Different Roles of Teachers

An anonymous author once wrote: “A good teacher is like a candle which consumes itself to light the way for others.”

I know how teachers work hard to educate their students, not only about academic subjects but also about life. People must not also forget that behind every successful student is a great teacher who has helped the student achieves his dreams. Many Filipino youngsters consider their teachers as their second parents in school — a kindly mother or a father who would gladly lend an ear and a helping hand. I should know. My father started his career as a public elementary school teacher. My mother is a public high school teacher also. Most in our family especially on my mother side relatives are teachers. We are all aware that teachers have many different roles in Philippine society. Aside from their duties in the classroom, they also actively participate in community activities. They perform very indispensable roles during our elections. We still recall a tragic event two years ago which made us all realize the heroism of these public servants. While guarding the ballots, schoolteacher Nellie Banaag met her death when unidentified armed men poured gasoline and torched a school building serving as a polling precinct in the town of Taysan in Batangas. While the unprecedented destruction of lives and property by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng have required Filipinos to devote their attention, energy and resources to helping our kababayans affected by these calamities, it has also provided us an opportunity to witness the greatness of the Filipino that seems to shine the brightest during difficult times. Among them are our teachers, who proved that the call to duty always comes first, immediately cleaning up muddled and flooded classrooms so that students can go back to schools as well as leading relief efforts in their respective communities. As always, we can count on our hardworking and reliable heroes of the classroom. Another good example teacher is Efren Peñaflorida. Peñaflorida was named CNN Hero of the Year for “giving the Filipino youth an alternative to gang membership through education.” he founded the Dynamic Teen Company which aims to teach basic reading and writing to impoverished children using the kariton (pushcart) where all teaching materials are placed. Twelve years after, his company has grown, with some 10,000 volunteer members who continue to uplift the lives of poor children by teaching them how to read and write in the streets. Efren has indeed proven that any individual can help make a difference in the world.