by Casey Clay

Created on: July 07, 2008

Ask almost any school-aged student around the world to list the most influential people in their lives. Somewhere within that list there is a high likelihood that one of those individuals is a teacher. To many young people teachers are important adult figures. They are sometimes role-models, other times they are encyclopedias, and at yet other times they are life coaches. Even as a beginning teacher I know that I have filled all of these roles at one time or another for different students. I also realize that as I spend more and more time in education, I will more than likely find other roles to fill.

I believe that teachers are important forces for change in all aspects of life. I believe that the definition of educate and change are much the same. If we are not making a difference in the lives of our students then we are not properly educating them.

Teachers are, in many cases, prominent members of the community. They are well educated in their field of expertise and they are often consulted by students or people outside of the school. Teachers are very visible people in the community. Their students recognize them and oftentimes their parents will too. This makes teachers perfect for the role of being an instrument of change within their community.

Teachers can carry out this role in many different ways. Teachers often participate with their students and lead their students in extracurricular activities. Oftentimes these extracurricular groups will do something for the community. They will volunteer for a variety of projects aimed at helping those who are less fortunate or who are in need.

Teachers will often develop extracurricular programs if they see there is a need for them. These particular programs can offer many things for the students. If the school is in a crime infested neighborhood these programs can offer students a safe haven where they can escape the events on the street. These programs can also offer students a chance to get ahead in life. Extra individual help in a certain subject certainly won't cause a student any harm.

Teachers can also encourage their students to get involved in their communities within the classroom. This can be something as simple as a civics teacher getting their students registered to vote; or an earth science teacher having their classes clean up the local pond. There are many ways that teachers play the role of advocate for change. Even if it is just a minor event or project, when all of these minor acts are evaluated

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