Teaching As A Profession
Teaching As A Profession
Read the following instances when the word "professional" is used. ADD
MORE NSTANCES, YOU CAN. As a group, explain what the word
"professional" means in each case.
1. One night, cellphones were stolen right there from your home while
you were asleep. There was no indication of forced entry, so you
claimed that the manner by which your cellphone was stolen was
highly professional.
2. Father tells floor tile setter whom he asked to work on a newly
constructed bathroom "Gusto ko yong gawang propesyonal, malinis at
maganda."
3. She is highly professional in her ways. She deals with everyone
including her daughter — employee professionally.
4. "How unprofessional of her to act that way. Teacher pa naman din."
5. Medical doctors, lawyers, education consultants are entitled to
professional fees (PF) for expert services rendered.
6. After his oath taking as a professional teacher, he
was congratulated and was told "now you are truly a professional."
What does the word "professional" mean as used in the instances given above?
The teaching profession is governed by the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers.
Violation of the Code of Ethics for professional teachers is one of the grounds for the
revocation of the professional teacher's Certificate of Registration and suspension from the
practice of the teaching profession (Sec. 23., RA. 7836).
APPLICATION: Let's Apply What You Learned
1. By the use of a graphic organizer, present the elements of a profession.
2. Why does a profession like teaching require long years of initial
professional education and continuing professional development after that
long, arduous initial professional education?
3. By way of an acrostic, explain the elements of a profession.
P
R
O
F
E
S
S
I
O
N
4. Here is a line from Bernard Shaw's play: Man and Superman: "Those who
can, do; those who can't, teach."
People who are able to do something well can do that thing for
a living, while people who are not able to do anything that well
make a living by teaching. Having learned the elements of a
profession, do you agree with Bernard Shaw? Explain your answer.
Summary
1. Based on the elements of a profession given in this Lesson, can the taxi
driver be considered a professional? — Analysis
A. No, because driving is not a college/university degree.
B. Yes, because there is such a term professional driver.
C. It depends on the technical and ethical competence of the taxi driver.
D. Yes, if the taxi driver is competent and honest.
2. Which are elements of a profession like teaching? — Analysis
I. Long years of professional education
Il. Passing the competency-based examination to obtain a diploma from
TESDA
III. Continuing Professional Development
IV. Adherence to a Code of Ethics for the professional group
A. 1, 11 and 111 C. 1, 111 and IV
B. 11, 111 and Iv D, 1, 11 and IV
1. Read a research related to teaching as a profession and fill out the matrix given
below.
1. Does the teaching profession fulfill all the elements of a profession? Explain your
answer.
Philippines as a profession.
3. Teaching was elevated to a profession only in 1994 with the
passage of RA 7836.
4. There is no other legal document that professionalized teaching other
than The Teachers' Professionalization Act of 1994.
Share your answers with a learning partner. Then the two of you pair with
another pair and discuss your answers. Arrive at a consensus, if you can,
All the True-False items above are false. The first legal document that
professionalized teaching was Presidential Decree 1006 issued by then President
Ferdinand E. Marcos. It was only in 1976 with PD 1006 known as the Decree
Professionalizing Teaching that teachers in the Philippines became
professionalized. The need to professionalize teaching was felt "to insure that in
the immediacy and urgency of teacher recruitment, qualitative requirements are
not overlooked. and "although teaching requires a number of years of collegiate
study, it is the only course that is not yet considered a profession" (PD 1006).
Furthermore, "in recognition of the vital role of teachers in nation-building and as
an incentive to raise the morale of teachers, it is imperative that they be
considered as professionals and teaching be recognized as a profession."
(P.D.1006)
Summary
Interview LET passers now teaching who did not go through the 4-year teacher
education course. They are graduates of other four-year courses but not teacher
education.
Ask them the following questions:
1. What difficulties are they experiencing in teaching?
2. Do they agree that a four-year teacher education course is a better preparation
for the teaching profession?
3. In 1991 the Congressional Commission to Review and Assess Philippine
Education (EDCOM) came out with the finding that the "quality of Philippine
education is declining" and that the teachers are "at the heart of the problem."
The EDCOM discussed further that:
Learning Outcome
Teaching as a vocation
Vocation comes from the Latin word "vocare" which means to call.
Based on the etymology of the word, vocation, therefore, means a call. If
there is a call, there must be a caller and someone who is called. There must
also be a response. For Christians, the Caller is God Himself. For our brother
and sister Muslims, Allah. Believers in the Supreme being will look at this
voiceless call to have a vertical dimension. For non-believers, the call is also
experienced but this may viewed solely along a horizontal dimension. It is
like man calling another man, never a Superior being calling man.
