Chapter 5

FIVE and still FIGHTING
by: J. Policarpio

VISION

When I was just a kid, I had three definite ambitions in life – to be the President of the Philippines, to be a scientist, and to be a teacher. As times passed and as I became more realistic in life, these three diminished into one – I am now a proud public school teacher.......

FRUITS

This month marks my fifth year in the teaching arena. As our senate is busy with the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Corona and investigating his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN), I’m also busy filling out my SALN. It is very tiring to do so, not because of a lot of properties to be declared, but because of repeatedly declaring N.A. (Not Applicable which could also mean New Apartments, just kidding.) For five years, I have acquired a lot of N.A.’s, but it doesn’t make me envious of others. I think I have invested more important things that cannot be equalled to any price.

HARDSHIP

I am confident to say that five years is enough to claim that most theories being studied in the academe is heaven-and-Earth different from the realities inside the classroom. I can still remember my first year of teaching when I was assigned to handle lower sections. They were classified as suchnot precisely because of lack of intelligence, but because of their different priorities, lesser opportunities, lesser support, and financial incapacities.Everything on my mind was so IDEAL, fresh from the concepts learned from the university where I graduated. After using varied teaching styles and different kinds of assessments, came the end of the quarter when we needed to submit the children’s grades. To my dismay, only three got passing marks. I had to do a lot of self-searching, what went wrong? One of my older colleagues had a remark that “Hindi namanlahatmagko-kolehiyo or mag i-engineer. Karamihansakanila gusto langmaka graduate paramagka-diploma at makapag-apply ngtrabaho. “(“Not all of our students will go to college or will take engineering courses. Most of them just want to graduate to get a diploma and apply for a job.”) How will I apply our grading system in this case? How will I reprimand a child who is always tardy, sleepy and not doing his assigned tasks because he is busy at night selling “balut” to support his own studies?How will I apply the grading system to a child who is not able to pass the exam because he/she is the one in-charge of his/her younger siblings’ need since their parents are working? These “realities” are being learned through experiences and these are what make a true teacher.

We, teachers, must not be confined with the curriculum given. Instead, we need to exercise versatility in preparing for the lesson considering that it will be taught to different types of learners. In general, the major factor in the learning process is still the teacher.

REALIZATION

Teaching is somewhat similar to a “tele-novela” running for a long time. It is actually a biography of a teacher in action, drama, and comedy settings combined. There are experiences that can make us angry, instances that can make us smile or even laugh out loud, even challenging situations that can cause raised voices plus high blood pressure. Fortunately, I’m still surviving and I thank God all this time for His guidance. Teaching never fails to remind me that I will always be a learner.

FULLFILLMENT

It is not about money at all. Yes, it’s true, there’s no money in teaching. If there were, why would a lot of my batchmates land on different jobs especially in the call centre industries. Why would a number of my colleagues go abroad for greener pastures? I can’t blame them. They are really earning much more and enjoying the other side of the fence. On my personal point of view though (don’t blame me, it’s personal), I can proudly say that even if I earn just enough for a living, I’m satisfied because: 1. My work is not boring, it’s distinct every day. 2. I can sleep at night because my work is during day time. 3. Most of all because I’m serving Filipino students and it’s fulfilling to be a part of their learning.

Note: To those who might get offended, don’t get me wrong. To each his own.

*Special thanks to my proofreader.