics Philosophy of mind

Main works in the field of literature or essay On Education History of Western Philosophy Why I Am Not A Christian Skeptical EssaysUnpopular Essays Authority and the Individual Power Principles of Social Reconstruction Marriage and Morals

Unpopular essay

Philosophy and Politics The Future of MankindThe Functions of a Teacher Ideas That Have Helped Mankind The Superior Virtue of the Oppressed On Being Modern-Minded

The Functions of a TeacherThe Need of Freedom for the Teacher

Criticize on the current education system Russell is in oppose to the manner in which

state enforce its own ideology through education.

He is giving example; like Russia and Germany; the system of education is such as to produce dedicated extremist who are ignorant of the world outside their own country and who are unfamiliar to free discussion.

Report

Russell pleads for the liberation of the teacher from the intellectual bondage imposed upon him by the government of his country.

Education should never be dogmatic. The teachers should free to teach

what they please and in the manner they think to be the best.

Report about who prefer nation rather than other things.

Teachers, the Guardians of Civilization

Teachers are more than any other class of people.

Civilization is a matter partly of knowledge and partly of emotion.

It is the duty of the teacher to teach the right kind of knowledge, and similarly develop the right kind of emotions.

If democracy is to survive, the teacher should try to produce in his pupils the spirit of tolerance which will enable them to understand people who are different from themselves.

the teacher should not allow the spirit of intolerance to take roots in the minds of his pupils.

If the teacher is to succeed in his purpose, he must be free: he should feel himself to be an individual directed by an inner creative impulse, and not an individual dominated and controlled by an outside authority.

“open vistas…as delightful as they are useful…[p. 131].” Happiness is a worthy goal, and

teachers should work against the psychological mishap where one seeks to keep others from being happy. Generally this type of cruelty grows from envy.

“No man can be a good teacher unless he has feelings of warm affection towards his pupils and a genuine desire to impart to them what he himself believes to be of value [p. 131].”

This is not to support the behavior of a propagandist, who tries to push students into the molds he has created.

“survey the world and freely choose a purpose which to them appears of value.”

But the more serious problem is that teachers who hold unapproved opinions are expected to be quiet about them, and even to teach approved untruths.

Russell mentions the expectation that teaching will be misleading in civics classes in the US.

When students are old enough to see the obvious falsehood, they tend towards cynicism instead of improving the matters.

Teachers are overworked

Their job requires (Russell quotes Shakespeare without attribution) an “expense of spirit”.

Overworked teachers become “stressed and nervous, out of touch with recent work in the subjects that they teach, and unable to inspire their students with a sense of the intellectual delights to be obtained from new understanding and new knowledge [p. 132].”

Falsehood is not edifying Any moral effect that falsehood

brings about will prove unable to stand up to the first breath of reality. “In any case, to tell lies to the young, who have no means of checking what they are told, is morally indefensible [p. 133].”

Teachers require more independence Example has been given by Russell:

like the independence of physicians towards patients.

They need freedom from the interference of bureaucrats and bigots.

Some great universities have managed to secure this independence, but most educational institutions have not so managed

Thank you