The school system works in a bureaucratic hierarchy. Many see the principal towards the top of this with the students making up not just the majority but also making up the lowest level of this hierarchy. Satisfaction rates between students about their teachers vary and studies find that just 12 percent of U.S. teachers are very satisfied with their jobs. This could reflect on the quality of the education of these students. To determine how to improve the quality of education at Hauppauge, I surveyed students and asked them what makes a good teacher. Although there are some differences, answers share many common themes.
What was the Consensus?
Lydia, a Hauppauge High School Student, said a good teacher is a teacher who has a lot of passion and care for their students as well as a teacher who cares if the student succeeds or not. This is not just determined by emotion, but by putting in extra work to ensure success such as offering extra help to students. Another student similarly commented they are most pleased when teachers are invested in teaching the class, are interesting, and make an effort to talk to you about your current situation when you’re not doing well in the class. She also negatively commented on a lack of effort in teaching style such as giving you busy work. I interviewed Marina who commented in an almost identical statement, “A good teacher is someone who engages their students and tries to engage the class overall. Also, don’t give busy work!” The overall theme is the level of effort that teachers put in is the level of effort students will put in. When teachers don’t care if I’m learning, it makes me not care. Victoria and my fourth student interviewed commented similarly saying, “A teacher who’s understanding and treats students like friends while also actively teaching.” My 4th student interviewed chimed in and said, “Someone who gets to know their students works towards doing what students learn best with.” They both agreed that a teacher adapting to the learning style of their students is how to best create a positive environment.
What do I think?
I am beyond happy with my teachers this year at Hauppauge High School. They perfectly reflect what it means to be a good teacher and reflect the consensus of the students I surveyed. They provide me with a positive example which I am proud to describe as teachers who are understanding of my outside situations, who teach me both responsibility and academic principles, who offer support outside of hours, who treat me with respect while simultaneously treating me as a friend, and steering away from busy work and providing more meaningful work. A good teacher carries all of these principles but also is educated in the subject they teach above all else. I agree with the overall consensus of my survey but also emphasized being knowledgeable in their subject.