Most often, when people use the word "vocation," they refer to a religious
vocation, like the mother in the Activity phase of this Lesson. Vocation
includes other big callings like marriage and single blessedness. It does not
only refer to a religious vocation. It can also refer to a call to do something like
to teach, to heal the sick, etc. Whatever is our calling or station in life, the call
is always to serve.
The Christians among you realize that the Bible is full of stories of men
and women who were called by God to do something not for themselves but for
others. We know of Abraham, the first one called by God, to become the father
of a great nation, the nation of God's chosen people. We recall Moses who was
called while in Egypt to lead God's chosen people out of Egypt in order to free
them from slavery. In the New Testament, we know of Mary who was also
called by God to become the mother of the Savior, Jesus Christ. In Islam, we
are familiar with Muhammad, the last of the prophets to be called by Allah, to
spread the teachings of Allah. All of them responded positively to God's call.
Buddha must have also heard the call to abandon his royal life in order to seek
the answer to the problem on suffering.
From the eyes of those who believe, it was God who called you to teach,
just as God called Abraham, Moses, and Mary, of the Bible. Among so many, you
were called to teach. Like you, these biblical figures did not also understand the
events surrounding their call. But in their great faith, they answered YES. Mary said:
"Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done to me according to your word". (Of
course, it is difficult explaining your call to teach as God's call for one who, in the
first place, denies God's existence, for this is a matter of faith.) The fact that you are
now in the College of Teacher Education signifies that you said YES to the call to
teach. Perhaps you never dreamt to become a teacher! But here you are now
preparing to become one! Teaching must be your vocation, your calling. May this
YES response remain a YES and become even firmer through the years.
Teaching as a mission
Teaching is also a mission. The word mission comes from the Latin word
"mission" which means "to send." The Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary
defines mission as "task assigned." You are sent to accomplish an assigned task.
The phrase "mission accomplished" from the soldier in the Activity phase
of this lesson suggests that you were sent to do an assigned task, a mission and
so if you faithfully accomplish the assigned task, you proclaim "mission
accomplished." You responded to the call to be a teacher and so your mission in
the world is to teach, the task entrusted to you in this world. These are how
vocation and mission are related. You were called for a purpose, i.e. to
accomplish a mission while on earth which is to teach.
If it is your assigned task then naturally you've got to prepare yourself for
it. From now on you cannot take your studies for granted! Your four years of
pre-service preparation will equip you with the knowledge, skills and attitude to
become an effective teacher. However, never commit the mistake of
Culminating your mission preparation at the end of the four-year pre-service
education. You have embarked in a mission that calls for a continuing
professional development As the saying goes "once a teacher, forever a
student." (More is said of continuing professional development in the Code of
Ethics for Professional Teachers in Chapter 3.)
Flowing from your uniqueness, you are expected to contribute to the
betterment of this world in your own unique way. Your unique and most
significant contribution to the humanization of life on earth is in the field for
which you are prepared - teaching.
What exactly is the mission to teach? Is it merely to teach the child the
fundamental skills or basic r's of reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic and right conduct? Is
it to help the child master the basic skills so he/she can continue acquiring
higher-level skills in order to become a productive member of society? Is it to
deposit facts and other information into the "empty minds" of students to be
withdrawn during quizzes and tests? Or is it to "midwife" the birth of ideas latent
in the minds of students? Is it to facilitate the maximum development of his/her
potential not only for himself/herself but also for others? In the words of Alfred
North Whitehead, is it to help the child become "the man of culture and of
expertise?" Or is it "to provide opportunities for the child's growth and to remove
hampering influences" as Bertrand Russell put it? You will be made to answer
this question again when you will be made to write down your philosophy of
education in a later lesson.
To teach is to do all of these and more! To teach is to influence every child
entrusted in your care to become better and happier because life becomes more
meaningful. To teach is to help the child become more human.
- If you are doing it not only for the pay but also for service,
- If you keep on teaching out of love, it's a mission.
- If you are committed to teaching even if it means letting go of other
activities,
- If you remain teaching even though nobody recognizes your efforts,
It makes you get excited
- If your concern is success plus faithfulness, it's a mission.
Want to give your life a meaning? Want to live a purpose driven life?
Spend it passionately in teaching, the most noble profession. Consider what Dr.
