Republic
Act No. 7836 known as Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994,
Article
1, Section 2 states that “The State recognizes the vital role of teachers in
nation-building and development through a responsible and literate citizenry. Towards
this end, the State shall ensure and promote quality education by proper
supervision and regulation of the licensure examination and professionalization
of the practice of the teaching profession.” To be the ones to shoulder the
responsibility of nation building is no easy task. That is why, as a teacher,
being a role model is one of the “visual aid” that he or she needs to be. But
teachers are not perfect, as all humans do, we commit mistakes.
In
this article, I will cite some malpractices I have observed in some teachers.
Yes, I am a teacher; I am not perfect, too. But this is one time in my life
that I will be able to express my thoughts anonymously and cite some
suggestions. If you know me, you can tell if I did something which could be
coded under malpractices of teachers, but this is my time to do it, so let me.
Responsibility
and Accountability of a Filipino Teacher states on page 7 under Characteristics
of an Effective Teacher that “Effective teaching is responsible teaching”.
How
come there are still ‘learners’ who doesn’t learn? Many times I’ve heard that
if many of the learners in the class do not understand the lesson of the
teacher, then there is something wrong with the way the teacher delivers the
lesson. If you give a five – item quiz to the class and most of them got 3, and
you have taught them the lesson more than twice, it is believed that the
teacher was not effective in teaching. Maybe the strategies were not right for
the level of thinking of the pupils. Yet, many times I see teachers still stick
to the same strategy that made the pupils fail the quizzes.
This
is one of the common malpractices of teachers I have observed that I am now in
the field. Yet, sometimes, ineffectivity of the teacher in the classroom is not
the only and the ultimate malpractice that a teacher could commit in the
profession. Unprofessionalism is one of the greatest malpractice a teacher
could ever do in the field. What is unprofessionalism? Before we go to that,
let us discuss the root of the word.
Profession
is a paid occupation,
esp. one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification. Being a
Professional (of a person) engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid
occupation rather than as a pastime. Being unprofessional is below or contrary
to the standards expected in a particular profession.
What
is unprofessionalism then? Unprofessionalism,
not conforming to the standards of a profession, which means that standards,
which could be considered as norms of the profession, should be followed by the
professionals so as not to be called as unprofessional.
When
does a teacher like me become unprofessional? There are many ways. Some are so
downgrading to mention so I won’t mention those. I would like to mention a few
though because it seems to be common in people but just out of bounds to be
done by teachers like us.
Teachers,
as all people do, crave for gossip. But sometimes, gossip within the teaching
field is very grave that it leads to breaking up relationships between the
groups. Teachers, as always, talk about
their school heads when she or he is not around. They call them names, make fun
of how they talk, walk, laugh, dress up and everything about him or her. Why
does this happen? It is because they do not like the standards set by the
school head. They don’t want to be bugged about the requirements they need to
pass and the deadlines set for these requirements. They don’t want dress codes
when it is Friday, the free day to choose what to wear. They don’t want their
log in and out to be checked and they don’t want to be reprimanded because of
it. Like hard – headed children, teachers act this way.
If
this happens, I believe the school head should do the first step to make things
clear. She or he should tell that she or he needs the requirements because they
were told to pass it on a certain date. If they do not feel good about these
requirements, she or he doesn’t feel good about it, too. Since this is the job
they choose, everybody must do his or her share.
On
choosing what to wear, I believe this is a very common problem. Even parents’
have this problem with their children. Teachers are models, especially in the
dress code. You cannot wear mini - skirts on Fridays to not let your male
pupils gaze at you like an artist from Hollywood who they fantasize about.
Respect starts on how a person dresses up so the teacher should dress properly:
no mini – skirts, no sleeveless tops, no see – through blouses and tight –
fitting jeans. For the male, tight fitting jeans is not allowed, too. Polo or
polo shirts will do for both males and females.
Being
seen in night bars and clubs enjoying a night out is not a good idea also.
Drinking in public, especially in view of your audience for the class the next
day is not going to help you teach moral values. Your pupils will defy you in
every way they can knowing that you are not a good citizen more than they are.
Even
outside the school, a teacher should remain a teacher in her ways. Never, ever
become a common person because just like Lindsay Lohan, your community follows
your every move.
In
my case, I do not show myself often in our community. I am inside the house
most of the time (good thing I am a home buddy). My pupils who are my neighbors
asked me once, “Why weren’t you there when we passed by your house last
Saturday, ma’am?” When I told them I was inside the house, they asked me why
don’t I go outside and I answered them if what I am going to do outside the house.
They said that I could talk to the neighbors. I answered, “I don’t go out of
the house to just talk. That’s a dangerous thing to do.”
Why
do I think talking with the neighbors was dangerous? Well, it affects a
teacher’s response when she makes the grades of the pupils especially if the
parent is somebody close; the neighbor who you share secrets with. I am not
saying that I don’t talk to my neighbors, but I only talk to them when it is
necessary so that I won’t be able to let slip some important and confidential
things which may happen if I get too comfortable with them. This is not also
saying that this is the right thing to do for all teachers to follow. This is
the way I think is good for me.
Teachers have
many things to care about so they have to keep their personality in check with
the standards.
Tread carefully,
fellows. Teaching is like Hollywood; you can never get past and hide from the
paparazzi.
References
http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno7836.htm#.Ufe1z9I3CDM.
7/30/2013. 9:01 PM
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