Teaching is a serious responsibility. The true aim of everyone who aspires to be a teacher should be, not to impart his own opinions, but to kindle minds. Teachers’ methods may vary as widely as their characters but perhaps we can point out some general principles to make their teaching more effective.
Through their sacrifices and devotion to their profession, teachers have built the foundation of successful citizens occupying the limelight in the world of politics, economics, medicine, engineering, and other fields of human adventure. The roles and functions of teachers have been enumerated in our Philippine Constitution.
1. They include patriotism and nationalism. Nationalism and patriotism are expressed in the languages spoken, anthem sung, dresses worn, food eaten, traditions celebrated, and customs practiced.
2. They foster love for humanity. Loving people is a divine mandate. Teachers share with parents the responsibility of deeply inculcating in the minds of the youth the value of accepting people and understanding different personalities.
3. They foster respect for human rights. Equality is the rule in the educational system. A mentor who fails to teach this virtue falls short of his personal accountability to his profession.
4. They foster appreciation of the role of national heroes in the historical development of the country. Mentors serve as bridges that link the young minds to our corporate past as a free nation. Mentors open the eyes of the youth to see the sublime meaning of national unity and solidarity.
5. They teach the rights and duties of citizenship. Education makes people assertive of their rights and responsibility to their duties as citizens of the republic. These include paying taxes and participating in the election process.
6. They strengthen ethical and spiritual values. Doing the right thing at the right time with the right motive is ethics. Values are foundation of a humane society. The mentor maintains the balance between the two.
7. They develop moral character and personal discipline. Mentors promote the importance of maintaining high standard of morality. This means compliance to moral laws and regulations.
8. They encourage critical thinking. This means that teachers must know how to instill in the consciousness of students the ability to question and provide alternative views to confusing theories and concepts. Finding solutions to day-to-day problem is another way of showing critical thinking.
9. They broaden scientific and technological knowledge. In a world of competition and scientific exploit, technology plays a very important role in alleviating the life condition of people. Technology should not control people. Rather, people should control the advancement of technology and its adverse effect to human relationship and personal values.
10. They promote vocational efficiency. Mentor are not only agents in promoting the value of hard work and perseverance, they themselves must be good examples.
By: Myrna E. Castillo | Principal II | Samal High School | Samal, Bataan
