THE world embraces and recognizes the crucial role of our teachers in community building with the celebration of "World Teacher's Day."
Teachers serve as our second parents, thus aside from the responsibility of educating us, they are also there to employ discipline among their students so that students can be guided with good manners and right conduct in facing the day-to-day challenges.
In the olden times, students experienced all kinds of discipline necessary for their learning. Today's parents could very well relate how schools were run during their time. Unruly students can never be avoided in a classroom and teachers had their own way of disciplining kids back then.
Certainly, all successful professionals and non-professionals have their respective connections with their teachers which started during their school days.
Nobody succeeded in life without the help of their teachers. The teachers were the frontliners insofar as ensuring the achievement of one's educational attainment. They started to mold the intellectual capability of every student through education.
With the new normal now, teachers have equipped themselves with new skills on how to go with the direction of online education.
Despite the fact that the traditional method of holding the face-to-face classes is no longer applicable due to the Covid-19 pandemic, online classes have unfolded and teachers have to engage in educating their students using the new platform.
It's quite challenging for both students and teachers due to the lack of adequate internet signal plus the fact that due to the economic constraints that Covid-19 has induced, some students cannot afford to go online and buy gadgets in order to catch up with the new demand.
Over the years with all these challenges, the importance of our teachers in our society remains crucial and essential.
Here are some of the meaningful messages sent by former students to local teachers who were indeed appreciated for their contribution to the educational attainment of these individuals.
But before that, let me also extend my sincere appreciation to all my teachers from kindergarten to college who were instrumental in my successes.
Also to my mother who is an educator herself, Mrs. Melba Cañet, to my sister Bellie Mar Alositain, sister-in-law Rose Cañet, Julie Navales, Lailah Jomillo, and to all the teachers who truly serve their profession wholeheartedly, "Salamat sa inyo nga pagpangabudlay para mag alam ang kadam-an (Thank you to all your hard work in educating us and others)."
Journalist Mate Espina has her message to professor Dr. Mercedes "Ditas" Juson of La Consolacion College Bacolod: "As an ETEEAP graduate, I will always be grateful for the mentorship of Ditas Yuson, retired VP of LCC-Bacolod, for encouraging me to earn my degree through this program. I was already 46 when I received my college diploma and it gives hope to other adults, that no matter what age you are in, you can still pursue your dream of acquiring a degree, more so now that online schooling is very much available."
Kimy Ortega, a student of St. John's Institute, wrote to her teacher, "Thank you for always helping us learn and teaching us how we could be brave and strong for the upcoming future. We appreciate how you always keep being patient, kind, caring, and being an amazing role model for us. We also can't thank you enough for going to school just to teach us even if there is Covid-19 going on. I truly can't express all my gratitude, respect, and appreciation enough in this letter. Thank you so much!"
Rodina Salvador, a Mass Communication graduate of the University of Negros Occidental Recoletos Bacolod, chose Mr. Ericson Rios as her favorite professor. "He is funny, friendly and a simple guy. For me, he is the best teacher...what do you think Carla Canet?" She said.
Dr. Nenette Dedel Padilla shared that Miguel Rapatan had once told that she will be sent to La Salle to take education as a course. "And I was appalled because it was never my vision. But he prophesied it. He even referred to Luke 10:2, saying harvests plenty, but the laborers are few." she happily said as she celebrates 25 years of teaching.
Many students will never forget about their teachers. It's your day, our beloved teachers. Continue to mold our students until they reach their own successes.