Adversities come to those who never know how to handle different situations that come along the way. Problem arises at any given moment. It may come in different form, at different time, at different degree of difficulty. But people must be able to find ways on how to overcome such dilemma. In the field of education, no teachers ever succeeded without surpassing any struggles in the career they have chosen. Teachers must take appropriate actions to pacify the persons involved. They have to tighten their defense and carefully plan their offense.
It is such a cliché but it is undeniable that teaching is the noblest profession. A teacher must not only possess knowledge and skills but also the right attitude in teaching. It is not enough that the leader knows a lot. He must also have the passion to teach and the love for the students. Being a teacher is not a piece of cake. One has to go through a lot of hardships that have been a part of this profession since time immemorial.
One of the challenges that teachers have to go through is dealing with a lot of students, each with distinct characteristic, family background and intellectual capacity. Taking this into consideration, a teacher doesn’t just give lessons and doesn’t just discuss. A teacher carefully plans instructions because he has to think of a strategy that would suit each student’s distinct personality. This has to be done for teaching and learning to be effective.
Aside from planning instruction, a teacher is also tasked to get to know each student within his care. This is crucial so the teacher could provide the proper intervention whenever a student is at risk of failing or of dropping out. If the latter happens, a teacher would be obliged to conduct counselling and home visitation. This would not only consume time and effort but money as well. But in spite all these, the teacher would be putting his student’s first.
Problems in the facility like lack of classrooms and chairs in some provinces in the country are also headlining on the news every start of the school year. In this case teachers have to be resourceful and innovative by dividing the room into two and repairing broken parts of the chair. In a documentary televised in GMA News TV Channel 11, teachers have to travel a mile to reach the school on the top of the mountain. They have to leave their families for one week to teach students who are waiting for them and also walk for a mile to be at school on time. They also need to stay in a nearby home on the school, because traveling every day is not a good idea.
Some teachers even sacrifice their time and social life for the students that they have begun to love. Others put their duty as teachers before their own family. A few still reach out to the community even if they don’t have that much to give but their precious effort and time.
See? It is not easy to be a teacher. It will never be easy to become one. But despite the adversities and meager salary, a lot still venture into this profession with the hope of having a better life not only for themselves but also for the future generation.
By: Mark P. Manimbo | T-III | Mariveles National Highschool Poblacion
