A LOT of those in the academe celebrated the past week as the National Teachers Week in honor of the people behind the learning of every Filipino. The said celebration is in fact a little less to what teachers really need in view of what they are doing to our country that is preparing the young their future.
I consider teachers as one of the pillars of the economy and the legworkers in nation-building. They prepare every citizen build their careers that will determine their life’s statuses later on.
Teachers in the first place are the molders of character of children when they teach pre-and grade schoolers. Such teachers who provide the basics of education build the academic foundation of the youth before they step up into high school and into college.
High school teachers continue the basics and provide the preparation for the youth’s college education. On the tertiary level, students are already choosing the path to their future professions as they tread the passage to their professional careers.
In all these level of education, there are these teachers who are under-praised and under-appreciated for the sacrifices they give to their flocks. They are the shepherds who guide students to the right path.
Compensation–wise, the teaching profession is not that highly profitable, the reason why there are teachers who sell tocinos and longganisas to some of their students. Of course, they have their own family to support that is why they are doing everything to make both ends meet.
In addition, many teachers are devoting their lives to teaching not only because of the compensation but because of their devotion of sharing the knowledge and wisdom to others. For some, the pride of being the teacher of successful career men and women is more than the value of peso they are paid for.
For others, teaching is more of a vocation rather than a profession. Others are more contented of being the mother at schools of students who are treated as sons and daughters.
If we come to think of it, one reward of being a teacher is the fact that they are made part of the lives of their students. As teachers, they are not forgotten by their students. More so, the title “sir” and “mam” would not be taken away from teachers by their students even until kingdom come.
The profession is time-consuming. This means that teachers are using most of their time for their students to the extent of being denied of their own time for themselves, for their families or for their leisure.
To sum it up, we have so many reasons to salute teachers and somehow provide them with the accolades they long deserve. While many are left unsung, this is the most opportune time to give them a salute for the role they are doing for people.
Belated Happy World Teachers Day to all our educators.
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