PED 702 - Trends and Issues in Pedagogy and Andragogy

Name
RACHEL D. VELORIA PST Section: 1
of Scholar:
Date of September 29,
Program: MA-ELE
Submission: 2022

CONFESSION OF A GOOD TEACHER

What is a good teacher? That is my big question since my day 1 in teaching professionally.

I was a teacher since I started my grade 4 because we always play “titser titseran”. As one of the eldest
among peers, my role is always the teacher. However, when I started high school, I begin to start hating teachers too,
due to my lazy teachers who are not coming to our classes because we are the lowest section among 27 classes.
Therefore, I declared to myself that I would never become a teacher no matter what.

Past forward to my years while finishing my education course, I am struggling a lot because my goal in taking
it is not to become a teacher. However, I keep on telling myself, “I will not need that, I will not become a teacher, I
will apply a different job.” Then, another twist happens, I decided to leave the bible school and applied for a “STUDY
NOW, PAY LATER” program of a church school signing a 3-year contract. All my self-talk of assurance, became a
trigger for fear and question of WHAT IS A GOOD TEACHER?

According to its definition, GOOD means (noun) that which is morally right; righteousness and TEACHER
(noun) a person who teaches, especially in a school. Technically a GOOD TEACHER is a righteous teacher that teaches
in school. Others might say, I have the qualification because I am a bible school graduate, however, (hello?‼) I am
human too. Yeah, that is too literal I know but looking thru different principles, theories, and pedagogies a teacher
like me who still questions its meaning will be only confused on the essential or true meaning of a Good Teacher.

Taking into account all the principles and strategies I try very hard to apply every time I enter the classroom I
seldom think of that question. Looking back now, I might be able to say that there were instances when a student
whose name I barely remember and face I can’t put a name on will approach me along the corridor or while walking
in the market and say - “Hi ma’am!” or say; “Ma’am, sa Malacampa ka pa rin?” and others (especially during
teachers’ day) “Thank you ma’am!” - will always make me self-talk “You maybe did something good along the way”,
“Uy, may impact ka pala.” Memories like these make me realize that, I might have been a good teacher to most and
bad to others but still a student who remembers you is a gentle tap on the back that tells, “Well done.”

Philippine Normal University