The Hippocratic Oath for Education

“I swear…to hold my teacher in this art equal to my own parents; to make him partner in my livelihood; when he is in need of money to share mine with him; to consider his family as my own brothers and to teach them this art, if they want to learn it, without fee or indenture.” ~ Hippocrates

I counted and considered the ten most influential people in my life yesterday afternoon while watching the sun rise over the Atlantic ocean. Much to my surprise, all but one of them was a teacher. Imagine that? Nine out of ten were teachers!

Teachers are stewards of the golden thread of knowledge that connects one generation to the next and humble yet noble torchbearers who light the way to self-realization. While some claim that “those who can, do and those who can’t, teach” I believe that such a statement fails to give credit where credit is due.

“I am not a teacher, but an awakener.” ~ Robert Frost

The role of the teacher in my estimation is exactly as Mr. Frost put it, that of an “awakener.” Teachers can serve to awaken many things, including:

• A passion for lifelong learning
• A hunger for self-realization
• The spirit of service
• Compassion, enthusiasm and assurance

Above all, teachers can help to cultivate the connection between the inner and outer selves, a never-ending process of refinement called maturation. Why is this important? or starters, there is greatness inherent in every person on earth and in a properly matured individual is capable of the easy and constant expression of genius resident in him or herself.

Teachers who limit themselves or who are limited by the rules of the game to only convey information are only scratching the surface of what is possible for a true teacher. Policy-makers must find ways to give teachers the tools and the room to create an atmosphere of inspiration, one that draws forth inherent greatness. I fear that too many of our students and potentially productive citizens are shut down in school rather than opened up.

Formal education should prime the pump for lifelong learning. Commencement should be more starters flag than checkered flag. Having been out of school now for nearly two decades, I can assure you that my happiest friends are those who never stopped learning, despite the fact that their formal education ended.

Good grades are no guarantor of productive citizenship. Neither is a diploma from the “right” school. Doors may be opened thereby, but at the end of the day, the value of each one is determined by the expression of each one, especially during times of adversity or pressure.

I believe that were each student to take the lesser-known Hippocratic oath articulated above, all things would be made new in the world. Such a statement of value would bolster the teaching community while enriching the experience of those taught.