Teachers make other professions Dr. Afaf Hashmi Coordinator Academy Education Girls School - Jeddah Why a teacher? The question is often posed to me. The ‘who' and ‘what' of my inspiration to become a teacher is hidden in Hadith that teaching is the job of all ‘why' reasons. It helps explain and comprehend the phenomenon around us. I have completed my 27 years experience of which 17 belong to teaching and 10 as a coordinator in different schools. My first day at teaching was just like the other days as I was not aware of what teaching is exactly, but Alhamdulilah I didn't have hard time. I remember one of the incidents when I was presenting a model lesson to grade 1 in front of 12 teachers, suddenly a naughty student stood and started rinsing her nose loudly as if she wanted everyone to pay her attention. At the moment I controlled myself and just asked her to go to the bathroom and clean herself. I did my Bachelors in Pakistan and completed doctorate from Washington University after attaining teaching Diploma from Jersy College in England. My greatest achievement in teaching is four skills which I apply on middle standard students, through which they can listen, speak, read and write well. The most recent achievements of my story reading books on Seerah Muhammad (peace be upon him). After this great effort, InshAllah the stories aim to bring the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) close to the hearts and minds of our children a great deal. I advise my teachers to be fully aware of children's similarities and differences so that they could have the patience to cater to their every need and desires in a personalized way. It is imperative that you treat each child with tact and the right amount of attention they deserve. By doing so, your children will never have a doubt that their home is their only most safe and secure place in this world. Be a delightful disciplinarian and a just judge. You maintain an honest and patient demeanor, your children will willingly accept strict rules and understand limitations; give them frequent rewards for achieving small targets, and not punishment. Even though I have been offered to work as lecturer from different colleges, I love working for the school because I think I get to improve my speaking and writing skills of the students at their root. I feel teaching is my life and I am still learning from it. It has given me abundant knowledge. Being a teacher or a student of knowledge is highly recommended in Islam and is greatly rewarded by Allah. After all, without teachers, there wouldn't be other professions! Any struggle in today's life should be to please Allah only. __
