Public school teachers, unite!

the compensation package is light. School facilities are meagre, but the student population grows bigger with each year. The problems are overwhelming, but the teachers keep on working. Widespread corruption in government is discouraging, but the teachers keep on inspiring their students to excel. Everytime a student from a poor family gets sick while in school, teachers readily shoulder whatever immediate expenses there may be – without expectation of being paid back. Insofar as public school teachers are generally concerned, teaching must go on regardless of government neglect of teachers’ welfare, for as long as they can personally help it.

Many public school graduates treasure their bond with their teachers. The lessons learned serve as capital for higher studies and higher accomplishments. The consequent profits are profoundly significant not only to the individual graduate, but also to his or her family and to society in general. Without that capital, the natural uncertainty or unforseenability of the future is magnified twice or thrice over. With that capital, the cloud of uncertainty is removed and the future becomes more reasonably foreseeable and bright.

Behind the success of every public school graduate is a platoon of teachers whose lives are dedicated to the patriotic proposition that the correctly educated Filipino youth are the true hope for true liberation of the Filipino people from their current economic and political enslavement. Who are the correctly educated Filipino youth? Those who think, speak and act to uphold the best interests of the Filipino people in every way possible. Therefore, the incorrectly educated Filipino youths are those who do not think, speak and act to uphold the best interests of the Filipino people. The first needs constant encouragement; the Filipino people must inspire them. The second needs more education; the Filipino people must re-educate them.

But, we ask: What are the Filipino people doing to their public school teachers in exchange for the teachers’ heroic performance of both official and unofficial duties? The candid answer is: NEGLECT. The Filipino people have allowed their traditional politicians to virtually enslave the public school teachers with overwork and underpay. They have elected legislators in the national and local governments who never saw it fit to do minimum justice by enacting laws that would treble the current compensation package for public school mentors.

Did we say treble? Yes, TREBLE – nothing more, but nothing less. What will happen to the quality of public education after that? We say there would be a renaissance in the Philippines. The justice it would bring to the lives of our public school teachers will naturally spur them to greater heights of true professionalism. They will be inspired and they will inspire our youth all the more. If with so little they do their best, with more, they will transcend their best. The direct beneficiaries would be the Filipino youth. But the ultimate beneficiaries would be the Filipino people. Of course, some politicians would also have less to steal from the public funds.

Is it doable? Yes, with sufficient political will. Government must conduct an honest-to-goodness eradication of graft and corruption. The estimated 30 percent to 40 percent losses in local and national budgets due to graft and corruption should be funnelled to increase the teachers’ salaries and benefits. If that is not enough, a law ought to be passed to direct all government corporations and agencies to deposit their funds solely in state-owned banks. Half of the profits to be derived therefrom can be used to finance the foregoing compensation upgrade.

The question is: Does the current regime of political dynasties have that will? No. Therefore, the great public school teachers of the Philippines must unite to help themselves, the Filipino youth and the Filipino people.

Justice is on their side.