I am not often at a loss of words. I can usually express myself adequately.
This time, I know I am in trouble. It is going to be almost
impossible to give you a true sense of the total joy a good teacher gets from watching the light to go on in a student’s eyes. That light that tells
him the student finally understands what you have been trying to teach
him. It is impossible for you to feel the warm swell of pride that makes
you almost burst, as a student passes the test, you always knew he could.
How can you appreciate the sheer exhaustion that makes you want to
quit. The exhaustion that makes you ask, “Is this really all worth it?”
Only to get your answer loud and clear, when an old student brings in
his family and shows you the difference you made in his life. A good
teacher is a treasure.
I have known good several good teachers since I have been in
Dumaguete City. Mary Rose of Foundation High School is one of the
best. She combines knowledge and skills with dedication and compassion.
She is a role model that student teachers should emulate. I have
seen her devote long unpaid hours to her students and their projects.
When events force her
to expel a student, she
secretly broke down
and cried. She lost one
and it hurt. She cares
and is truly worthy of
the title, “teacher.”
If Mary Ro se
has a flaw, it is too
much dedication. She
often works herself to
the brink of exhaustion.
She has made
herself physically ill
by working too hard.
Mary Ro se, my
friend, you have a
great teaching staff.
Many of those teachers
are just as skilled
and dedicated as you
are. Give them the
chance to shine; to mold character and
change live s. You
have a good crew, let
them help.
Sadly, not all
teachers I have met
here are this good.
One teacher, at a different
school, augments
her meager salary
by overcharging
her students for supplies
she requires for
class projects. Another
teacher at a local
Univers ity has
students running personal
errands and
washing his vehicles.
Still another teacher,
at the same University,
told his students
that his course was
not important to their
major, so he does not
teach anything.
There are other
slackers out there
abusing and cheating
the students. I encourage
them to rere
ad the Teacher
Code of Ethics and
come ba ck from
dishonor. I hope the
Department Directors
and high school
Superintendents at all
our schools sta rt
making frequent and
unannounced visits to
the classrooms. The
students deserve our
best.
I firmly believe
in the credo, “If the
student fails to learn;
the teacher failed to
teach.” Our job as
teachers is not just to
impart knowledge
but to motivate. We
must make the student
want to learn
and make that learning
an exciting process.
I am proud to be
a teacher. Today’s
Everyday Heroes are
all those other dedicated
“Teachers” out
there truly worthy of
the title.
I am not often at a loss of words. I can usually express myself adequately.
This time, I know I am in trouble. It is going to be almost
impossible to give you a true sense of the total joy a good teacher gets from watching the light to go on in a student’s eyes. That light that tells
him the student finally understands what you have been trying to teach
him. It is impossible for you to feel the warm swell of pride that makes
you almost burst, as a student passes the test, you always knew he could.