PEC 202 (The Teaching Profession)

Module 2
The Teacher as a Person in the Society
The objective of this module are the following:

1. Identify several roles performed by teachers in the society

2. Discuss the values of teachers as community leaders
3. Appreciate the role of teachers in the society

The key to understanding the teaching profession is to know the personal and professional lives of
teachers.

1. It is important for us to understand that teachers are products of the family where they belong.
2. We need to recognize that teachers are also shaped by the society where they live
3. It is already a fact that the schools they attended are also contributory to the development of
their expertise, talents, knowledge, skills, and educational philosophy.

A. The Teacher as an Individual Person

1. Teachers Have Different Talents and Skills

“The Body Parts of a Teacher”

a. Brain – to always think critically and creatively

b. Eyes – to see the individual needs, strength, and nature of each student
c. Ears – to listen to students’ ideas and concerns
d. Hands – to guide students and show the right direction
e. Heart – to love all students regardless of who and what they are
f. Mouth – to speak the truth, discuss knowledge, and speak wisdom to students
g. Feet – to walk with students, explore the surroundings, and discover new
knowledge and information
h. Nose – to breathe deeply and relax when feeling tired or pressured

2. Teachers Have Different Needs

a. Teachers have economic needs.

While teaching is not a profession that will make someone rich, teachers also
need money to sustain their daily needs and to feed their own families.

b. Teachers need security and justice

Teachers need to be free from all the stress of school politics.

 c. Teachers need to be recognized and appreciated to boost their morale and self-
esteem.

The school should provide them with a nurturing environment that allows
individual and professional growth. The school should also recognize the outstanding
works and commitments of teachers.

d. Teachers need spiritual support.

Everyday, they are molding the minds of the next generation’s leaders and
citizens. In doing these tasks, teachers need some form of spiritual guidance and
inspiration regardless of their religion.

e. Teachers need role clarity.

Often times, many teachers are surprised about the roles, duties, and
expectations they have to perform inside and outside the classroom. These tasks range
from teaching, serving as role models, and dealing with various individuals and social
institutions.

f. Teachers have social needs.

As an agent of society, teachers need to have a good relationship with other

social agencies and groups. They need to build good relationship with families,
community leaders, and other professionals.

g. Teachers need to cope with various challenges and changes.

The teaching profession requires teachers to respond to different challenges

and changes brought by information technology, changing social values system,
economic challenges, and cultural diversity.

3. Teachers Have Individual Rights

As an individual, every teacher is entitled to enjoy all human rights identified by the
state.

In their work, their status as employees is protected by a system granting permanency

status or tenure. The Manual of Regulations for Private School Teachers and the Magna Carta
for Public School Teachers guarantee that all teachers enjoy their rights and ensure justice in
the conduct of their duties as professionals. The rights of professional teachers are specified in
R.A. 232, R.A. 7836 and the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers.

B. The Teacher as a Professional

By virtue of Republic Act 7836, amended by Republic Act 9293, teaching was professionalized
and thereby requiring teachers to take the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET). As professionals, teachers
are bound to perform specific duties to the society specifically to schools and students guided by a
professional code of ethics.
 The following are the 7R’s that professional teachers need to do and to learn as professionals:

 Remember to perform your duties with high degree of professionalism. A teacher should not
allow his or her integrity to be destroyed due to personal greed and bad politics. Teachers
should avoid cheating their students’ grades and practice favoritism in their classes.

 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, 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.

C. The Teacher as a Community Leader and Social Advocate

The life of a teacher is neither confined in the four corners of the classroom nor limited inside
the school campus for a teacher is an active leader in the community. Teachers always take leadership
roles in their communities especially in activities and projects related to the education and welfare of
young children. They also provide leadership roles in various cultural development programs in their
communities. Teachers provide technical and professional assistance in the local communities where
they belong.

D. The Teacher as a Model of Good Character

In many places, we hear and read stories of successful individuals attributing their successes in
life due to the influence and nurturing character of great teachers. This shows that amidst the ups and
downs of teacher qualities, the society has never stop producing great teachers who continue to serve
as models and molders for students across generations.

