RESPONSIBILITY OR MONEYBILITY; WHAT SENSE DO YOU HAVE?

We may be shattered by this pandemic, but there is only one thing that kept us firm and united to face the battle and proved our worth as teachers, it is our burning passion and great responsibility to educate young minds of today who will soon rise and become our country’s tomorrow. We have proven a lot during this crisis, our loyalty to our profession was tested, our agency’s credibility was questioned and above all our sense of responsibility was awakened and strengthened. Thank you everyone for not letting this crisis put our learners’ education at stake.

However, our battle isn’t over yet but just like what the song says, “the end is near”. We are literally facing the end of the school year and speaking of such, RESPONSIBILITIES kick in which we have no chance of hiding and distancing ourselves from not like the dreadful virus.

End of school year is always and has been the busiest part of a teacher’s life. There comes the finalizing of learners’ grades, writing it on the report card and permanent records up to the checking of forms. Despite all of these, I could still say that these admin tasks are manageable so long as you know how to manage your time effectively and know how to prioritize things. However, this is not true for everyone. Why, because for pre-intermediate and intermediate levels you have to wait until the subject teachers furnish you a copy of your learners’ grades. That being said, you will weight for ages and ask for their MERCY! I don’t understand why are these teachers so inconsiderate with their fellows. I mean we all have our responsibilities at home; we all have families to attend to. If I can manage all of these, why can’t you?

As a public school teacher, my only question is, are we even aware of our SWORN Duties and Responsibilities? I bet we are! because if not, that could possibly bring us in a big trouble.

Teachers are said to be the backbone of an educational institution. The way we perform our duties and responsibilities determines the kind of learners we will produce. Mind you fellow teachers, if we will not do our responsibilities in accordance with our mandates, we can most likely become a candle that will eventually burn itself with no chance of lighting up again.

In as much as I want to agree with Emmer and Sabornie 2015; Pianta 1999 when they said that it is crucial to keep teachers knowledge up to date, so they can deliver high quality teaching, I am even more convinced to believe that a teacher who is responsible and passionate can make a huge difference not only for learners’ lives but also in the institution he/she is a part of.

Having laid out these points, I am still clueless and bothered at the same time why there are still some teachers who are not doing their duties and responsibilities? Given the fact that they knew it already, aren’t they afraid of the possible sanctions that can be charged against them? I am starting to wonder, do they have a sense of RESPONSIBILITY or MONEYBILITY? This term (Moneybility) was actually used by a financial group on facebook, it is a group that aims to educate young professionals and students in managing their finances. However, I am going to use it as the opposite of responsibility. A person who only acts responsible because of money is someone who has the sense of “moneybility”. It is sorrowful and heartbreaking to note that the people who we consider as heroes tend to do this (I don’t intend to generalize teachers, because I am a teacher myself). It seems that these teachers have already lost compassion, it is rather replaced by greed. I used to believe and somehow still continue to believe that teaching is the noblest profession but it doesn’t necessarily mean that teachers are noble. We shall not always impose the word “responsibility” to anyone especially to our learners if we don’t know exactly whether we have it or not. Profound retrospection is what we need, so that in the process we get to know and understand the profession we have and the underlying responsibilities.

I am a new teacher but I am confident to say that I perform my job well, not because teaching is my bread and butter but because I am aware that is my duty as an educator to do it. Civil Service Commission No. 30 s. 1989, is always there, better yet, always do the right thing and always find a reason to do the right one or else you’ll end up losing the job you had worked hard for which help you buy everything you want and provide your family’s needs. Changing our old-day practices now is never too late and does not mean losing our self entitlement; but rather it is the only way to raise YOUR standards My standards and OUR standards. I suppose, there could be some reasons behind all of these. Is it because these teachers are clueless of their obligations OR just being selfish and inconsiderate human beings. This behavior and practices MUST be stopped not just for me, not for yourself but because of our dear learners!

Another issue nowadays is our wrong interpretation and practical application of the word “pakikisama” (smooth relationship with others). I know that there are two main usage of this word - positive and negative, but some of our fellows tend to use the latter. When you don’t agree to them or won’t go along with them they would say “wala kang pakikisama”. This word is rather sickening and deafening as it shouldn’t have been in the first place. Now, we are right at the defense side when we hear some people attacked our ego and pride as teachers. Are we even justified when we put all the blame to our learners? I don’t think so, again, reflect! If we really want to make change happen, let’s start it from ourselves because success emanate from within. Let’s not allow our negative connotation of the word “pakikisama” eat us alive. Let us use it the way it should be used until we will realize that we have buried our sense of “moneybility” to its deepest hell of a grave.

As I end this, let me leave you this good thought to ponder on. Please don’t forget to leave comment/suggestions. These would greatly help me improve my writing skills. Also, please subscribe to my blogsite and never miss a time to read my blogs. God bless!

“I could be blindfolded and dropped into the deepest ocean and I would know where to find you. I could be buried a hundred miles underground and I would know where you are.” ― Neil Gaiman, American Gods.