I would, of course, quote my source if I could remember where I got it but unfortunately, I can only be sure that it is from one of the innumerable blogs I came across with. I normally take note of nicely written, powerful, amusing, or interesting lines from the blogs, books, magazine, and newspapers I read and while going through my notes, I found this:
With the preponderance of rotten kids these days, I don’t think that teaching is such an ideal profession anymore.
The one who wrote this has a point. I am not sure if she (or he) is writing this in a teacher’s point of view but the part where she says that teaching is not an ideal profession is a part I can agree with. The part where she says that rotten kids are preponderant these days is also true but there are still nice kids so that sort of even things out. Having rotten kids is hardly the reason why teaching is not ideal.
Why is teaching not an ideal profession?
For one thing, it is noble and that explains it all. I think we could see it better if we put ourselves into the shoes of those teachers teaching in public schools in poor countries. Those who still, even under extremely difficult situation, practice this profession.
How many teachers have decent salaries? How many teachers have decent classrooms? How many teachers teach appropriate number of children in one class? How many teachers have access to necessary teaching materials? How many teachers have a manageable number of working hours per week? How many teachers have the chance of availing further education?
Not a lot.
If you are a teacher who has all these, consider yourself very lucky. I could understand if you’ll say that teaching is indeed ideal. But if you are not, then you have my (and others’) respect for pursuing this profession. Not all of us can be as noble as Efren Piñaflorida but I believe, and I think a lot would agree, that by being in this profession and by trying hard to make the best out of what we have, we are, in our own rights, noble.
Photo courtesy of cnn.com
speaking of rotten kids, i think we should also salute the filipino students for their patience and determination. i’m referring to those who are studying in public elementary schools. imagine 50-60 pupils in a classroom …. obsolete books, not to mention grumpy teachers (lol).
just last friday, I overheard my officemates talking about lazy, rude government officials but they all agreed that public school teachers are different. it’s one of the most difficult jobs here in Manila so they are authorized to be grumpy hehehe.
oh yeah.. each time we see a post like this we appreciate more of what he has done, and continue to do.
Not ideal, I suppose, but always noble, if it is done by heart. I happen to work in a place where some teachers work for the sake of earning, but do not love the job, nor the students. They prove to be rather ineffective, most of the time.
Stories of teachers in documentaries often move me to tears. It’s amazing to see the hardships they go through every day, that they endure for the love of teaching.
If a teacher may work hardly, patiently and heartily in turning those rotten kids into a successful individual in the future then probably that adds to the several significant reasons why teaching profession is considered as noble.