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Why does it matter what teachers believe?
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It matters because they impart their philosophy and worldview to their students.
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Students are smart and frequently fairly intuitive. They can smell hypocrisy which is very interesting to observe. Teachers teach what they believe. For example, if a teacher believes in evolution, then they teach death before Adam, whether they realize it or not. That is a great opening to teach grace and that kids can pray for their teachers too because we should pray for those in authority over us because they are people too. My job is not to judge, but to model love and grace. Not always easy, but key for my growth and theirs. After all, we should practice what we preach as the old saying goes. Out of the heart proceeds the true intents of a person, and I will be known by the fruit I produce, or don’t.
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Because it shapes who they are and how they treat students.
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As was considered in an earlier module, our beliefs inevitably manifest themselves both in the content we teach and, perhaps more importantly, in the way we conduct ourselves and treat our students. It is simply impossible to divorce our beliefs from our lives. So, what we believe about ourselves, our content, our students, God, the Bible, parents, etc. all matters.
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Whatever you believe in your heart is what will come out in your actions.