Josette T. Biyo, the first Asian teacher to win the Intel Excellence in Teaching
Award in an international competition, said in a speech delivered before a
selected group of teachers, superintendents, DepEd officials and consultants, to
wit:
There may be times, when you will feel like giving up (many leave
teaching after 3 or 5 years for varied reasons). Remember you responded to
the call to teach and that you have accepted the mission to teach. May you be
found faithful to your vocation and mission till the end.
Dear Teacher:
So I am suspicious of education.
My request is: Help your students become human. Your
efforts must never produce learned monsters, skilled psychopaths,
and *Eichmanns.
Reading, writing, arithmetic are important only if they serve to
make our children more human.
Eichmann - An Austrian who became the Nazi official who administered the concentration camps where millions of Jews were murdered during
World War Il (1906-1962)
Explain your mission as a professional teacher by helping children become more human.
RESEARCH CONNECTION
1. Read a research related to teaching as a profession and fill out the matrix given
below.
SYNAPSE STRENGTHENERS
1. To be frue to your vocation and mission as a teacher, you have to "have more,
do more in order to be more" to your students and all others to whom you
were sent. What does "do more, have more in order to be more" mean?
2. The Greatest Teacher, Jesus Christ, spent much time to prepare his apostles
before he "sent" them for their mission to "go into the world baptizing them
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." What is the
equivalent of this preparation in your life as a future professional teacher?
Third. Develop the special talents that God has given you, working and studying
according to your capabilities, never strayingfim the path ofgood andjustice, in
order to achieve your own perfection, and by this means you will contribute to the
progress of humanity: thus you will accomplish the mission that God himself has
given you in this life, and achieving this, you will have honor, and having honor,
you will be glorifring God. (Source: http://malacanang.govph/8132-the-true decalogue-
by-apolinario-mabini/ Retrieved, June 22, 2018)
1. What does your list tell about society's expectations from teachers?
Teacher Evaluation Standards — The McREL model (Mid Continent Research for
Education and Learning
1. Teachers demonstrate leadership.
- lead in their classrooms demonstrate •leadership in the school
lead the teaching profession
- advocate for schools and students
Since the main task of the professional teacher is to teach, society demands from
him/her teaching competence. Teaching competence is spelled out in the PPST and in
the four models of effective teaching given in the preceding paragraphs. This means that
if he/she has to teach effectively he/she has to: 1) prepare and plan very well for
instruction; 2) execute or deliver that instruction plan very well because he/she has
professional knowledge (mastery of subject matter); 3) create a conducive or favorable
learning environment for diverse groups of learners; 4) assess and report learners'
progress; and 5) demonstrate professionalism as he/she deals with superiors, colleagues,
students and parents.
For the 7 domains, 37 strands and 148 performance indicators of the PPST, refer to Appendix
L.
Professionalism: The Hallmark of a Professional
No doubt, society expects the teacher as a professional to demonstrate professionalism in
all that he/she does. Professionalism is both a professional and a personal trait.
Professionalism will be discussed again the next lesson on Thu Demands of Society from
The Teacher as a Person.
The Code of Ethics for Public School Teachers adopted in Section 7 of RA 4670 explains
professional conduct:
It behooves every teacher to assume and maintain professional attitude to his
work and in dealing with his associates in the profession. It should be his self-
imposed duty to constantly improve himself professionally.
Criticism, when necessary, should clearly reflect friendly motivation and a sincere desire to
uphold the standard and dignity of the profession.
In dealing with his pupils or students, the teacher should ever strive to be professionally
correct, friendly, and sympathetic.
APPLICATION: Let's Apply What You Learned
1. Form 7 groups. Each group will be assigned a domain of the PPST to do PowerPoint presentation in
class. What are the stands for each domain? Give the competency indicators for each strand for all the
career stages. Compare the competencies per career stage,
2. Add a 5th column to Table 1 on a Comparison of the 4 models on Teacher Effectiveness. Review
the 7 domains of the PPST and place each domain in the appropriate boxes. Feel free to extend the
Table if you feel the need to do so.
Danielson Stronge McREL Marzano PPST
1. Planning and Instructional Teachers facllltate Plannlng and
Preparation Planning learning for thelr Preparing
students.
Assessment Teachers know the
of/for Leamlng content they teach
2. Instruction Professional Teachers know the Classroom strategies
Knowledge content they teach, and behaviors
Instructional
Teachers facilitate
Delivery
leaming for their
Communication students.
3. The Classroom The Learning Teachers establish a Teachers facilitate
Environment Environment respectful learning for their
environment for a students.
Student diverse population of
Progress students.
