The job of a
teacher is not just to teach the necessary information for students’ survival
in the world of work. A teacher is also the students’ second parent, mentor,
and friend. Fortunately, during my class observation days in Davao City
National High School, I’ve experienced all of these. I became a second parent,
mentor, and friend.
There was a time when my cooperating
teacher was in a meeting, and he told me to facilitate the checking of test
papers in Grade 7-Azucena. While I was roaming around inside the classroom, I
noticed that a student is not participating in the checking of papers. She’s
just sleeping as if there’s nothing going on inside the classroom. With a
strict expression on my face, I approached her and woke her up. Suddenly, when
I touched her, I can say that she has fever – a very high fever. Her classmates
affirmed it by saying “Sir, she has fever.” I hysterically told her to go to
the clinic because I can see in her face that she really is ill. I asked her
classmate to accompany her to the clinic, and so both of them went out of the
classroom. In that particular moment, I am worried and concerned about the
child’s health. It was then I realized that indeed being a teacher does not
only mean that you are a fountain of knowledge, because a teacher is also a
parent who is concerned and sympathizes with the students.n
Aside from being a parent, a teacher
is also a mentor. Every time I handle my Grade 7-Dendrobium class, I always
notice that the students were grammatically incorrect as they pray and recite
the Lord’s Prayer. They say it like “…as we forgive those who sins against us,”
where it should have been “…as we forgive those who sinned against us.” Since I
am greatly concerned with my students, I told them the correct way of saying
it. They were shocked at first because they were used to it, and after all this
time, they thought it was correct. Furthermore, they also told me that it was
the first time that a teacher corrected them about it. At the end of the
session, I am so happy because I was able to share my knowledge to the
students, and helped them become good citizens of the society.
Lastly, a teacher is also a friend.
I am already exhausted every time I went out of DCNHS Campus, and I still have
to walk from F. Torres Street to Quirino Avenue, where I can ride a jeep to
Mintal. I am always a fast-walker, and while walking I noticed that my students
from Grade 7-Calachuchi were also walking and we’re in the same direction. They
all said “Hello, Sir Jeff!” and I smiled at them. Sometimes, I don’t like
walking alone so I walked with them to Quirino. We chatted about where our
homes are, and what do they do after their classes. We also laughed when a
student of mine shared a funny experience. That moment was very rare. The
teacher and his students walked and talked together. It was a fun experience;
one of the perks of being a teacher which money cannot buy.
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