The Role Of The Form Tutor - Essay Example

Recently, there has been a major concern on how the are educated in our society. Staff members represent an important resource in the development of pupils. This is by devoting their time and a great deal of energy to supporting the activities that the school administers. It is therefore necessary for the tutors to be more effective in their roles and responsibilities assigned to them. According to Bullock and Wikeley (2004) in developing countries for example education expenses have dominated their annual budgets for many years thus creating a huge difference in the education sector. This is because education is seen as a social factor and also as an economic activity that should be embraced by every member in a society. The finest individuals in a society are regarded to be those who are educated. Tutors can also be referred to as teachers who are a major part in every child’s development. This is because the time that they spend with the students matters a great deal in terms of their behaviours, morals and understanding. The above study will show the common roles of the tutor and how these roles have been changing over time. This will involve the use of different theories used in educational research. The study will also show the understanding that the pupils have in terms of the roles and responsibilities of the form tutor. Tutors are of different types for example private tutors comprise of those who are for academic development and coaching. There are also those who conduct tutoring online or at home. A private tutor mostly helps in academic activities for example if a student does not understand a particular subject then they can approach their partners for more explanation. Online tutoring is where the students share their views with a tutor who is always ready to help. To access this tutor a student has to register for easier communication. Some of these techniques used include chat, web conferencing and teleconferencing. The main role of tutors is to instill personal, social and health education (PSHE) and this training takes place outside the school setting. It is important to encourage students to develop physically through exercising and eating the best diet. Socially the tutors engage students into groups so that they may share their experiences at home or in the school compound. This makes the students feel at home and it also avoids other kinds of discrimination for instance racial, demoralization for instance in cases where pupils are mistreated at their homes they rebuild through interacting and playing with their peers (Grove 2004, p. 35). Roles of tutors vary in individuality as they act as parents, instructors and friends thus they are mostly concerned with all the qualities of a child. One role is that tutors are inspirer and act as moral booster. This is where the children really on what interests them most and what problems they face as a group in case one is dealing with a whole class. According to Carnell and Lodge 2002, p. 36) tutors also act as listeners as the pupils are able to talk to them once faced with problems both social and physical. The tutor has therefore to give the best advice that may not harm the child’s development. As counselors, they have first to posses the skills needed in counseling which include being good listeners and be in a position to spare their time to watch the progress of their pupils. They also act as communicators where important information is easily spread through them. They transfer information for example from the administration to the students putting it in the best and understandable manner. As problem solvers, the tutors engage the group in a good mind atmosphere and in case of conflicts among members of the group; tutors should be responsible of giving acceptable solutions according to the administrative rules. The whole group should also participate in solving the problem that affects all as this will reduce misunderstandings. They should also have some tome to offer administrative duties which are different from those that are in the school program. This will enhance relationship building through sharing of tasks. As nurturer, the tutors’ responsibility is to build self esteem among the members in a group. This will make the pupils want to spend more time with them as they feel that through interactions then they benefit more in development. Pupils will also feel free to share any problem affecting them. As enablers the tutors enable students in terms of improving their grades and helping students to achieve their goals in life. This will be facilitated by being proactive and make students make their own decisions. These decisions can be attained if the tutors are in a position of monitoring the students’ progress in their academic work. This will encourage pupils to put more effort in their learning outcomes and thus increase healthy competition among members (Best 2007). Apart from academic work, students should also be monitored in their development for instance socially and physically. This will help the pupils gain self-knowledge and understand their environment more. Physical development helps pupils especially teenagers to understand their bodies well and ask questions where it is necessary. Socially it is important to manage the pupils’ behaviours, morals and make them acquire discipline by first being a good example as this will encourage them to imitate certain kinds of traits. It is also important to reward the best pupils and praise them in front of their peers as this encourages good behaviours. Punishing wrong doers is necessary as it warns the rest and the individual will not repeat the act any more. Motivation can be achieved through encouraging group members to participate in other co curricular activities for example games, acting or even environmental cleaning. Tutors should support their groups by training them and encouraging them to gain courage in defeating their competitors. Carnell and Lodge (2003, p. 20) describes that this builds teamwork with the tutor being the team leader. It also shows that the group is united and that the group can perform other activities through little supervision. It also builds trust as the group members confide in their leaders for any secrets shared. In reference to the child’s welfare, the tutors set the tone of the day. This is through establishing a good learning environment for pupils to achieve high and quality learning. As a leader the tutors should be in a position of criticising their pupils to avoid repeating the previous mistakes. To develop the pupils’ knowledge it is important for tutors to maintain records of how their pupils they monitor behave both in the school environment and outside. These records enable the tutors to determine whether their members are progressing, maintaining the same grade or declining. Tutors also supervise pupils for example in assemblies and determine who is to participate in the activities this involve leading assemblies, prayers and preaching on behalf of the entire school congregation. The tutors also determine through analysis the best student to lead others as monitors or prefects. They should choose the best student whom they think will encourage the rest of the pupils to emulate behaviours and that they will all be at peace with each other (Best 2007, p. 250). The other role that encourage development in pupils is where the tutors are meant to check daily registers and contact book so as to inform the pupil’s parents about the child’s progress and in case of a problem the tutors can contact the parents to inform them about the problem. Other records that are important are about the family back ground, problems that a students face from family set up, and how the relate with their friends at school. This will enable the tutors to solve problems easily by checking the records and analysis. It also enables the group leader to offer advice to the discovered problems. Tutors also help in spreading information from the pupils to their parents through issuing letters and notices about the administrations’ activities for example meetings. The other role or the tutor is to ensure that the rules and regulations are followed as stipulated in the school curriculum. Other characteristics associated with a good tutor include; being a good role model, ensuring that there is mutual respect among the students and their leaders, being fair to avoid discrimination, being a good listener, expect much from the pupils in terms of development and finally is to motivate students to read other encouraging books such as story books to boost their thinking and development. Conclusion As a school administrator it is important to ensure that the tutors perform their duties effectively. This is because it improves pupils’ development socially and in academic activities. Tutors therefore need to encourage team work among members of the group they represent as this motivate those students who may be facing problems due to family background or who are unable to share their problems. Tutors should also check their conduct around their tutees as they act as role models and pupils’ especially young ones copy much behaviour from their tutors. References Best, R 2007, The whole child matters: the challenge of every child matters for pastoral care, Education, vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 249-259. Bullock, K & Wikeley, F 2004, Whose Learning? The role of the Personal Tutor, Berkshire: Open University Press. Carnell, E & Lodge, C 2003, Support for Students’ Learning: What the Form Tutor Can Do, Pastoral Care in Education, vol. 20, no.4, pp.12-20. Grove, M 2004, The Three R’s of Pastoral Care: Relationships, respect and responsibility, Journal of Pastoral Care in Education, pp. 34 – 38. Read More