posted by Jennie on Oct 5
I woke up with the above image post on my Facebook wall and with kisses from my boys, synchronize kissing me on either cheeks with a Happy World Teachers Day greeting! I sure had a great morning and I drank it all in while sitting on our virco furniture with the breakfast prepared for me. :-) Then I saw tweets from friends and loved ones! I am extremely grateful that God has allowed for us to homeschool my son. Nevermind if this means that I practically threw my professional teacher license down the drain. Because we all know that Home Education does not require a parent to be a licensed teacher. Some see it as a sacrifice, but I see it as an opportunity, a privilege even, that I get to have first hand influence on my own son’s education. How cool is that?
In all those two decades of being in school, there is no doubt, the influence my former teachers had on me is huge. Let me start off with my worst recollection of being treated really bad by a teacher. I’m not surprised that amongst all the teachers I had, her name rings the loudest – Mrs. Nogra, she did not just bully me into thinking that even if I recite the right answer, I’m still no good. I was in Grade 2 or 3 back then. She also repeatedly said that what I have is a roach’s voice (boses ipis). The things she did crushed my little girl’s heart and self esteem all right. But unconsciously I find myself wanting to prove to her that she’s so wrong. Not a good motivator for a grade schooler, all right. Precisely why even as I am now a professional teacher myself, I vowed never to do that to anyone within the circle of my influence.
Then there came great teachers, starting off with Ms. Muncada. My English teacher back in late grade school or early middle school, I forget. Ms. Muncada was the most encouraging teacher I had back then. Redeeming me from that bad early grade school experience with the other teacher.
Makes me think, teachers who we allow to surround our children within their grade and middle school years have the most impact on our children’s lives. At least, this was how it was for me. Good or bad, I still have my former teachers to thank. You had your own lives apart from teaching, this I now know. But keeping in mind the impact of our influence to our students is always a good place to start and end our teaching professions with – from one teacher to another. 
Happy World Teachers’ Day, Teachers!
October 6th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
Jen, I had a similar experience when I was in Grade 3. I remember so well the name of that teacher – Mrs. Justina Dizon. We had a test, and most of the pupils did not get the right answer, and she said that included me. I was reduced to tears, my tears flowed incessantly, because I knew in my heart that I got the correct answer. Then when she reviewed my test paper, she said that I should stop crying, because she said she did not insist that I was wrong. On the other hand, I remember Mrs. Trinidad Cezar, my teacher in senior high. She was the one who chose me to be the declaimer in fourth year and I won the contest. I think it was because of that that I was chosen as one of the delegates in a student convention participated in by selected high school students in Cebu City. In that convention, the moderator was very encouraging, telling us that we were the cream of the crop of our respective schools. I was one of the special awardees during my high school graduation. I got the Balagtas of the Year award and shared the limelight with the valedictorian, salutatorian, and other honor students who were recognized during the graduation ceremonies. I also remember my college instructor in Accounting in FEU, Mr. Villena. I guess I can’t forget him because he acknowledged my being a good student in front of my classmates. He really praised me because according to him, among his students, it was I who did my assignments diligently.
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October 6th, 2012 at 10:59 pm
Awww that is sooo cute! I had seriously considered homeschooling Dindin but honestly, I don’t think I am capable. So we are sending her to a preschool near our home next year.
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October 7th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Bullying in school does not come only from the bigger or aggressive students but also from teachers, but if you have the proper attitude you will be able to convert such negative comments into positive notes like what you did Jen. I had a similar experience when I was in third year high, I made a mistake in grammar and my English teacher said “I thought you were bright”. I did not say anything because I thought it was a challenge that could not be corrected by answering back. In due time, I earned her respect and she gave me the highest grade that I could ever imagine: 99% in English. Her name is Eunice Malejana.
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October 7th, 2012 at 8:31 pm
ohh may teacher ako sa hs.. ang baba ng tingin sa akin that while practicing for our graduation she was shocked to see me na isa sa gagadruate haha
anyways, Happy teacher’s day!
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October 7th, 2012 at 10:17 pm
i have not returned to my hisghschool at college teachers after I graduated.. I may say all teachers gave us something to learn but not all are good teachers.. belated teachers day..
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