KR

Forwarded from Roots Of Knowledge ROK 😊

Some advice to my fellow teachers out there

As a teacher, you have to understand how your words land. Most students will take what you say as absolute. If you don’t make it clear what’s fixed and what has scope for difference, then you’re doing a disservice. Just because you hold a particular opinion doesn’t mean it’s the only one. Students shouldn’t walk away thinking everything they heard was final.

You also need to know your audience. Beginners need beginner-level material. Intermediate students need to be pushed, but within reason. Advanced students need depth and exposure to difference. Not every student should be taught in the same way. But unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens. Everyone gets the same treatment regardless of where they’re at.

Students, on the other hand, have a role to play too. They need to study with different teachers not people of deviation, but those who come from other valid scholarly backgrounds. If they don’t, they end up stuck in a bubble. And when that happens, they start to assume that their view is the view, and everyone else is off-track. It’s a dangerous mindset, but sadly it’s very common.

I’ve seen it too many times students graduating after years of study, and still unable to process difference, even within their own madhhab. It takes them years to unlearn that. Some never do. And when they start teaching others, they end up passing on the same narrow vision.

Part of the problem is when teachers allow emotion and loyalty to certain groups or mindsets to creep into the way they teach. It creates a sort of group-think, where their students become followers of a person or an institute rather than seekers of truth. It’s not obvious at first, but over time it becomes clear: everything revolves around a certain personality or a specific approach, and any difference is seen as a threat.

This needs to be addressed. Teachers need to be honest with students. Let them research, let them ask, let them see the full picture. You’re not doing them any favours by hiding difference or forcing them into silence. If your teaching doesn’t allow space for questions or critical thinking, then it’s just indoctrination.

We don’t want parrots. We want students who think students who can disagree with respect, who know where opinions come from, and who understand that this Deen has depth and breadth. That won’t happen unless we start teaching honestly.

💯19

www.tgoop.com/KnowledgeRevival/16165

1.29K viewsIsmail, Oct 9 at 20:10

Some advice to my fellow teachers out there

As a teacher, you have to understand how your words land. Most students will take what you say as absolute. If you don’t make it clear what’s fixed and what has scope for difference, then you’re doing a disservice. Just because you hold a particular opinion doesn’t mean it’s the only one. Students shouldn’t walk away thinking everything they heard was final.

You also need to know your audience. Beginners need beginner-level material. Intermediate students need to be pushed, but within reason. Advanced students need depth and exposure to difference. Not every student should be taught in the same way. But unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens. Everyone gets the same treatment regardless of where they’re at.

Students, on the other hand, have a role to play too. They need to study with different teachers not people of deviation, but those who come from other valid scholarly backgrounds. If they don’t, they end up stuck in a bubble. And when that happens, they start to assume that their view is the view, and everyone else is off-track. It’s a dangerous mindset, but sadly it’s very common.

I’ve seen it too many times students graduating after years of study, and still unable to process difference, even within their own madhhab. It takes them years to unlearn that. Some never do. And when they start teaching others, they end up passing on the same narrow vision.

Part of the problem is when teachers allow emotion and loyalty to certain groups or mindsets to creep into the way they teach. It creates a sort of group-think, where their students become followers of a person or an institute rather than seekers of truth. It’s not obvious at first, but over time it becomes clear: everything revolves around a certain personality or a specific approach, and any difference is seen as a threat.

This needs to be addressed. Teachers need to be honest with students. Let them research, let them ask, let them see the full picture. You’re not doing them any favours by hiding difference or forcing them into silence. If your teaching doesn’t allow space for questions or critical thinking, then it’s just indoctrination.

We don’t want parrots. We want students who think students who can disagree with respect, who know where opinions come from, and who understand that this Deen has depth and breadth. That won’t happen unless we start teaching honestly.

BY KR