Although the words profession and vocation is more often used to mean the other, it is perceived that the two certainly has a distinction. Profession refers to one’s career or mode of providing service for which he or she is trained, skilled or had obtained specialization through education, and from which he or she derives a definite compensation, monetary or otherwise. On the contrary, vocation, having been usually used in relation with religion and something of divine nature, refers to one’s calling or strong desire to perform something of service, unmotivated by any material compensation and inspired by moral values and foundations.
Teaching is said to be the most noble of professions. Because it is vital in honing the skills and talents, and expanding the knowledge of our society’s future lawyers, doctors, politicians, priests, economists, welders, and educators among others. Furthermore, teaching provides the essential trainings and development, both in academics or programs and personality of all our professionals and those in the work force, who are expected to competently perform and lead our nation toward global competitiveness and economic success.
Such a very significant task of moulding our future generation, the hope of our nation, is appointed to our teachers who consist our teaching profession. Or is it a vocation? With the fact that among the numerous social irregularities we are currently beset with, our educational system has not been spared, and in fact we have heard that a few involved those in the actual teaching force, it is somehow relevant to ponder and evaluate the nature of teaching, whether it is a profession or a vocation.
Teaching is not all about imparting knowledge to the students in compliance with the required curriculum or program mandated by the government. Neither it is just giving lectures, examinations, projects, and recitations to our students to be able to get through the seemingly very long school year, without any regard or thought whether the students indeed understood and learned the lessons. It should always be remembered that a teacher’s teaching have a great impact to students’ lives, for it will have a significant part to their future. But it will not only be those from the books or curriculum, but also the way teachers have interacted with them, and the values the teachers had shown them. It is therefore imperative that teaching should be performed with prudence and sound objectives, motivated by strong values and inspired by goodwill. Thus, teaching should be a vocation. However, in a world we live in, it is a fact that people has to work for monetary compensations in order to provide a decent living for our family. And teachers are no exemption, though teaching is the most noble of professions. In this way, teaching is indeed a profession.
With the current economic situation, we are all the more challenge to make ends meet in our family. But our uninspiring predicament should not change us into lesser persons. We should not allow ourselves to succumb to material bliss in exchange of our morals and dignity. Material wants should not cloud our better judgment, likewise, it should not quench our desire to be of service to others and fulfil our duties the best we could. Teaching may be a profession for the monetary compensation it entails, but with the ultimate goal of heeding the call of teaching to aid our students achieve their dreams, and build a better place to live in, it is certainly a vocation
By: Fe P. Siasat | T-III | Samal National High School | Samal, Bataan
