A Study of Mental Health and Job Satisfaction of Elementary Teachers

Abstract

National development, social reconstruction and overall progress and prosperity of the society have ever been quite convincingly recognised to be closely linked with the system of education of the land. In our plan and action this has ushered in a movement for universalisation of education. In the socialistic pattern of society and a democratic set up we have accepted education as a fundamental right of one and all. In the fitness of things, decency both in the means and ends of education express quality in education. Eventually all this comes to be known as the effectiveness of education. By effectiveness of education, we mean to receive quality education to produce intelligent learners and responsible citizens of the country. The yardstick of effectiveness of education remains to be its capability of maintaining a regular and sufficient supply of personally satisfying and socially useful individuals. Education is fundamentally a phenomenon of interaction between the teacher and pupil. The society develops a frame work of curriculum which serves as the laid down track for the runway of education. The teacher as a professional worker, a group leader and a facilitator of learning virtually goes to stamp the ultimate outcome of this network of interaction, i.e. education. For all practical purposes, the quality of education is primarily reflected in the quality of its teachers. The quality of teachers moulds and shapes the quality of education. In this context, we are strikingly reminded of the so oftenly quoted remarks of the Education commission (1966, p 46) "of all the factors which influence the quality of education in and its contribution to national development, to quality, competence and character of teachers are undoubtedly the most significant. Nothing is more important than securing a sufficient supply of high quality recruits to the teaching profession providing 1 them with the best possible professional preparation and creating satisfactory conditions of work in which they can be fully effective. " Our traditional education heritage considers teaching as a noble profession, besides being an art. These are some who teach to live and others who live to teach. The later category is the one who seeks effective means of teaching. Effective teaching is the outcome of being an effective teacher, success in teaching at all levels depends mainly upon the teacher, who are the real architects of a nation. Their role in developing the character and vision of the citizen of the future is unique. The Secondary Education Commission (1953) rightly points out that, "The most important fact in our contemplated educational reconstruction is the teacher, his personal qualities, his educational qualifications, his professional training and the place that he occupies in the school, as well as in the community" Teacher to be the real manager of classroom teaching-learning process must have skills, competence, inclinations and, of course, entire satisfaction with his Job. Teacher's mental health and job satisfaction play an important role in the teaching - learning process. If the teacher is not in sound mental health, he can do incalculable harm to the nation in terms of poor guidance to the students. Hence he cannot do justice to the job assigned to him.