EYES ON THE HORIZON

SECOND PARENT… This Phrase has always been our label in terms of the role that we fulfill to our pupils. As we all know, we do not just impart knowledge to our pupils. We do more than that.

But of course, it cannot be denied that though we would be doing our job well to the best that we can and that though we would be performing our roles as their second parents in school, the role of our pupil’s parents must not be underestimated.

Parents and teachers must be partners in assuring that the welfare of the learners are prioritized. And educators would agree that they cannot do it alone. Parents assistance would be of great vitality in making the goals of the teacher, or even of the school, be realized.

A successful school and well supported learners have the evidence of active, cooperative and collaborative stakeholders, in particular the parents.

To give an example would be on the activities where parents could help the most. In terms of School Feeding program, parents who volunteer to prepare food for the beneficiaries are indeed of great help while the teachers would focus on teaching.

One thing more would be the role of the academic achievement of their children, Though teachers would be doing their best to provide Quality instruction to their pupils, parents must be there to work hand in hand with us to follow up, and even provide more academic assistance to their children to help them improve their skills in reading, writing and the like.

Also, there are parents who are also part of the community. Their voluntary services as Community Helpers could be useful in the school. There could be nurses, carpenters, barangay staffs, and many others who may give help whenever possible.

Thus, the many lists that parents do for our school would indeed prove that they are of great vitality in the educational system.

--oOo— The author is Teacher III at Abelardo G. Tinio Elementary School, Angeles City Division

“Managers have their eyes on the bottom line; leaders have their eyes on the horizon.”

Over the course of the years, society has evolved and good leaders are truly rare to find. Nowadays, they often focus on aiming power rather than setting right directions which is the true essence of leadership.

There might be a lot of definitions of leadership, but just by getting its root word would give us an idea on what it means. Its main purpose is to "lead". It will serves as a guide to a certain group. Every organization has its own leaders which have its main goals, attributes, objectives and purpose as well. Focusing on the “what leadership is” would just give the people a “wealthy-happy-go-lucky leader”. On the other hand, focusing on the “how leadership is” would mean success for an organization.

Primarily, authority comes when we talk of the word power which gives us the idea that a leader so capable of influencing the members through his acts and decisions in order to pursue success. As stated in John Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable laws of Leadership, success is within the reach of everyone but personal success without leadership ability brings only limited effectiveness. It's just the person's impact to come up with the good kind of leadership. Thus, the greater the impact a leader wants to make, the greater he can influence needed. A true leader does not seek himself alone. He is also concerned with what his followers are.

Moreover, powers coincided with responsibility. A leader that will empower and acknowledge everyone's ability. "It is not the position that makes us a leader, it is the leader that makes the position.” This is another idea which opens our minds that it is not the domination of one's power that makes a person a leader, but rather it is hard work to gain influence and earn the right to be a leader.

Indeed, good leaders need to withstand initiative efforts so that they will know the change of work which has begun that will continue to grow from sturdy roots. Those who remain should know that their new structure, practices, and dreams will be in fertile soil that will continue to create success. A true leader is not a manager who have the eyes on the bottom line but instead he is a leader who have the eyes on the horizon.

--oOo— I at Mauaque Resettlement High School, Division The author is Head Teacher of Mabalacat City