Who Serves The Country Most - Teacher Or Soldier?

Ever wondered who serves the country most - teacher or soldier? Teachers and soldiers have always been a hot topic of debate about whose contribution is the crown of a country's glory. Because of their tremendous tasks of directing the present and future of a country's population, these two professions are critical to the fabric of the state.

Nevertheless, proponents of the two occupations intensely dispute their comparative value to their countries’ success and progress. The matter is fairly intricate and sophisticated.

The soldier's role in serving the nation, becomes sufficiently convincing considering the soldier's perspective. The country's soldiers work round the clock to safeguard the borders, prevent intrusion and terrorism, protect the population, and defend the integrity of the national borders.

The military personnel volunteer their lives by defending their country from foreign attacks and internal problems and manage conflicts whenever the state is in danger. The bedrock of the nation's security and stability, time and again, have been their unquestionable bravery, unshakeable devotion, and undying allegiance.

Additionally, soldiers assume the role of national ambassadors through their involvement in foreign diplomacy, humanitarian missions, and peacekeeping operations. Subsequently, their manners and conduct on the international scene can change that nation's reputation and its place in the world as well.

Nonetheless, the supporters of the teacher's role as the nation-builder argue that the education serve as the fundamental base for the nation's high performance, prosperity, and success.

It is the teachers who are charged with the duty of developing the minds of the current generation and moulding their character. Hence, they are the mentors of future generation.

By means of their commitment, love, and pedagogical knowledge, they teach students not only the norms, moral values, and skills but also the critical thinking techniques through which these people can become productive, and active members of their society.

Teachers and Soldiers' Dependence on Each Other

So, who serves the country most - teacher or soldier?

It would appear to some that this debate about the value of teachers over that of soldiers is, by analogy, a game that involves zero sums. On the contrary, the cross-fertilisation of these two occupations is more crucial than simply serving their interests.

The educational system is one of the crucial activities for the military to create well-educated, competent, and loyal citizens who will add to the military and industrial strength of the nation.  Teachers tend to create an environment that is supportive of learning, creativity, and zones of brain indulgence, and hence they rely on the military to ensure security and stability.

There is a need for recognition of the complementary participation of the soldiers' and the teacher's regard for the good of their nation. It is crucial to realise that the significance of the two jobs is not seeing them as competitors, but that in cooperation, where they promote a wealthier, safer, and more educated society.

The Teachers' Influence: Empowering Tomorrow

The teachers have a high and invaluable influence on national development in the long run, which cannot be neglected. Despite the bravery of our soldiers, who are on the frontlines and fight to protect the country’s borders from foreign threats, we cannot sideline the teachers.

The society of tomorrow is made of future citizens, leaders, innovators, and moralists who have their critical thinking, problem solving, and moral sense imparted by their dedicated teachers, who are also their repository of all academic information.

Teachers can influence the fate of a nation through the cultivation of kids' intellectuals and personalities. Its impact cannot just feel in the classroom, but also when its alumni evolve into the elite of scientists, entrepreneurs, lawmakers, and changemakers who will lead our country to a better future.

Teachers act as role models in the classroom, where they inspire the students to pursue their passions as well as motivate them to tackle challenges and give back to their communities. The effect that mentorship and guidance can have on the lives of youths is indeed be significant. It consequently allows them to become caring, participating, and contributing citizens to society.

Teachers additionally assist students in developing the state of citizenship duty, cultural respect, and social unity. The teachers mould the intellectual, emotional, and moral development of the minds of young people to produce a more learned, tolerant, and civic-minded population. This is the population that is important for the security and development of the country in the future.

Teachers play a very important role in the growth of society. They are the ones who are vital to shaping the mindset of the nation. It is impossible to think of a society without teachers and their contributions. A teacher does not just deliver information but they are the ones who dedicate themselves to educating the future generations. Children of the society are like soft clay whom the teachers with their love, dedication, and by being the inspirational power transcend the realms of the classroom and prepare the students to be successful members of the society not just in terms of acquiring degrees but by encouraging the young ones to strive for greatness, live their lives to the fullest potential. A good teacher is one who through his/her commitment to excellence and through their ability to make children realize their personal growth.

It is the teachers who spend the most amount of time with the students and are there through each pivotal stage of development. Spending six to eight hours a day with the students they are the most influential person in the student's life. Right from the elementary school, the middle school teachers are the ones apart from parents who guide the students through the most important transition: adolescence. As children become young adults, it is the teacher who imparts not just academic knowledge but also answers a myriad of questions that the students have in their inquisitive minds, listens to their problems, and teaches them how to go about the different phases of their lives. Teachers don't just watch the children grow but help the children grow.

