The Doctor or the Teacher?
Revisiting the classic long-time doctor-teacher debate brings to mind funny memories. You could say naive as well, because we argued with little or no real idea of the realities. All we knew was that we were placed in either opposition or proposition sides and we dished out our little points that we thought best in this debate.
Perhaps, such debates still go on at that level of education today. I can't help but wonder how or what sparked such a comparison that has led to the popular, classic debate we've come to know. We're in a part of the world where teachers are undervalued. And guess what? Every child then wanted to be nothing far from a lawyer, pilot, engineer, or a doctor, most especially.
This was brought up, perhaps to bring a balance and value to the teachers’ efforts and duties. I guess we all know better today. So, as I try to reminisce on this and understand it, I was also considering what the prompt has asked. Who is more important, a teacher or a doctor? Well, I say let's dig in.
Rewind many years, I would have possibly answered this question loudly, with much enthusiasm like almost every other child, saying of course the doctor is more important. And permit me to present the following points that would have been the reasons for my answer. Doctors save lives. Yes, if not for the doctors, many people would die of one sickness or the other. They are the ones who treat us and help us stay healthy.
Rightly so. I mean, our world wouldn't be the same without the doctors. These are individuals highly respected in society for their contributions to human lives. Undeniably, these are well-deserved accolades. They should be recognised, acknowledged and appreciated for their unwavering efforts to ensure human health and life is a priority, including that of a teacher.
Now as an adult, with a better understanding of things and the world, what would be my take on the classic debate? Well, teachers are as necessary as doctors are. It isn't far from our knowledge that a doctor wasn't born a doctor. Rather, such a person went through a series of learning under the tutelage of a teacher. Safe to say, a doctor is a product of a teacher.
The teacher has the noble duty of not just teaching but nurturing a student's confidence to face life and achieve their best in it. The words of a teacher can make or break a student. The failures of some individuals began when a teacher used the wrong words on them, making them feel invisible and not special as opposed to others. It's a reality, but a sad one. Such is a teacher's impact.
The two professions are distinct in their services and duties. While one works to save lives, the other works to shape lives. Their distinct nature of work still points to a common effort in the society－the labour for lives to be better. As much as there's a comparison, a close look will reveal that both professions dispense similar labour, in distinct ways.
Who would you say is better? I leave it up to you to cast the vote.
Images are mine.