Paying tribute to the Filipino teacher

Almost everybody will have at least one good memory of school – and this could very well be a teacher.

For many of us who have completed the basic requirements leading to a college degree, no less than a hundred teachers, including our mothers and other family members who encouraged us to say the first word or take the first step, were responsible for making us what we are today.

For this reason, many countries designate a fete to recognize the profound influence of teachers on people’s lives.

In the Philippines, the Department of Education has designated a month-long celebration of sorts, beginning Sept. 5 this year and culminating on Oct. 5, which incidentally is officially recognized as World Teachers’ Day.

This celebration called National Teachers’ Month (NTM), which began in 2008 as an idea of Br. Armin Luistro FSC, is indeed helping to recognize Filipino teachers and their contribution in shaping the country’s future leaders.

A lot of companies have also joined this bandwagon by providing all sorts of promos or activities that either reward teachers, or encourage pupils old or young to recount and relate how their lives took a major turn for the better because of a teacher.

Facebook, being one of the more favored social networking media of the times, carries a fairly popular and active site. If you want to be touched or simply know the latest, just search for “National Teachers’ Month” to find out what’s happening.

Challenges of teachers

While we’re on the subject, but not to be a spoilsport, this is a good opportunity to remind ourselves of another reason why we celebrate our teachers – and this is because we want our present and future teachers to excel and continue being inspirations to the next generations.

Having said this, we have to remind ourselves that our teachers – Filipino teachers to be precise – need the proper environment to fulfill the immense role that society expects from them.

Perhaps the biggest challenge facing our teachers, especially those serving in public schools, is the salary. We frown on stories of teachers that coerce their students or the student’s parents to buy goods from them. And while this is clearly an ethical breach, we have to understand why this is happening.

While there have been salary adjustments announced in the recent past raising the salaries of teachers, the remuneration levels are still way below what a hard-working public servant or employee responsible for shaping the lives of students should be given.

The issue of poor salaries comes hand-in-hand with the issue of an inadequate compensation package that is related to benefits such as health insurance, housing, training, and many others. It would be nice to see some of these concerns being addressed, especially during the month in their honor.

Digital world

We live in a radically fast-changing world, and the pressure on the teaching profession to prepare their students for this is even greater. Our teachers need the infrastructure to be able to demonstrate the new challenges that their pupils will face.

There is now no excuse for a remote barrio teacher to not be able to show students what a connected computer is, more so what it can do. If it’s not feasible with using mobile Internet stick, then let’s go for those satellite phones.

Then too, the world of learning need not be confined to the printed books. We’ve seen how the more affluent schools are now using tablets to assist their students in assimilating knowledge. If cost had been a constraint in the past, this is quickly changing now with lowered prices of gadgets.

What is really important now is to hurdle problems. It may take a couple or more strides, but if the mind is resolute to meet such challenges, then it can and will be done.

Effective habits

Finally, as I was preparing for this column, I came across a listing of 11 effective habits of an effective teacher. The following comes from Carrie Lam, who introduces herself as an academic director, teacher and workshop leader in Canada. The habits below have been shortened in view of space constraints, but you’ll get the gist. If you want the full version, email me for the link (it’s long). This starts with: An effective teacher …

1. Enjoys teaching: Make your lessons come alive by making it as interactive and engaging as possible. Let your passion for teaching shine through each and everyday. Enjoy every teaching moment to the fullest.

2. Makes a difference: Make a difference in [your students’] lives. How? Make them feel special, safe and secure when they are in your classroom. Be the positive influence in their lives.

3. Spreads positivity: Bring positive energy into the classroom every single day. Be someone who is always positive, happy and smiling.

4. Gets personal: Get to know your students and their interests so that you can find ways to connect with them. Don’t forget to also tell them about yours!

5. Gives 100 percent: Whether you are delivering a lesson, writing report cards or offering support to a colleague, give 100 percent. Do your job for the love of teaching and not because you feel obligated to do it.

6. Stays organized: Never fall behind on the marking or filing of students’ work. Try your best to be on top of it and not let the pile grow past your head!

7. Is open-minded: Prove that you are the effective teacher that you want to be. Nobody is perfect and there is always room for improvement. Sometimes, others see what you fail to see.

8. Has standards: Create standards for your students and for yourself. From the beginning, make sure that they know what is acceptable versus what isn’t.

9. Finds inspiration: Find inspiration from as many sources as you can. Whether it comes from books, education, Pinterest, YouTube, Facebook, blogs, TpT or what have you, keep finding it!

10. Embraces change: Instead of stressing about change, embrace it with both hands and show that you are capable of hitting every curve ball that comes your way!

11. Creates reflections: Keep reflecting on your work and educating yourself on what you find are your “weaknesses” as we all have them! The most important part is recognizing them and being able to work on them to improve your teaching skills.

I join the nation in thanking our teachers and wishing them the best in the conduct of their responsibilities, of course, with lots of support from the government and businesses, and from every one of us.

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