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Viewpoint

“ Essentially, academics should give

students the necessary tools to

learn independently and provide an
”
environment of mutual respect.

believe and agree unanimously. Essentially, academics should give students the necessary tools to learn
independently and provide an environment of mutual respect. The irony of the situation is that some
professors assert they are philosophers like Socrates who “do not teach anybody anything, but only make
them think.” However, some have tunnel vision about what they should teach and do not permit students
to share their opinions. For example, some professors in academia believe in one political party and
teach the students to vote based on these views, imposing their ideas on their students. These professors
want to be the protagonist of the classroom and usually do not accept any challenge from the students.
So where is the free thought?
In particular, respect is an abstract concept that should be operationalized in academia. Respect
should rule the world and, of course, should be present in the classroom. An educator should offer
respect to her students in order to receive respect from them. A professor should respect students’
opinions, not telling them what to think but rather drawing from the students the probable answer or
their perceptions. If a student opposes the educator’s view on politics, the educator ought to respect a
different point of view and not demean the student in any way.
To be an educator at any level from kindergarten to graduate school, one should be willing to
go back to school and learn new ideas and beliefs, as well as to take exams to feel what students
experience. To be a good educator, one must be a student again—study, read about new trends and
tendencies, be passionate about technology even if one does not understand how it works, and also learn
from Millennials, Generation Z, and others. As Socrates asserted, “An honest man is always a child.”
Educators should try to fulfill students’ expectations by being honest, admitting that they do not know
everything, while connecting with others by understanding their origins and beliefs.
As an educator in a constant search for excellence, I have studied for many years and have learned
many techniques in education, including the need to develop great rapport with students in order to
establish a mutually respectful learning environment with and for them. Students should learn as much
as they can so they can thrive in life and become citizens who contribute to society.
What constitutes a good educator? Educators must be inspiring but, more importantly, be honest,
respectful, and sensitive as they work to walk in their students’ shoes.

Note: All citations of Socrates from Goodreads. (n.d.) Socrates: Quotes. https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/275648

Dr. Daphne Martinez, a member of Delta Chapter in Puerto Rico State Organization, has been teaching since 1985, working at the junior high and
high school levels before moving to the university level. An avid reader in both English and Spanish, Martinez describes herself as an eternal student.
She currently directs a federal program called Student Support Services, whereby first-generation, low-income, and disabled students are accepted at
the University of Puerto Rico and have private tutoring, counseling, and advising to help them graduate in 4–6 years. dapmarluengo@gmail.com

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