Teacher's teacher

Retirement is both painful and happy event

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 11:18 PM

Teaching, they say, is the noblest profession and after teaching for more than 40 years, I can vouch for it. It is the retirement package however that the government or private institution that you serve that can make you smile or frown.

In my case, I availed of optional retirement after 20 years in a private establishment so the take home package was not the amount expected that allows the retiree to live a decent life. This is complicated by the fact that there are still children who go to school. So the logical decision is to teach somewhere and this time in a government institution. So I did but I forgot that I have only 15 more years to spare otherwise I will not receive pension. As it happened it is the case now.

So, I may be the "guinea pig" but I was not extra careful myself to protect my rights so no one could be blamed except myself. Still the HR could have been a little cooperative and went a mile more to remind me of the precarious situation I was in.

Teaching, indeed, is the noblest profession but it is not the best paying job in the world. However, I received the best send-off retirement/65th birthday so I can never complain. Most of all my children do not mind giving me financial support or give their share to shoulder some of the bills so there is no reason to complain.

Therefore, retirement is both painful and happy event but with all the attending perks, it is still more of a happy event!

Happy Easter fellow mentors

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 10:36 AM

It was not long ago when Holy Week began and now the week ends with Easter Sunday. How days go by now but first things first: Happy Easter fellow Mentors! At a time when all we hear are bad news any semblance of Easter spirit is a welcome respite. Over and above material things is the Easter message, that Jesus is risen Alleluia!

Education as already been shared by experts hopes to "lift us up" and makes every individual more human and humane. Mentors always make this realization ever present. May we have more mentors who believe in this.

Let us begin this dream right there in our own homes.

I may be retiring but I am not becoming retarded

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 9:40 PM

In one of life's scenarios, I blurted out that I will soon retire when a colleague commented: "Oh, you will soon retire? so soon, you will become retarded!" This remark was one supposed to be taken as a joke although that somebody literally said it to my face. I want to believe that this guy who said it at the time it happened, did not mean it so I must take it lightly. Today, Holy Saturday, it just dawned on me that while I still take it as a joke, people out there should not be mean, said lightly or not.

Teachers, like us, have the uncanny ability to incorporate this setting in one of our class discussions. Your parents will be proud of you and the world will be better for sure. We may have all the inventions that intelligence can produce but the best is not something technology can muster, it is only education that can painstakingly nurture every person to become humane.

In my case, I have been teaching since 1972 and all through the years, I think I have done my best in the field of teaching. Then I realize I am retiring on July 1 and am still farther away from saying with confidence to the Lord: "I have done my best and admit to all the students brought to my care that I was their best teacher." Does this mean I am accepting the comment that I am becoming retarded? No, I am just accepting the part of the painful realization that life is bigger than my retirement. I will continue to become a better person beyond retirement. I may be retiring but certainly and definitely I am not becoming retarded.

Pope Francis, the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Cathoic Church visits the Philippines

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 12:40 AM

For the visit it was first Sri Lanka then the Philippines. The dates came and went, January 15 to January 19, 2015. To this day, it was like a whirlwind for we did not have enough of his awesome smile and generous aura but he had to go back to Rome.

In my case, way back 1971, I saw Pope Paul VI up close in Quezon Memorial Circle. I cried treasured the rare moment. Forty-three years later, I say Pope Francis, on tv, and I also cried. As teachers, we realize the roles we play being the second parents of our learners, but with the Pope, he lifts all of us to a metaphysical level and there are no more categories. With Pope Francis as the Vicar of Christ, we are all brothers and sisters and he has come to tell us of God's love.

Pope Francis, we love you.

Alumni of Bukidnon Normal School or Bukidnon State College or Bukidnon State University Take Note

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 1:31 AM

If you are a graduate of Bukidnon Normal School or Bukidnon State College or Bukidnon State University then we have to meet again as alumni on April 30 to May 2, 2015. So take two for clarity, let us reserve April 30, May 1 and May 2 of 2015 for by then it is a Grand Homecoming for all of us who love our Alma Mater.

Make it a point to visit Malaybalayan.blogspot.com to read all the details. Malaybalayan is the chairperson of the Publicity Committee so she needs you fellow alumni. Give your e-mail address or cell phone number so we can personally follow you up.

So tell all our friends that our next big date is the Grand Homecoming on April 30 to May 2, 2015.

August 17, 2014 is wake up call, blog!

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 9:06 PM

Many months have passed by and still my enthusiasm level was and is on its all time low. Then like any thing in this world, one day gives you a wake up call and its message, blog! So here goes fellow teachers . . .

In the midst of the craziness of our respective schedules, do you agree with me that there is this tugging feeling that out there is the world of information and a wide range of readers like you? This alone forces me to get hit in the head and allows my right side of the brain to go blog!

Like today, August 17, 2014, Sunday, while most of you out there are doing so many odd things especially to just relax and smile to yourself, I call on you to read my blog of the day and include me in your reverie :).

