Professional Evolution

Haim Ginott (1991) was asked about teacher professionalism and said the following: I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or honor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized. What does his statement bring up for you from your own experiences as a K-12 student, and in your upcoming role as the all-powerful teacher in your classroom? How will his statement guide you in your teaching, your relationships with students, and your professional evolution? Ginott, H. (1971). Teacher and Child: A Book for Parents and Teachers. ANSWER THE QUESTION