Teacher in this Pandemic ?

Rhea M. Llera

This Pandemic has brought a severe disaster that destroys a lot of resources, killed millions of people and makes a lot of people jobless that results to extreme poverty. This virus had stopped mass gatherings, churching, and even studying at school too. That is why being a teacher at this time is… they say

1. It is nice to be a teacher! they are not front liners nor backliners they are just sitting in their couch waiting for their monthly salary doing nothing but just relaxing.

2. It is a pleasure to be a teacher! being paid by the money of the tax payers without doing anything since it is now home schooling where parent teaches their kids.

3. It is great to be a teacher! free to go to any places they like with their monthly salary that is in their pocket without teaching any learners.

Reflect after re-reading the number 1,2, and 3.

Heed on and please open your hearts and mind.

As days passed by teachers were being thrown ominous words coming from the people whom they trusted before and that number 1,2, and 3 are just few of those hurtful words that is being tossed to them. Hence, it seems that somehow and somewhere some people out there never understand that it was this pandemic and not are the teachers are the reason why the new method of education is happening at home at this moment of time.

To clarify, to correct, and to pin point why being a teacher at this time is something you cannot imagine try re-reading these:

Is it nice to be a teacher? They are not front liner nor backliners but they are the printliners trying to save someone’s time to learn and soon become successful despite of this pandemic. They are sitting in their so called “couch” actually “floor” in reality reproducing, preparing and sorting learner’s modules until midnight that eating and sleeping was never prioritize.

Is it a pleasure to be a teacher? using their own money to supplement the expense in photo copying of modules, crafting videos and presentations that parents and pupils may watch, learning activity sheets, and answer sheets to help the parents and learners in facing this modality.

Is it great to be a teacher? Being locked in their “couch” but “floor” answering phone calls to assist the parents, answering repeated queries, telecommunicating in messenger room, google meet and zoom to cope the learner’s difficulty and forgetting that they also have their own family.

Now, the question is do teachers really do nothing at this pandemic? Do they just receive their monthly salary to spend for their desires? Or do teachers really deserve humiliations?

Teachers are victims too. People may not see them in front saving a dying patient or checking the quarantine pass at the check points nor at the back farming for crops and goods, but rather they are working 24 hours to hasten the dreamer’s dream to come true. Finally, teachers are still a teacher who once teaches you. They will do everything even they are underpaid. If you can wore their shoes …by then you can judge them?

The author is Teacher

--oOo-

III at Dapdap Elementary School