For one, teachers like us only have few moments to ourselves. Girl Scouts for example have decided to hold an on-the-spot essay writing contest this coming September 13 a precursor for Josefa Llanes Escoda celebration on September 20. Expect more details about this in my renewed zest to blog because you are there to read and respond to it.

For another, I am one of the many teachers who will soon retire come July 1, 2015, my 65th birthday. This day will be my last day of service in Bukidnon State University. I have a sad thing to share though. After teaching all my life in various schools, college and universities, I forgot to consider that to receive a pension in a public institution one has to have a minimum of 15 years of service. In my case, I forgot to do my job well for I did not count well so I found out recently I have only 13 years to my credit so I could only avail of "take home cash" and no pension. Agghhh!!! I am so disheartened so I am still wishing a miracle will happen to change my luck. Fellow teachers, learn from my negligence, make sure you take care of your GSIS payments for at least 15 years or you will experience the same fate I am about to bitterly swallow.

Fellow teachers, may I know how many we are who have each other to follow so we can organize a group of bloggers and plan course of action to inspire each other when lean months come along . . . Take care and 'til the next blog . . . (y)

Teachers love summer for it is a time to invigorate but the happiness is incomplete what with requirements for clearance a remaining baggage

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 6:58 AM

Teachers recite their classes everyday, every week the whole year round. So when Summer comes which fall in April and May, these months are heaven-sent. So I am in heaven myself for I am off this summer. Indeed summer is a time to invigorate one's sagging enthusiasm. However this contentment is barred due to the pending requirements that are just endless. The happiness that is long awaited becomes incomplete because of this scenario. So more and more I am looking forward to my retirement early next year when the only requirement is to make use of time according to one's plan for the day without any paper to correct and meetings and seminars to attend to.

Just the same, since teachers are very creative and productive amid all the chaos of being employed.

So hello summer. And soon enough, hello school year 2014-2015.

Peace Education is this teacher's load for the semester, this New year, Peace be with you!

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 1:21 PM

After a long respite, here comes your Teacher's teacher blogging in. This month of the New Year - 2014 - our main discussion will be more about Peace Education. This is mainly because this blogger-teacher is teaching Peace Education for her load of the semester. I have eight (8) classes of students all ready and eager to hear more of Peace: its main concepts, the various perspectives about it, the role models we have who made Peace their life's statement, their lifestyle.

So let us make 2014 a year of Peace - a year that has to work for it for around us are negations of it. Let us make January, the first month of the Peace year. Are you in?

Education Week for the College of Teacher Education, Bukidnon State University - That's my Teacher (Demo Contest)

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 11:17 PM

It is interesting to note that one can be a neophyte teacher or a veteran mentor but we are basically the same in pursuing the mission. Indeed an anonymous writer was correct when he/she declared teaching is the State noblest deed. Every teacher goes on learning either as a mentor or as a person who teaches.

Take the College of Teacher Education of Bukidnon University, December 4-8 is Education Week for us and today, being December 7, is Demonstration Teaching Contest with me as one of the judges. Take a look at the criteria we used so you can comment or get some tips should you hold one in your school. The contestants are second year to fourth year college students who are enrolled in the College of Teacher Education taking Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education or Secondary Education.

I. Teacher's Personality (10%)

A. The teacher contestant appears neat and well-groomed.
B. The teacher is free from mannerisms that tend to disturb the student's attention.
C. The teacher's personality is strong, enough to command respect and attention.
D.The teacher shows dynamism and enthusiasm.
E. The teacher possesses well-modulated voice.

II. Content (35%)

A. The teacher demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the subject matter.
B. She/He is able to relate lessons to actual life situations.
C. She/He is abreast of new ideas and understanding in the field.
D. She/He gives sufficient and concrete examples to create meaningful learning experiences.

continuation in the next blog . . .

In the meantime, may I know if you agree with the criteria or are their comments you can give?

Teachers who have reached senior citizen's level must retire from teaching because

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 8:56 PM

Most teachers remain teacher until they reach their sixties and if the law were amended to their eighties or nineties. Others are meant to do so but others are better retired once they reach their sixties and for good reasons.

One reason is for sanity. We can hardly accept the situation when pupils or students seem to become more hard headed as ever. The instruction goes: Write your name and time of class and date and day when exam was given otherwise some deduction is charged. Expect a number who do not follow it. Another reminder is given: a test will be given anytime so make sure to read the notes. Expect a number who continue to get fives or failing scores. For us teachers, instructions are sometimes "everything" but for a number of students or pupils: they could not care less.

Another reason if for mental stability. The spelling crisis goes on so words like its when it is supposed to be it's or there when it is supposed to be their or truely when it is supposed to be truly and all of them are in their junior or senior year in college. As ever we, the teachers, go berserk and ask where in the elementary to high school to college levels was weak.

Last reason is for posterity and practicability. After years of teaching, it is becoming clear that teachers can only do so much so let the others take over. In the meantime another world awaits: retirement years which can be another field of endeavor. a new love? a new culture? Perhaps, another set of years when another career is bound to make the senior citizens feel younger and live another realm of possibilities.

Teacher's teacher and fellow mentors, let us seize the day!