A Teacher through a Parent's Eyes

Every parent is a tad overly cautious when it comes to the education of their children; this seems to be especially true when they are choosing a teacher/tutor for them. This means in order to be a successful and appreciated teacher one needs to meet the parents' expectations first. Highlighted below are a few areas of consideration for parents when choosing the "ideal" teacher.

The primary concern for most parents is often the fees they pay to the institution or the teachers their child goes to. Though it is true that most parents will not hesitate to spend whatever it takes on quality education, if they do not see an improvement in their child's performance over time, they will start wondering if their money is going to waste and will inevitably start looking for other options.

Some students require individual attention in specific subjects. Keeping that in mind, a parent may look for teachers teaching a small number of students at one time to ensure the one-on-one attention that they desire. However, to other parents, the size of the classroom is of little concern. Some may even desire a large number of students, to give the child the taste of studying in a proper classroom or to train him to cope with university/college standards.

Often parents tend to fret about their children not studying enough at home. To ensure that they do, parents would like teachers to set homework and assignments for the student. A teacher who takes regular assessments and checks the child's homework thoroughly is undoubtedly a better option than one who doesn't.

A parent is satisfied with a teacher who regularly communicates with them regarding the child's performance. Informing a parent of the child's results, homework due dates, or absence in class gives a good impression of the teacher, and his/her sincerity to the parent.

A classic indicator of a teacher's skills is the overall result of his/her previous students. A parent feels obliged to send their child to the teacher whose students generally attain good grades. A senior student's recommendation regarding teachers may also be given ample consideration. To some parents, this may be a more important aspect than the teacher's degree in that subject.

However, the teacher's educational background is also an important aspect to take note of; some parents may consider choosing a PhD holder over a university student as their child's tutor. On the other hand, some parents may be of the belief that a university teacher may not be able to explain the topic in a manner suited for younger students.

Last, but not the least, a crucial concern for a parent is the child's feedback regarding his/her teachers. If the child feels as though the classes are too fast-paced, or the teacher's approach is difficult to comprehend, the parent is likely to consider changing teachers immediately.

Therefore communicate with your student to see how they like your classes and teaching methods, be open to suggestions and you should be a successful teacher/tutor in the eyes of both your students and their parents. 

Azman Anju Khan Chowdhury is the founder of Durnibar Foundation, a youth-based non-profit organisation. He loves to spread smiles across the faces of those who are ignored by society. Follow his explorations on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Azman.Anju.Khan.Chowdhury