My teacher, my hero

When I was a schoolboy, I had a crush on my teacher. I thought she was
beautiful and good. She was like dirty ice cream in a bowl while standing in front of us.

She could sing. We could not. She could write. We could not. She could read. We could not. For us, history started with her.

September is not only tourism and peace month. It is also Teachers’ Month. The theme of the celebration is “My teacher, My Hero.” We may not be aware but our teachers brought us to the significant era of multiculturalism. Our knowledge of the changes in history and geography and the cataclysmic events in the world are brought to our attention because good teachers have become masters of what, why, where,
when and how. Teachers gave us cultural literacy.

“Who is a teacher?” When I was a teacher, I told my class, “If you want to be a teacher, be sure that you belong to the cream of the crop. A not-so-good doctor can harm at least twenty to thirty patients a day only. A not-so-good teacher can affect the intellectual, social, moral, physical, educational, cultural and spiritual growth of 250 children a day if he handles five classes only.”

A teacher is a model in the classroom. His visual impact in the four corners of the classroom is vital. More than 50 pairs of eyes will be looking at him. More than 50 pairs of ears will be listening to him. And, more than 100 nose holes will smell him. Your posture, your bearing, your gestures and pelvic gyrations will be under the scrutiny of your students. Before students pay attention to your subject matter, they will first check your makeup and the brand of cosmetics you are using. Behind your hips, they will always know if it is a T-back or traditional hipster panties.

Students can only be influenced to study hard if the teacher carries Solomonic wisdom, the tongue of Aristotle, the vision of Nostradamus, the diplomacy of Mother Theresa, the will of James Bond, and the wit of Bob Hope. You have to believe me. It is not easy to be a teacher… a real teacher. Teaching is a profession. It is a vocation. It is a mission. It is a commitment. It is a dedication. If you fail in one, there is no guarantee that you will perform better in others.

You may be the most outstanding graduate in Education. You have to prove your best in the classroom, especially the Lost Command Section. You will have a colorful cast there—repeaters, truants, dropouts, habitual absentees, those who do not make projects, those who cut classes, those with Friday sickness, those who do not return their cards, those who lose their books, those who do not contribute, those who have family problems, those who are always sick, those who are not afraid to get 65 percent,
those who smoke, those who push drugs, those who are police characters, those who got pregnant, those who have been maltreated by employers, those who always carry suicide notes.

My example could be too much, but can you carry fifty percent of those? You can always give it a try and you can always give your best. The teacher’s concern is not with the students but with students who do not even know why they are in school.

On the other hand, teaching is also very challenging. You change the lives of other people, and in the process, you are changing yours also. A teacher who loves his work maintains a young, compassionate heart. Jesus Christ is a teacher. You are a teacher. Both of you are teachers. Don’t just get crucified. You don’t need a Calvary to prove your worth.

Lady teachers should not retire as old maids or ladies-in-waiting. Grab a
husband. Available gentlemen want to marry teachers because teachers are good in impromptu acting. You can have a choice among fellow teachers, other employees, businessmen on the smartest policemen assigned near your school. But don’t marry a habal-habal driver unless you want a love that is fast and furious.

Teachers are heroes. You made engineers, doctors, businessmen, architects
and politicians. I’m sure you don’t make drug pushers and gambling lords. I love a teacher. I married one. It’s fun to be with her. That fun gave me three children. Let us salute our teachers!