Bertrand Russell argues that teachers should have self-determination over curriculum to educate students in a liberalizing way rather than just preparing them for exams. He believes teachers have become overworked and unable to inspire students due to being controlled by those who don't understand education. Russell argues that teachers must be given independence from government control to prevent totalitarianism and impart civilization, promoting tolerance, humanity, and impartial knowledge to students.

1. Functions of a Teacher
Bertrand Russell
Summary & Analysis

2. Bertrand Russell
1872 – 1970 CE

3. Bertrand Russell was a British philosopher,
writer, social critic and political activist. In the
early 20th century, Russell led the British “revolt
against idealism”. He is considered one of the
founders of analytic philosophy. He was awarded
Nobel Prize for Literature for 1950 “in recognition
of his varied and significant writings in which he
champions humanitarian ideals and freedom of
thought.” Roads To Freedom, Principia
Mathematica, Marriage And Morals, The
Conquest Of Happiness, History of Western
Philosophy, etc, are a few of his famous writings.

4. Self-determination of teacher
It is the teacher who determines
what is necessary for the pupils to
get well educated, civilized, but alas
“the immense majority of
educational institutions are
hampered and controlled by men
who do not understand the work
with which they are interfering”.

5. Russell defending teachers
How Russell defends a teacher from
becoming propagandist or a slave in the
hands of government:
“The only way to prevent totalitarianism
in our highly organized world is to secure
a certain degree of independence for
bodies performing useful public work,
and among such bodies teachers deserve
a foremost place.”

6. Russell on overworking teacher
“Most teachers are overworked and are
compelled to prepare their pupils for
examinations rather than to give them a
liberalizing mental training. The result is that
many of them become harassed and nervous,
out of touch with recent work in the subjects
that they teach, and unable to inspire their
students with a sense of the intellectual
delights to be obtained from new
understanding and new knowledge.”

7. Russell’s conclusion
“The function of a teacher, however, is not
merely to mitigate the heat of current
controversies. He has more positive tasks to
perform, and he cannot be a great teacher
unless he is inspired by a wish to perform
these tasks. Teachers are more than any other
class the guardians of civilization. They should
be intimately aware of what civilization is, and
desirous of imparting a civilized attitude to
their pupils.”

8. Functions of a teacher
Education is necessary for everyone and it should
be given by the State but teachers should be
given self-determination to choose and
determine the objectives and contents of
curriculum.
Education in different countries should not be
different as it is subject to propaganda.
Russell wants to save a teacher becoming a tool
in the hands of the government, and revert the
profession of teaching from slavery to creativity
and revolution.

9. Functions of a teacher
Teacher should differentiate between right
and wrong , otherwise he turns out to be a
propagandist. If he is preferring his own
nation, religion and culture without making
difference between right and wrong, then he
is not a teacher rather a propagandist
teaching envy, pride and cruelty to his
students. Welfare of mankind, i.e. humanity,
should be the first priority as a function of a
teacher. He should not twist reality as per
desire of his government.

10. Functions of a teacher
The functions of a true teacher are to turn
cruelty into kindness; to educate and teach
equality by serving mankind and promoting
education; to teach tolerance to his students.
Bertrand Russell's aim is to establish peace for
every country, each nation and all religions.
Russell’s arguments in ‘The Functions of a
Teacher’ save a teacher from becoming a tool
of propaganda in the hands of government.

11. To conclude
"Teachers are the agents of civilizations in this
world making people courageous, bold and
learned in whatever has gone and whatever
may come.“ Therefore, every teacher should
impart true knowledge to the students. He
should teach objective realities being
impartial and neutral. He should not
surrender before state or dictator. Rather he
should instil the teaching of freedom and
tolerance to produce a healthy nation.

12. Points to Remember
The role of a teacher in antiquity and
modern age.
Emancipation of a teacher in pre-historic
times.
Modern teacher merely a slave or a tool of
the government.
Teacher should be a guardian of civilization.
He must be impartial and neutral.