Great teachers leave indelible marks on the minds of children who grow up to be very successful in life. There are so many aspects of life that teachers can touch on which are never detailed on a syllabus. In the process of helping children grow teachers are responsible for imparting some of life's most important lessons. The teacher's role in a student’s life is also defined as psychological. A teacher is not only an educator but also a psychologist who has to constantly read the emotions of the children. Every child is different and it is a great responsibility to try to understand them and shape their minds and the way they see the world around them. A good teacher will be able to inspire, while a bad one can kill the inspiration.

It is also teachers who instill in the minds of the children patriotic values, and love for their country. Teach the children about respecting the nation and the people living within its boundaries all the aspects that build a nation. The young adults who decide to join the army and serve the nation must have at some point of time during their student life been motivated, and inspired by their teacher to serve the nation and nothing could be better than joining the army.

Valuing the Present via the Sacrifices of Soldiers

The main role of the Army is to defend the nation against potential enemies. However, the role of the Army doesn’t end just there. The role of the Army in building the nation is enormous. National security can be conceived as the preservation of the core values and vital interests that are very critical for the nation from external and internal challenges. External security depends on national power which requires continuous enhancement of the country’s capacity to use its tangible and intangible resources in such a way that it affects the behavior of other countries. A strong military is necessary for the development and preservation of national power.

According to the words of Chanakya, "The soldier does not himself the Royal treasuries enrich nor does he the Royal granaries fill… The soldier only and merely ensures that… He is thus the very basis and silent, the barely visible cornerstone of our fame, culture, physical well-being, and prosperity; in short, of the entire nation-building activity.”

There are various ways in which the Army serves the nation, whether defending the country from external forces by putting their lives in the line of fire. Conducting humanitarian rescue operations during natural calamities and other events that disturb the normal process of life. For instance terrorist attacks within cities, like that of the 26/11 attack in Mumbai. Though the main objective of the Army is to defend the nation’s frontiers, the army is also taking the responsibility for internal security as and when required.

The soldiers, who go through immediate and compelling self-sacrifice to preserve the present, aren't to be underestimated, regardless of the fact that educators play a role that is invaluable in nation-building.

The men and women in uniform lay down their own lives to protect the lives, liberty, and well-being of their countrymen.

Soldiers have time and again shown their unwavering commitment to the nation and people by making sacrifices. They hold a significant role in making communities safer and more prosperous at present. Their profound acts of bravery are the inspiration behind the nation building.

Also Read : Soldiers from India who fought for the British in World War I

Education and National Security

However, tempting it is to look at the military’s immediate contribution to ensuring national security, and teachers’ role in shaping the countrymen- we cannot conclude the debate of “who serves the country most - teacher or soldier?” in a single statement.

Informed and educated citizens are the constituent base of any functioning nation. They influence democratic processes domestically as well as foreign affairs worldwide, including diplomacy and technological advancement.

Education can be used very efficiently to build bridges between peoples, entrenching peace and peaceful coexistence even in times of conflict. Teachers play an essential role in the development of students’ key behavioural traits. They provide students with logical thinking skills and a cross-cultural perspective on life and thereby promote peace by directing them to be nonviolent.

We need to highlight that the role of the teacher and soldier do not exist in isolation from each other. The teachers teach subjects that form the basis for a more secure peace, while soldiers protect the present from onslaughts from outside and disruption. Therefore, it becomes clear that their jobs are complementary.

In an effort to adjudge the professions that are more helpful to society—teaching or military service—it is vital to comprehend the role of both professions being tied together and having a complementary relationship.

For a nation to develop, flourish, and ensure peace, not only the soldiers and teachers the essential aspects, they are also the beacon to the future.

The country's sovereignty and the security of its borders, are protected by the brave soldiers who serve in the military. Teachers mould the future generation through learnings that will not only lead but also shape and reshape innovation and responsible decision-making for the society of the future.

It is important that these two critical professions need to be appreciated for how they come together to lead to a more knowledgeable, safe, and sound society rather than feeling like antagonists.

Coming back to the actual discussion of who serves the country most - Teacher or soldier? Well, both happen to be the most important pillars of our society. We cannot imagine our lives without both of them. No society is complete without teachers, nor can we think of a secure society without the Army. It is very difficult to put a value on the service that both of them extend to the society we live in. No school can function when the security of the country is compromised. The Army is much needed to keep the society running smoothly with the citizens of the country moving about freely. However, we also cannot deny the fact that we send our little one to school and it is the teacher who nurtures the kids, holds their tiny hands, and teach them how to walk talk, develop a positive attitude towards life. A child learns from a teacher the real meaning of patriotism, it is the teacher who instills in a child the love for the nation. Even when a student goes through his training as a soldier, it is again a teacher who has to teach him, train him to become one. In other ways, the soldier who protects our nation fearlessly is after all the product of the hard work of a teacher.

We may go on with the discussion, but there cannot be a comparison as such to the greatness of both these professions. It is like saying who is more important the “mother” or the “father”?

Both are the equally important, very strong foundations of our society. No society can either exist or grow without these two.