E. The Teacher as an Expert

Shulman (1987) tried to organize important domains of knowledge that are important for
teachers:

1. Knowledge in content – Teachers should know the subject matter they teach.
 2. Pedagogical content knowledge – It represents a perfect blend of content and pedagogy
into a framework for understanding how subjects, topics, and lessons are organized into
instruction. It simply means teachers should master the subject they are teaching and they
should know how to teach it effectively.

3. Knowledge about learners – This is the idea of the different learning styles, thinking styles,
and educational needs of the learners.

4. General pedagogical knowledge – This includes general theories and principles of teaching.
In addition, these are general pedagogical principles that are applicable to any classroom
situation and in any teaching and learning context.

5. Knowledge of educational contexts – Educational context may focus on the cultural,

economic, political, and education context that shape and influence education.

6. Curriculum knowledge – This is about the knowledge of innovations, curriculum designs,

curriculum designs, curriculum materials, assessment, and the curriculum process.

7. Knowledge of educational ends, purposes, and values – This is the understanding of the
principles, theories, and purposes of education to have deep appreciation of the enduring
values of education.

Teachers play an important role in the total educational system of any country. The expertise of
teachers in content and in pedagogy is contributory to their immense task of molding the mind and
character of every individual person who become their students.

As experts in different areas, teachers need to possess the 4C’s:

 Creativity – a cognitive ability to think outside the box, to develop new ideas to possess
outstanding talent, and to lead effectively. It is also a capacity to innovate.

 Critical Thinking – a cognitive ability and capacity to think critically in solving problems,
making decisions, and in processing ideas.

 Commitment – a passion to make a difference in the lives of each learner.

 Character – an exemplar of positive values.

Personal Qualities and Attitudes of a Teacher

1. Good Personality
Personality refers to the character and appeal the teachers exude as they walk and relate with
others. Good personality serves as inspiration to the students. They are motivated to learn and get
involved in the learning process under teachers who have pleasing personality
2. Honest
Honest teachers possess good sense of value. They are trustworthy and viable to manifest
integrity as professionals.

3. Enthusiastic
Enthusiastic teachers have pleasant outlook, optimism and sense of humor.

4. Caring
Includes being compassionate and interested in others. It is expressed through understanding
how other people feel and react.

5. Role Model
Models good behavior and sets a good example for others to emulate.

6. Fair
Fairness denotes impartiality, open-mindedness and objective judgement
and decision-making

7. Friendly
Friendly teachers demonstrate pleasant, warm-hearted and loving relation with their students.
 
8. Respectful
Being respectful means being well-behaved. Teachers show politeness and courtesy in dealing
with their students and the public.

9. Dedicated 
The teachers are devoted, loyal and committed to the profession.

10. Creative
Creative teachers do things in their own way. They have the ability to create new and original
ideas. They are able to influence their students to be creative themselves.

11. Flexibility
Flexibility is the ability to adapt to situations. They do not easily get disturbed or upset when
unexpected situations and problems arise.

Attitude of Professional Teachers are Manifested in Terms of:

 Empathy towards students
 Commitment and dedication to the profession
 Re1ective practitioner
 Passion for teaching 
The Teacher as a Professional
Teachers are professionals. They belong to a profession which society regard as a noble
profession.

What is profession?
A profession is an occupation that claims exclusive technical competence, service, ideals and ethics of
professional conduct.

A profession is the application of intellectual technique to the ordinary business of life acquired as a
result of prolonged and specialized training.

Criteria of Professional Teachers

1. Professional Academic Preparation 
Teachers have finished a four-year degree course in education.

2. Licensure and Commitment to the Service

Teachers are licensed professional as certified by the Professional Regulation
Commission, (PRC). They possess extensive knowledge in their own field and are committed to
the service of the youth.

3. Public Service and Altruism 

Teachers are aware that teaching is service. They entered the profession in the hope
that they could help influence the students to become better persons and live more meaningful
life.

4. Legal Practice of the Profession 

The teaching profession is recognized by the government as its partner in educating the
youth. Society views the teachers as the second parents of their children.

5. Adherence to Professional Ethics 

Teachers are governed by the Code of Ethics of Professional Teachers. The code
provides for ethical behavior expected of the teachers for discipline purposes.

6. Membership to Professional Organizations

Professional organizations have been organized for teachers to take care of their
welfare.
Example: National Organization of Professional Teachers Inc. (NOPTI),
Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP)