Teacher's teacher

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. 

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?

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? 

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!

It is comforting to note that when there are many crises that come to light, the teacher is one who is asked what she can say about all the havoc currently happening in the world.

Being one of the teachers then, she takes it upon herself to say something too. So let us begin with the world scene. One cannot but say that there is indeed havoc in the world and the turmoil is becoming not only spiritual but nuclear and chemical and all other ways and means to vent one's hatred towards one person or a country. While it is daunting it is also coming to terms with what the world will have to end with. It is not yet heaven so gradually the whole world must accept that whatever is out there can also be a means of believing more and loving even more.

Then we come to our national scene and one country or another is seen struggling with its financial crisis and all other multifaceted problems that haunt everyone else. We ask ourselves what we are doing and if we allow it continue without lifting a finger. As a Filipino, we have many unfinished businesses that beset our country the latest of course is the so-called Zamboanga conflict caused by Moro National Liberation Front Nur Misuari faction that attacked the city. You just have to google it to get all the horrific details. One's gut will really be turned upside down just watching the pain caused by the conflict. Many died and many more are injured especially those displaced. The queries in the eyes of the families who have nowhere o turn to but their faith in their government and generous persons and God are too painful to bear. 

The regional and local scenes are not exactly without their own troubles. Certainly persons are basically the same so when they love then we have peace but when they hate then we know all the gory details of  killing and murder and the like.

So teacher, what can you and I say about all the havoc in the world? We have only to begin where we are to know that our vocation as teachers places us in a unique sphere to make a difference. Before us are our pupils and students who are the future leaders of this world. Let us mold them not as robot but as beings made in the image and likeness of God Almighty who have been given the mission to act as stewards of this world while it lasts. As in the article "The Noblest Deed" we can tell the Maker that we have taught the engineers, the lawyers, the doctors, the nurses, the scientists, teachers, writers, businessmen, photographers, chemists, technicians, nutritionists (all other courses out there) and to Him we return the glory. 

Teacher'steacher has been away for quite sometime because of many commitments and other side activities but she professes with the Girl Scouts all over the world that "once a girl scouts, always a girl scout"since she is after all a Girl Scout too that she remains a teacher forever. What a way to say just to come backto the blogging scene. As though to say in with a faraway look that if at all possible, to use the tone of the Girl Scouts all over the world, once a blogger always a blogger?

So how has life been with you fellow netizens? This teacher, being two years away from retirement, the magicdate being July 1, 2015, intends to do better in her newfound love of blogging. If you continue to read Malaybalayan.blogspot.com why not?

Teacher'steacher will try to inspire her writing enthusiasm by labeling today as the new zest to keep the faith.  Teachers all over the world, let us bind each other and renew the vigor of communicating internationally and locally.

Today, September 1 is only the beginning . . .