There is a widespread perception that teachers are also a public servant. Yet, there’s a great confusion about being a public servant.
The Republic Act 6713 otherwise known as the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees” states that this policy promotes a high standard of ethics in the public service. Public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest.
In this light, government employees, like teachers, are therefore obliged to prove that you deserve peoples trust. In the school teachers are public servants to whom they render their service among their students. Teachers’ salaries and other benefits are from peoples’ taxes. They must live by the rules, regulations, and norms of conduct and discipline that are at all times expected of public servants. Students’ interest comes first and foremost, rising well above personal goals.
Teachers are guided by public interest. Whatever decisions they have, they should always promote the welfare of the school or community at large. It means that your decisions should be for the interest of the students. It also means that you have the ability to look beyond selfish or personal interest and having sense of justice. Moreover, it means that you must not use your position to pursue you personal interest. Since teachers are part of the government, they should utilize with diligence public funds and or property. They must take good care of government funds and supplies to have good efficiency.
Often times our teachers render their services in other department of the government. For instance, during election, teachers are being called up by the Commission on Election (COMELEC) to render duties and responsibilities as Board of Election Tellers (BET). They are in the front line during election. The tedious responsibilities given to them, though they receive compensation yet they are underpaid for the effort or service they gave in the government and to the community, is somehow they devoutly and solemnly perform their duties. Moreover, the National Statistics Office (NSO) also uses the teacher for their field survey in gathering necessary data of the population. As public servant our teacher has no right to refuse for the oath they promise is sacred to them. Unmindful of what risks they could face during that services for them to help our community is fulfilling task that no other professional can surmount their tremendous jobs.
Isidro stressed that the school and the community are two integrated interacting social institutions. The main concern is the students per se. They help students grow holistically and globally competitive to the utmost service that teacher can do. Teachers communicate not only to their student and to the parents as community as well.
Parents as part of the community, teachers conduct Homeroom/PTA meeting to report learners progress. They also disseminate school policies/plans/programs/accomplishment as the school’s clientele. More over encourage the parents to participate or get involve in school programs and activities. In return teachers participate in community projects and in civic organizations.
According to Gregorio, when the school and the community have learned to cooperate with one another, many opportunities will arise to unite their efforts, resources, and projects for the school and community development.
The success of the students is the success of the school. Thus, the success of the school is the success of the community as a whole.
Reference:
- a.Civil Service Module, The Norms of Conduct for Public Employees.
- b.Ethics, Excellence and Empowerment, Phil. Graphic Vol. 8
- c.H.C. Gregorio. School Administration and Supervision. R.P. Garcia Publishing Company, 1996.
- d.Antonio Isidro, Principles of Education, Alemar-Phoenix Publishing House, Inc, 1972.
- e.Teresa O. Dawala, The Modern Teacher, Vol. I.II
By: Rosecelle S. Biglang-awa | Teacher I | Bagumbayan Elementary School | Pilar Bataan