4. Professional 1. Teachers demonstrate Collegiality and
Responsibilities Professionalism leadership. Professionalism
Teachers reflect on
their practices
Table 1: Comparison of the 4 Models on Teacher Effectiveness
3. An LPT pin is worn by Licensed Professional Teacher (LPT) and the letters LPT are
attached to the name of every professional teacher in the Philippines in the same way that
M.D., Doctor of Medicine, is attached to the name Of a medical doctor, R.N. for a Registered
Nurse and CPA fora Certified Public Accountant. When you wear that pin and write LPT
after your name, you are announcing to the world you are a professional teacher. Professional
teacher, what does this mean?
4. For the millennial learners: Is the professional teacher aptly described as PETMALU LODI
and WERPA? Explain your answer.
5. Below are Teachers' Obligations enumerated in Section 16 of Batas Pambansa Blg.
232 known as the Education Act of 1982.
Every teacher shall:
I. Perform his duties to the school by discharging his responsibilities in accordance
with the philosophy, goals and objectives of the school.
2. Be accountable for the emcient and effective attainment of specified learning
objectives in pursuance of national development goals, within the limits of
available school resources.
3. Render regular reports on performance of each student to the latter's parents or
guardians with specific suggestions for improvement.
4. Assume the responsibility to maintain and sustain his professional growth and
advancement and maintain professionalism in his behavior at all times.
5. Refrain from making deductions in students' scholastic ratings for acts that are
clearly not manifestations of poor scholarship.
6. Participate as an agent of consffuctive, social, economic, moral, intellectual,
cultural and political change in his school and the community within the context
of national policies. Are these teachers' obligations exactly the same as the seven
domains of the PPST? Share your answer.
2. Which statement is TRUE of society's demand from the professional teacher? — Analysis
A. The professional teacher is concerned only with classroom teaching.
B. Effective teaching is the primary duty of the professional teacher.
C The professional teacher is not expected to lead in community affairs in order not to
jeopardize her teaching.
D. Because the professional teacher is expected to be highly enlightened, he is expected
to campaign for the good candidate during election time.
3. The Filipino teacher is a professional. What is/are expected of her/ him? — Analysis
I. Technically competent
Il. Highly ethical and moral
III. Has superior IQ
IV. Popular among learners
A. 1, 11 and III B. 1 and 11
C. 1, 11 and IV D. 1 and IV
RESEARCH CONNECTION
1. Read a research related to teaching as a profession and fill out the matrix given below.
1. With the qualities of a professional in mind, cite some Filipino traits that work against
the making of a frue Filipino professional teacher.
2. Realizing society's demands from teachers, do you agree with at least four-year
academic preparation of professional teachers? Do you agree with the components of
that academic preparation — general education, professional education and
specialization?
3. Develop an evaluation tool for teacher teaching performance based on the four (4)
frameworks of good teaching and those of the PPST.
4. It is a professional obligation of Filipino teachers to contribute to the formation of
"Filipinos who passionately love their country and whose values and competencies
enable them to realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to building the
nation." (DepEd vision).
It is also a professional obligation of teachers to help DepEd in its mission given below:
DepEd Mission: "To protect and promote the right of every Filipino to quality,
equitable, culture-based and complete basic education" where:
Students learn in a child-friendly, gender sensitive, safe and motivating
environment e Teachers facilitate learning and constantly nurture every learner...
If the future teacher is prepared in accordance with the 4 models of teacher
effectiveness and in accordance with the domains of the PPST, will he/she able to cope
with the demands of DepEd's vision and mission statements?
5. Study the basic education curricular reforms presented in Appendix F. Research on
how teachers were prepared for these various basic education reforms.
At this point in time, reflect in how you can acquire these professional standards.
The Demands of Society from the Teacher as a Person
BRENDA B. CORPUZ, PhD
GLORIA G. SALANDANAN, PhD
Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and Che does listen to
teachers, it is because they are witnesses. —Pope Paul VI
Learning Outcomes
INTRODUCTION
am only a teacher!" Often times this is what we hear when a teacher introduces
herself/himself amidst a group of professionals like doctors, lawyers, nurses, accountants,
engineers etc. And yet, admittedly, so much is expected or demanded of a teacher. More
than any other professional, teachers are subjected to scrutiny to the minutest detail by
those they associate with. Teachers are judged more strictly than other professionals.
When a teacher fails to meet expectations of the public, like when she wears an ultra mini
skirt or fails to pay debt on time, the remark from the scrutinizing eye of the public is
"teacher pa man din," (to think that he/she is a teacher).
