May be you have heard these lines from Art Turock, a writer, which goes, “When you are interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit.  When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.”- classic lines which are very applicable to everyone and most especially to classroom teachers.

            In my several years of teaching, I can relate this quote on how a teacher will strive to achieve in reaching his /her goals.  For instance, if at present he /she has the position title of Teacher I, he will strive hard after several years of teaching  to be promoted to Teacher II, then to Teacher III and eventually to a  much higher position.

            Teachers are mostly prone to be judged by their acts, not by their thoughts.  They may be a genius but if they act as if they are gone out of their mind, that is how people will assess them.  Their actions plus the words they speak are the basis of other people in evaluating them.

            However, a piece of advice, if this happens to a teacher, don’t be disheartened.  People can’t read your thoughts.  They only see your actions.  That is the reason why people judge others through results- they are more tangible than thoughts.  So whenever you commit blunder, students react, co-teachers react and other people react.   The reaction can be negative.  It can also be positive.  But most of them will be judgmental.  But teachers don’t be bothered.  If you commit a blunder, forgive yourself immediately and learn lessons from that mistake.  But teachers must avoid repeating the same mistakes for instance, to students or fellow teachers.  Be sorry, but don’t blame yourself.  Blaming yourself is not a healthy way of dealing with mistakes. –A word of caution, though.  For the sake of self-esteem and self-confidence, don’t ever, ever let people walk on you.  Keep that self-respect intact no matter what.  Whatever criticisms or judgment comes your way, don’t be affected by them.  In the life of a person, much more in the life of a teacher, certainly challenges, conflict and problems will come your way, but they are just passing storms.  After the strong winds come the calm  and the sun.

            As an effective teacher, and as a self-respecting individual, you know yourself well- your talents, abilities, capabilities and potentials.  You know that you are equal to whatever task that comes along.  But people know that, because they can’t read your mind. So no matter how talented you are, they don’t have a way of knowing it unless you manifest it through the completed tasks.  You may be a good teacher, but your words will be empty, unless proven through your finished tasks.  As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow puts it, “ We judge ourselves by what we feel we are capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.”

            So teachers, focus on the results because people look for these.  Don’t be a show off.  Don’t brag about your talents.  Manifest it through your finished tasks.  If you are really an effective teacher, there is no need to shout to the whole world that you are.   You will be one of the standouts or possibly, the outstanding teacher.

            The next time you are assigned a task, teachers do it to the best of your ability, so that when evaluation time comes, you will emerged as one of the best, if not the best of them all.

Reference:

K. Blanchard. The Heart Of A Leader. Jaico Publishing House. USA. (2014)

By: Gisela T. Escudero | Teacher III | Bataan National High School | City of Balanga, Bataan