Teachers as Role Models

Rafe Esquith is one of America's most inspiring teachers and his thoughtful speech describes the important roles teachers play in a student's education. His speech offers some of the most basic, yet often unremembered lessons for the classroom. Rafe Esquith reminds teachers that in order to gain the respect of the classroom, they must behave in a respectable way towards the students. Teachers cannot expect students to listen attentively or to work diligently in an environment in which educators act irresponsibly or carelessly. The journey to success begins first and foremost with teachers; they must behave in a way that will enable students to reach their full potential. As explained by Rafe Esquith, teachers who fail to engage and actively interact with students will likely see negative results. Students rely on teachers for strong leadership and inspiration.