Undoubtedly, the best source of propositional knowledge is available on the internet. So why do we still need teachers?
If the matter was simply about information, there would be no need for the internet or artificial intelligence either, as facts already exist. While it appears that teachers primarily provide information, this is merely the surface or the “show window” of their role. The real work of a teacher lies in guiding students through the “human game” and helping them practice it. Of course, not all teachers fulfill this role; many have succumbed to corruption and simplicity, much like other societal institutions.
The Teacher Will Return to Their True Purpose
In the past, when information was not readily accessible, we relied on teachers as intermediaries for the knowledge they conveyed. Now, the importance of individual statements has diminished, and it is time to focus on the essence of education. Those involved in education already know that it brings gains beyond mere knowledge transfer, such as research, communication, social skills, critical thinking, and self-regulation. Even those who are indifferent to these aspects will realize the significance of teachers once rote learning is no longer the focus. Both the teacher and the learner will come to understand that the true knowledge is the knowledge of virtue and that the primary goal is for individuals to learn how to manage their own perceptions. Teachers will recognize the value of spending meaningful, human-centered time with their students and the importance of imparting public awareness and common sense.
Being a Teacher in the Information Age Is an Advantage
While teaching is often listed among professions that may disappear, it is in fact becoming more valuable now. What can a student do with information they can gather from anywhere? Teachers are indispensable as guides and protectors. Families do not always keep up with societal norms and are often ill-equipped to prepare their children for the future. The future will be overwhelmed with excessive information, making the teacher as a guide more essential than ever. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly difficult for families to adapt to societal norms due to the rapid pace of generational change and the complexity of understanding societal averages. Although the number of teachers may decrease, the role of guidance will become even more critical in the age of information. For this, however, teachers must be lifelong learners, constantly evolving individuals, and the profession of teaching will inevitably become more challenging.
Teachers Must Love Learning and Be Guardians of Knowledge
How can a teacher prepare students for life? First, by being a constant learner themselves, staying up-to-date with developments, and embodying the role of a student. Teachers like this are rare today and will become even rarer in the future. This is because as schools become more widespread and class sizes increase, teaching salaries often remain low and unattractive. Future teachers will be those who dedicate their hearts to learning and make intellectual curiosity the central joy of their lives—the guardians of knowledge.
All great prophets, philosophers, and geniuses were, at their core, teachers. These great individuals were considered great because they taught society something valuable. They prepared people for the future and, in doing so, learned as teachers themselves.
Students Want to See Strength and Limits
Young teachers can learn strength from experienced ones. People follow those they admire or wish to please. Strength can come from knowledge, but if a teacher lacks admirable qualities, they will be ineffective. Students strive for visible goals and embrace challenges that help them grow. They enjoy being limited as long as there is a vision, a visible shore to reach. Humanity’s problems also boil down to these two principles: we label and judge to conserve energy. Students will watch for opportunities to label and judge their teacher. For this reason, a visionary and challenging educational environment with clear rules and boundaries is always essential.
Even a teacher without extensive technical knowledge can serve as a guide to the future by adhering to these principles. Through practices such as role-playing, imitation, cause-and-effect reasoning, and risk-taking—similar to the lessons learned in mandatory military service—they can prepare students for the struggles of the future.
We Cannot Know the Future, but We Can Know the Present
The future is inherent in the present, and the past is a continuation of the future. Education connects us to humanity’s collective past. Today’s human existence is the result of the efforts of billions who came before us. If living is experiencing, then education is the preparation for those experiences. Education turns “me” into “us,” helping individuals become both themselves and “others.” Yet, the past was also for the future—it moved in a direction. Forgetting the past or clinging to it are both dangerous. Excessive concern for the future may cause us to forget the rules of the human game, such as compassion and cooperation. Clinging to the past may lead us to overlook practical knowledge and solutions. This is why focusing on the present and finding satisfaction in the moment with students is crucial. After all, neither the past nor the future has ever been directly experienced—there has always been only the “now.”
The Problems of the New Generation Are Not About Education
The issues young people face have little to do with us. Their biggest grievance is YouTube not working in the background. Their greatest fear is something happening to their phone. Their most significant desire is to own the most expensive things. Even if there were issues, we are unable to perceive them. We have disconnected from life. By alienating ourselves from production, we have come to accept what is already made. By accepting ready-made products, we have also accepted ready-made thoughts. Everything came to us as a product. We stopped thinking. Just as we use bread, water, and phones without knowing how they are made, we have begun to live without understanding politics or even our own origins. We have forgotten where our technological toys come from and, in doing so, have forgotten where we come from. Even our language has changed. We started using the meanings given by global financial markets.
Of course, every new generation looks this way to the previous one. A baby sees a child, a child sees a teenager, and a teenager sees the elderly as pitiful. This is not about the generation itself but about advancing in the “human game.” The elderly will continue to complain, and it is these conservative complaints that prevent young people from going too far astray. To shift the focus of the youth, we must illuminate the environment by being present and connected with them.
The Teacher’s Job Has Always Been Difficult and Will Only Get Harder
The effort required to nurture individuals has increased throughout history and will continue to do so if society persists. In education, the quantity of learners has risen, often at the expense of quality. The decline in quality is the price we pay for societal advancement—a kind of thermal equilibrium, balancing the front and back to keep society moving together.
Teaching Is Lifelong Learning
For those who love to learn, teaching in the future will be easier. A teacher who loves learning can learn from their students and create meaningful dialogues. Such teachers move beyond technical knowledge, embracing the wisdom of virtue and understanding that working for money is not what truly matters. A lifelong learner has no free time because learning happens continuously, regardless of time or circumstances. The future teacher is, in a sense, the ideal human—a model for students to follow.
