Tell it to SunStar: Predicament of old teachers

“GONE were the days when teaching was fun and enjoyable despite the meager salary,” one teacher said.

“Today, to teach amidst the Covid-19 is a big risk. The pandemic is a very serious threat to everyone’s health despite all safety precautionary measures,” another teacher said.

"The volume of teaching preparations and training has become stressful,” the first teacher continued.

"Teachers are told to use blended learning modalities to help ensure continuity of basic education no matter what. Teachers are forced to prepare modules or self-learning kits without enough proper training. Suddenly, they became authors of learning resources without copyright ownership and recognition,” added the second teacher.

"These dismayed many teachers, but they remain on the job and learn to dance with the music. Others, however, out of frustration made the ultimate decision to retire early. There is no point to face the challenge of teaching profession if one is unhappy and one's health condition will be affected," she added.

"To let go of the noblest job on the planet isn’t easy. To leave the job that molds many professionals in the world is perhaps depressingly regrettable decision but someone has to make it,” she continued in a weary voice.

Such a predicament of the two old teachers is perhaps the painful truth and reality on the ground.

I sympathized with them. But what can I do to make them feel better? I don't make the rules. I simply implement them. It’s hard to teach old dogs new tricks. When an overworked and less appreciated mentor ditches her academic responsibilities, she becomes a liability. Maybe the last thing I can do is give them advice and redirect my attention to the young blood of teachers. Perhaps the length of years in service burns the others out, but they have made remarkable contributions anyway. So they both deserve a break. It’s a fact the pandemic has caused so much fear and anxiety to many teachers young and old alike.

When asked about their plans after work, one teacher poignantly replied, “Spend more time with family."

The other teacher responded, "Travel to see the world and write a memoir!"

Both gave me impressive answers!

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