In 1978, which was the time I was about to start in my first year of teaching, I asked my father to bless me and to share one of his golden principles (because they have been a part of our desserts in every meal we had) to be my guide and armor in treading the new path of life I was about to get into.
Tatang as we fondly call him, without batting an eyelash, started quoting a proverb from the Bible, Romans 14:14-23, “if in doubt, then don’t” . He stressed that if we have doubts about what we are going to do whether right or wrong, then we must not do it or else we will be committing a sin.
He also pointed out being a believer of Confucianism, that “we must not do unto others what we wouldn’t like others do unto us.” Because in doing so, as Christians, we would not be violating our conscience.
The bottom line is a teacher must act every time in accordance to his conscience. That he must always take into consideration that he is dealing with children and the adolescents, whose rights and privileges should always be given utmost consideration. The rights should be prioritized and must always be addressed to. Being a loco-parentis to each and every child, the child’s welfare is always number one! In the field, teachers meet different challenges in various degrees. Challenges that would really test their stress tolerance and their self-control.
In this manner, the teacher must be very sensitive to every issue. He must take into consideration always the well-being of a child. He must bear in mind that this is the most crucial stage in a teenager’s life. Therefore, the teacher, being the second mother must be very accommodating and forgiving while understanding.
At the end of the day, Tatang reiterated that there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to the child’s behavioral changes and development. What we teachers must always try to consider and evaluate on the kind of act we are going to put on in every situation, is for us to check on the impact of that action to the child. That, if we are sure and certain that it will be for his benefit, then go, do it. But he also emphasizes that if it turns out to be the other way around, or it will be violating his conscience, and you are doubtful on its conscience, then don’t!
By: Sonia S. Infante | Master Teacher I | Morong National High School | Morong, Bataan
