ATTITUDES OF PUPILS TOWARD TEACHERS IN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS OF KENYA COLONY, AFRICA

Abstract

This study deals with one of the perplexing educational problems of the day; namely, the evaluating of a teacher’s effectiveness in the classroom. Opinions of students and their attitudes do condition their mind set with respect to classroom and subsequent studies, and it might be helpful for the improvement of teaching that attitudes be determined. The primary test of effective teaching is not the body of facts which the teachers have taught, but the changes which they have wrought in the attitudes, the visions, and the ideals of students. One real test of the performance of any teacher is the effect he has upon his pupils or the way they react to him day after day. Proposals for the evaluation of teachers by their students are intended to help teachers improve their teaching. Formal education in Kenya Colony is comparatively new. The last twenty-five years have witnessed the establishment of several schools. Pupils are having educational opportunities which were denied their fathers and mothers. This primitive culture has left its impact upon the education of youth. Teachers are held in awe similar to the rulers of the tribe. Pupils are controlled or disciplined through the means of corporal punishment. The teacher commands obedience through rigid discipline and the fathers do not object to control or means of control enforced on children by their teacher. There are instances when teachers exploit students by using student labor to dig, cultivate and harvest crops for teacher’s own personal gain. This practice is frowned upon by all members of European Supervisory Staff; however, African members would have tendency to treat such matters lightly. The teacher fears the wrath of the community in instances where few students pass their government examination, the first being given at the end of grade four. The primitive handling of the teacher may result in members of the community beating the teacher and driving him from their village.