Back in primary and secondary school, one of the most popular debates our teachers always brought up was Who is more important between a teacher and a doctor?, I remember then how we would split into two groups, some of us shouting on top of our voices that doctor is the greatest while others defended the teachers like their lives depended on it, and see back then, it was just vibes and noise, as in no real-life experience to back it up, We just wanted to win the debate and get bragging rights.
But now, thinking about it as an adult, I feel like I understand the whole matter differently, for me, I see the teacher as more important, here's my reason.
First, before anybody becomes anything in life , whether a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or even a president , somebody had to teach them something, you see a doctor cannot even learn how to read or write prescriptions without first passing through a teacher who taught them A, B, C D, even if you talk about traditional medicine men who did not go to formal school, they still learnt from someone ,so you see in a way, teaching is the root of everything.
I also think about my own life, There were times I met teachers who changed the way I saw myself, some teachers might not even know how powerful they are, but the words they speak stick with you for life, I remember one of my teachers in secondary school once told me, “Don’t be afraid of failing, just prepare better next time, ” then It sounded small then, but that line has carried me through so many tough situations, so yes, I do not joke with the role of teachers at all.
So see now, I am not saying that doctors are not important o, In fact, doctors save lives, and that one is not a small thing at all, when someone is sick or at the point of death, it is the doctor that steps in and brings relief to the family, so Imagine a world without doctors, it would be pure chaos I tell you, but even at that, before a doctor gets to that level of saving lives, a teacher has already put in the work.
So, if I am to really balance it, I would say doctors are like the ones who continue the job, but teachers are the foundation ,without the teacher, there is no doctor, no lawyer, no engineer, no nothing, even the doctor themselves will agree that before they wore the white coat, they sat in a classroom and learnt from someone who decided to pour knowledge into them.
For me, the teacher is more important because they shape the minds that later go out into the world to do great things, a good teacher can build a future doctor, while a bad teacher can also destroy confidence in someone that could have been great, that is how much power teaching carries.
So yes, looking at it now with more experience, I will stand on the side of teachers any day, Doctors heal, but teachers build, And seriously without the builder, what foundation will the healer even stand on?
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