Teacher as the students’ facilitator

By Azys Syaiful Anwar

Teacher is a respectable profession which can be said as a form of dedication in the education field. A teacher has to be able to give a good example to the students. In my opinion, teacher shall not only transfer knowledge but also educate and guide the students to be better than before. Teacher has main job to convey certain learning subject, however teacher cannot forget to educate the students about the morality, attitude, behavior, and mentality.

In addition, a teacher can make self-discipline as the priority, and use proper teaching method or technique which is adjusted to the students’ condition. In educating the students, teacher can consider Javanese proverb from Ki Hajar Dewantoro, they are ‘ing ngarso sung tulodo, ing madyo mangun karso, and tut wuri handayani’. This proverb reflects teachers’ ethic code which all teachers shall think about it. Teacher can also take some valuable meaning of that proverb.

First, ‘ing ngarso sung tuladha’ means that teacher has to be able to give good example for the students. Besides, there is another Javanese proverb said that ‘Guru digugu lan ditiru’ which means that teacher is trusted and must be took as the example for the students. The implementation of a good attitude, behavior and morality will influence the students to do the same. Besides, a teachers need to be open minded and appreciate the suggestion or criticism for them.

The other value which teacher can obtain is that teacher has to be able to influence and control the students. In this case, teacher’s attitude and personality will be the main instrument to change the students’ behavior. Teachers is not a person which must make students afraid or scare, teacher can be ‘friend’ or ‘peer’ during the teaching and learning process without ignoring the power as a teacher.

The last, teacher need to appreciate the various potential of the students. Each student may have different talent, expectation, and attitude. However, all of them have positive potential that have to be developed. This is teacher chance as a professional education worker to turn the students to better. Teacher can adjust the teaching method and need to be the facilitator for the students in transferring the knowledge.

In conclusion, teacher does not only covey some learning material to the students but also educate them about morality, attitude and behavior. Besides, teacher takes the main control and influence of the students, then teacher need to take this chance to develop students’ potential.