Teaching Metaphor

A Bridge
There are so many ways and metaphors to describe a teacher and what teaching philosophy
represents. It is often compared with different careers at different intervals. Some of the qualities
of a bridge connect with the qualities of a good teacher therefore I view teaching as being a
bridge. A bridge supports its own weight and that of its traffic.
A definition of a bridge is a structure that is built to span physical obstacles such as a body of
water, valley or a road for the purpose of providing a passage over those particular obstacles.
There maybe different designs to a bridge however they all solve the same problem. My mother
was considered in my view the greatest teacher I know. I would hear her singing and I did not
understand what she was saying, so I would mumble while she sang. When she recognized what
I was doing, she started by breaking up the song into pieces so I would learn it, and then slowly
connect the pieces together. When I finally got the pieces together I realized that it was the
alphabet she was singing to me. She would sing and write letters on a piece of paper, thats how I
learned the alphabet and writing even before I got into primary school. My favourite primary
school teacher, possessed the qualities of a bridge, and helped me across a large expanse of
water, which is learning. At times I thought that I would fall in but she knew the destination to
the other side. She led me to new levels and new ways of thinking.
A bridge provides stability in its structure and its design. This allows the bridge to withstand
disasters like earthquakes. Some earthquake like disasters which teachers have to withstand are
issues in the classroom, students behaviour and other situations they maybe facing. Proper
training is a necessity for teachers to assist their students and to maintain integrity. A bridge
integrity and structure is able to withstand water, wind and other situations that may arise. A

Teaching Metaphor

teachers moral and ethics comes to the forefront where integrity and stability is concerned. A
teacher must set an example, know what the right thing is and do it.
One of my secondary school teachers, Ms. Bacchus, invited me to cross and facilitated me all the
way. I felt confident in my learning because I knew she would not collapse or allow me to
collapse and fall into the river of despair called failure. Like a bridge a teacher has to span the
distance between two extremes, be the one who bridges the gap while providing longevity, and
carries its traffic efficiently. A teacher is also responsible for bridging the relationship between
the school, parents and the community.
My personal philosophy on teaching is to educate today to save the generation of tomorrow. As a
teacher I invite my students to cross and with a strong structure facilitate their weight and
provide safe passage for them. Looking back at my favourite teachers, they are the exact
description of a bridge. They were able to provide the passage for ideas, open the path to enable
me to function effectively and connect me to different places. I intend to continue to do the same
for my students.

Esther Douglas