CHAPTER 1

• The key to understanding the teaching profession is to know the personal and professional lives of teachers.
• Teachers are the product of the family where they belong.
• Teachers are the servant leaders in their own community.
• Cohen, Manion, Morrison (1996) pointed out that teaching is more than just a simple job.
• The body parts of a teacher?

  • Brain - to always think critically and creatively
  • Eyes - to see the individual needs, strength, and nature of each student
  • Ears - to listen to students' ideas and concerns
  • Hands - to guide students and show the right direction
  • Heart - to love all students regardless of who and what they are
  • Mouth - to speak the truth, discuss knowledge, and speak wisdom to students
  • Feet - to walk with students, explore the surroundings, and discover new knowledge and information
  • Nose - to breathe deeply and relax when feeling tired or pressured
• The teachers have emotional, social, spiritual, physical, and economic needs, but many times, their call to duty make them set aside their individual needs.
• Teachers have economic needs.
• Teachers need security and justice.
• Teachers need to be recognized and appreciated to boost their morale and self-esteem.
• Teachers need spiritual support.
• Teachers need role clarity.
• Teachers have social needs.
• Teachers need to cope with various challenges and changes.
• These human rights are enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in Article III of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
• labor laws - ensure that their employers give their privileges and fair treatment in doing their duties.
• The rights of professional teachers specified by R.A 7836, and the code of ethics for professional teachers are further discussed in the last chapter of this book.
• Article XIII Section 1 to Section 3 of the Philippine Constitution enshrine the commitment of the state to ensure social justice, human rights, and labor rights of each individual that includes teachers.
• By virtue of Republic Act 7836, ammended by Republic Act 9293, teaching was professionalized and thereby requiring teachers to take the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET).
• The following are the 7r's the professional teachers need to do and learn as professionals:

  • remember
  • respond
  • recognize
  • reawaken
  • renew
  • re-evaluate
  • Relearn, learn, and unlearn
• Remember - to perform your duties with high degree of professionalism.
• Respond - to the needs of each student with utmost level of concern to the welfare and well-being of each student.
• Recognize - that as professionals, you must continuously seek professional career advancements through joining professional associations, attending continuing education activities for teachers, and doing graduate studies.
• Reawaken - your passion and sense of mission to serve all types of learners regardless of their religion, socio-economic status, gender, race l, intellectual ability, and learning modalities.
• Renew - your commitment to help each learner to learn in order to have a better future. A teacher must believe that each learner can have a good future if he/she equips each learner with the right knowledge and skills that each learner may use in the future.
• Re-evaluate - your attitudes towards students and your work ethics.
• Relearn, learn, and unlearn - many things to keep you updated with new knowledge and information. A teacher must be always active in the business of life-long learning.
• The Teacher as a community Leader and Social Advocate
• Educators play an important role in the development of people and communities.
• Jan and Ed Philpot (1994) concretized this idea by encouraging a stronger link between home, school, and community through effective programs developed and implemented by teachers.
• Teachers always take leadership roles in their communities especially in activities and projects related to the education and welfare of young children.
• They help the community in implementing certain provisions of Republic Act 7610 known as the "Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act".
• The teacher as a Model of Good Character.
• Since ancient times teachers are recognized as exemplars of good character, attitude and values. They are keepers of values and traditions of different cultures around the world.
• For christians, Jesus is the perfect kind of a teacher leader to emulate.
• For the chinese the teachings and values of confucius are always put in a very high regard.
• The Prophet Muhammad is also the most influential teacher leader for the muslims.
• The life and teachings of Buddha are also very influential among the buddhists.
• Plato and Aristotle are regarded as great teachers during their time in greece.
• Currently we still see many teachers exemplifying good values and character. In the International scene we see that many Nobel Laureates and Pulitzer aAward winners are teachers in higher education.
• In the Philippines some of the recipients of Ten outstanding young men (TOYM) and Ten outstanding women in nation's service (TOWNS) are also teachers.