“Hangga’t may bata, may gurong kakalinga.” A saying fitted to the educational values of every Filipino.
Teachers in the Philippines are highly-appreciated. We believe that they are playing important roles in the society.
So, it is a fact that a teacher should love his profession much.
I was surprised that there were teachers who are now in the field of teaching but their hearts were not on it yet. I have read an article in Personal Answers column in Health and Home Magazine by Lucile Bernardino-Tañalas. On the letter send to her by an avid reader who happened to be a teacher she gave a wise advice to the reader to be honest with her mom and choose the profession she really wanted.
After four years of studying and passing the LET exam, she was given the opportunity to teach in a school but with a low salary. Thinking that the compensation she was receiving is the reason of her unhappiness she resigned and look for a better school with high salary. After two years, the same scenario, she was still unsatisfied and she felt guilty every time that she can’t control her students. She admitted that being a teacher was not her desire but her mom’s choice. She really wanted to resign but she doesn’t want her mother to be disappointed. However, deep inside her heart she’s blaming her mother for her unhappiness.
It is really an eye opener that this profession requires a lot of love and patience. Every teacher wants to be a good and a model but the question is how to be a good teacher? Other says, not only good but better or probably be the BEST.
I have here some suggestions that could help those newly graduates of EDUCATION who are planning to teach in this coming school year 2012-2013.
a. Good teachers know how to control their emotions at all time. Amidst the growing confusions and anxieties that are present in the classrooms of teachers nowadays, add more pressure brought up with enlarged and difficult responsibilities, good teachers, must know the word of self-preservation, which knows to calm down and hold emotions at the right place at the right time. Unnecessary outbursts such as shouting, threatening, or striking out a student never yield plausible result but will only make escalate problems.
b. Good teachers are always consistent. They set up few yet attainable goals. Views the confusion well every time a class departs the room loudly and the teacher will always flash a pleasant smile.
c. Good teachers are smart and caring. They are always prepared to listen every time a student speaks to them. Directly looking at the person speaking, with warmth and sincerity should observe. No student can lay blame on them of the glassy and crabby stare, but with the popular, “teacher’s smile.”
d. Good teachers are good conversationalists. Their voices are affectionate, distinct, and well-modulated. Children are eager to partake, as teachers provide and trigger an invitation for a hearty discussion.
e. Good teachers consult others. They know that they do not have all the answers. When students fail to respond to corrective treatment, these teachers seek the help of parents, a counseling teacher, or principal. Working with others does not entail loss of prestige, for these teachers are concerned only with the welfare of the students. Anyone who acknowledges his need for expert advice, they believe, is to be honored.
These are only suggestions but still on the actual field of teaching, the teacher should know the individuality or the differences of her students and this could help her to use strategies, techniques, styles and methods suited to every learner.
Indeed, teacher should bear on mind that teaching is a noble-profession. And one important responsibility of every Filipino teacher is to mold a productive JUAN DELA CRUZ of the country.
By: Ms. Glenda D. Cruz | Teacher II | Orion National High School, Orion, Bataan