What are the demands of the teaching profession from the teacher as a person? This
can be re-stated as "what personal qualities or attributes of teachers are demanded by the
teaching profession" or "what personal traits must a teacher possess in order to function
well as a professional teacher?
Referring to the professional teacher, the Code of Ethics gives
big words like "possesses dignity and reputation, with high moral values . . . adheres to, observes
and practices a set of ethical and moral principles, standards and values." What are these big
words in more specific teacher attributes? Let's find out in this Lesson.
Recall your most memorable teacher who had the greatest impact on your life? What
special personal qualities did he/she possess? Write them down.
2. "I cannot hear what you are saying because who you are speaks louder than what you
say". How do you relate this to your personal life as a teacher?
ABSTRACTION: Let's Add to What You Know
The qualities of your favorite teachers may not be very far from one another.
Let's compare them with the twelve (12) characteristics of an effective teacher
gathered from a fifteen-year longitudinal, qualitative study on more than one
thousand essays of teacher education students. (Walker, Robert, J. Twelve
Characteristics of an Effective Teacher: A Longitudinal, Qualitative, Quasi-Research
Study of In-Service and Pre-Service Teachers':
Professionalism
Professionalism is something demanded of teachers both as professionals and as persons.
Professionalism is succinctly described in Article XI of the Code of Ethics for Professional
Teachers, to wit:
Section 1. A teacher shall live with dignity at all times.
Section 2. A teacher shall place premium upon self-respect and self-discipline as the
principle of-personal behavior in all relationships with others and in all situations.
Section 3. A teacher shall maintain at all times a dignified personality which could serve
as model worthy of emulation by learners, peers, and others.
Section 4. A teacher shall always recognize the Almighty God or being as guide of his
own destiny and of the destinies of men and nations.
The Code of Ethics for public school teachers adopted in Section 7 of Republic Act 4670
cites integrity as one essential frait of a professional teacher. This is given below:
C. INTEGRITY: Since the teacher's work is not confined merely to the development of
certain fundamental skills and abilities encompassed by the teaching of the 3R 's but
also includes the development of desirable habits and attitudes that go into the
formation of character, his manner of living should provide a worthy example for his
pupils and students to emulate for his fellow teachers to be proud of, and for the
community to feel as being enriched by it,
The personal traits cited above as attributes expected of teachers as persons are all
included in the big words - "live with dignity," "premium on self-respect and self-discipline,"
"model, worthy of emulation" found in the Code of Ethics of Professional Teachers. They are not
only personal traits, they are also professional traits expected of a teacher. In one word, these are
all manifestations of professionalism, the hallmark of a professional.
APPLICATION: Let's Apply What You Learned
1. Read this poem "You Are a Teacher" then answer the following questions on page 42:
YOUARE A TEACHER
If I speak interestingly, effectively, and well,
But do not understand my students
I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I know all of the methods and techniques of teaching,
If I have complete faith that they will work,
So that I use them completely,
But think only of materials or techniques
instead of how they can help my students,
I count for nothing.
If I go the second mile in my teaching,
Give up many activities,
But do it without understanding,
It does no good.
Love is very patient, very kind;
Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs;
It is never tyrannic, never;
Yet does insist on truth; It does not become angry;
It is not resentful.
Love always expects the best of others;
It is gladdened when they live up to these expectations,
Slow to lose faith when they do not.
It will bear anything,
Hope for anything,
Endure anything.
This kind of love will never fail
If there are teaching methods, they will change;
If there are curricula, they will be revised.
For our knowledge is imperfect
And our teaching is imperfect,
And we are always looking for the better ways
Which an infinite God has placed ahead of us.
When I began to teach, I fumbled and failed;
Now I have put away some of my childish ways.
At present I am learning bit by bit;
What mental portrait of the teacher in the classroom and the teacher in the community
is painted by the poem, "You Are a Teacher?"
2. Read your name through the poem like this: Brenda You are a Teacher.
If Brenda speaks interestingly,
But does not understand her students
Brenda is a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
Read until "it is not resentful."
Call on other students to read their names through the lines of the poem.
3. How did you feel when you read your name through the lines of the poem? Describe
and explain why.
SUMMARY
1. Between the professional and personal qualities of a teacher, which ones are perceived to
be more important? Is there really such a thing as more important than the other?
2. Give the poem "You Are a Teacher" a tune then sing it. Choreograph it.
Of the personal attributes of a professional teacher, which do you have most? Which should you
develop more?