The imperfect teacher

I think there is fear instilled upon students not to make mistakes.  I think there is an expectation for students to conduct as themselves as they perceive their instructors expect them to - a perfect specimen.  Yet, I firmly believe if we are truthful about it, then we must embrace the fact that we each and every one of us is flawed.  That as consummate a profession as we may want to project ourselves, the truth is we are imperfect beings constantly and consistently aiming for perfection. That we are all in the process of fine tuning ourselves and the art and science that we practice.

The goal, then, is not to have students avoid mistakes, to tread with trepidation, but instead to show them that here at the big leagues, we are capable of screw ups, but more importantly we are capable of overcoming it and turn it into art.  A teacher, then, is not someone who was perfect, but someone who is smart enough to learn from the mistakes of others, and to own up readily those they make themselves.    

We are like bullets aiming for the bull's eye, unless we are inches away, the reality is we will always travel a deviated course dictated by laws of nature, accounting for gravity, temperature, and wind.  The goal is not to shoot straight, but instead to learn to adjust accordingly until the aim is true consistently, no matter the changes in circumstances.

That takes a lot of trial and error, that takes courage from knowing that it is likely we will miss, and hope eternal that we have a chance of hitting spot on.  Confidence, therefore, does not stem from a controlled environment, or rigid adherence to standards of perfection.  Confidence stems from knowing one has a reasonable expectation of screwing up royally but still overcome it in the long run.  Confidence then becomes an innate factor and not an extraneous variable.

Fear creates unnecessary tremors. Unrealistic expectations begets undue stress.  An educator's objective should therefore create an environment where it is alright to mess up.  After all, when and where else can a student afford to blunder if not under the auspices of a teacher?  Energy is wasted on fear.  We dare not approach if we create an ideal image of perfection.  After all, isn't that the same with dating.  We don't ask someone out because they are perfect, but because there is a chance beneath all that "perfection" is an equally flawed being who will accept us and grow with us.

On a side note... don't date your students or teachers, it complicate things.