World Teachers’ Day
THERE were two wrong assumptions I had about my teachers.
Wrong assumption number one: That their mornings were always good.
Wrong assumption number two: That they knew the answer to every question.
There were reasons why these apparent wrong reactions were formed in my young mind. First, I remember that we made a big deal about the “Good Morning” of every school day. That was the first thing that always came out of our teachers’ lips. “Good morning” was what we always said in return.
We sang songs like “Good morning, dear teacher.”
Recently, YouTube posts depicting the novel ways by which schoolchildren say their “good morning” to their teacher have been trending.
I assumed that the words “Good Morning” was a description of a state and a feeling.
I assumed that when our teachers said “Good Morning,” they were telling us about their situation and how they were feeling.
I was wrong. The assumption was not standing on solid ground. I later on discovered that our teachers’ mornings were not and are not always “good.”
I learned that many of them come to their morning classes exhausted from the previous day’s work – both at home and at school.
They spent hours the night before cooking food for their families, tidying up the house, worrying about household bills and about a meager budget that may not be stretched to the next payday.
They spent hours the night before checking test papers, computing grades, and preparing lesson plans and teaching aids – all these after they had put their kids to bed, washed the dishes used at dinner, and tied the garbage bag.
They were exhausted from performing many non-teaching roles: Attending meetings, accomplishing forms, preparing the logistical requirements for a school event, counseling a wayward pupil, or dealing with an irate parent.
I learned that when they said “Good Morning,” it was more of a wish — a prayer — for us and for themselves.
I was wrong to assume that they had the answer to every question. I thought that they conducted graded oral recitations just to underscore the infallible fact that they knew everything and that we did not. That was why graded oral recitations were dreaded – it was a moment when I felt so small in front of the gargantuan teacher who asked me questions.
I realized later on that it is not the job of the teacher to know everything. It is not their job to make sure we know everything.
Their job is to make us hungry for knowledge. To make us crave for information. To get us hooked on a habit called life-long learning.
There was one assumption I got right. I assumed that teachers are great at commitments – commitment to a mission, commitment to a habit, commitment to us.
A person who would come every day to teach children even if his or her morning is not good is one very committed person. That person – the teacher – had pledged to perform a role and accomplish a mission.
The pursuit of that mission never depended on the quality of that teacher’s morning. Good morning or bad morning, the teacher will be there in front of the class, ready to help us learn.
Commitment cannot be taught – it can only be modeled.
The fact that many teachers continue to bury themselves in books, engage in research and pursue higher education show that they are great models of commitment to learning.
Learning can be tiring. I remember that some of my peers cut class, calling the task of learning “boring.” They were right. Learning requires commitment. It must be pursued whether or not one felt excited about it.
The world will mark International Teachers’ Day on October 5 – Friday of this coming week.
We will celebrate this event in Antipolo City on the same day.
On this special occasion, we thank Teachers all over the country and the world for showing us what Commitment means.
May you all continue to be blessed with the Gift and Grace of Commitment to the wonderful and valuable mission given to you.
* For feedback, please email it to antipolocitygov@gmail.com or send it to #4 Horse Shoe Drive, Beverly Hills Subdivision, Bgy. Beverly Hills, Antipolo City, Rizal.
We sang songs like Good morning, dear teacher.