Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Yes, Ma'am!

“Who wants to buy adobo for me in the market?” “I, Ma’am!” shouted almost everybody in the class.

Wow! I can’t believe it. “You know, the teacher gives an extra 10 points if you do whatever she tells you to do”, my seatmate whispered to me. I just smiled. Whatever. I don’t need extra points.

Most of my teachers in grade school and even high school don’t like me. They said I’m so snobbish. I agree. I don’t go to the faculty department and talk to the teachers.

I hate it when a teacher will call one of the students to do something for her. One of my teachers would ask my classmate to comb her hair during lunch breaks just so she can have a priceless nap. I don’t like watching my teacher falling asleep on her table listening to the soap opera on the radio while I was so busy copying the whole chapter of the book on the black board. Darn! I really hate that. But what can I do? I’m just one of her students. I have a good handwriting and so all my classmates would always vote for me to be the secretary of the class. And guess what? A secretary’s job is to write and write on the black board. That means when the teacher is very lazy, she can just tell me to copy the whole chapter on the board. Bam! The class had something to do. At the end of the class, she will check all the notebooks and she would just tell me I get extra points. My hands and arms are all so sore from standing to kneeling while writing on the board. Sometimes it could go for hours and then I have to swap with another classmate until the school bell would ring. Ah, it’s so ridiculous. The only school chore that I remembered I really liked was the part when teachers would assign the better students to teach the slow-learner classmates on how to read. That part just makes sense to me.

There is this particular teacher that is very distinctive to me. She goes to school an hour before the time and had all the room so tidy. She maintains a very disciplined lifestyle. She doesn’t associate with some other teachers who loved to gather so early in the morning for some juicy gossips for the day. I think that was the reason why I liked her. Most importantly, she treated all her students squarely, no bias. I felt like I can compete because I’m not being judged by our society’s standards- poor, uninfluential family. She was one of those I look up to while growing up. It’s funny that I had retained a lot of the life’s lessons she had taught us and even the tiniest detail. I always remember all those simple tips she had shared. I finished that year as her first honor and she was so proud of me. She even wished me luck for my upcoming endeavors. At that moment, I told myself I’m not going to let her down.
Shawie

6 Grateful Heart's Words:

Mel Alarilla said...

Yes, a good teacher can impart valuable lessons in life to her students. Teachers who treat their job as a noble profession and who mold the character of their students are indeed God's messenger to learning students. They can imbibed valuable lessons in life that are so ingrained to their students for the rest of their lives. You were indeed a bright student for topping your class before. Thanks for the memorable post. God bless you always.

Alicia said...

I had a teacher that used to order pizzas and have them delivered through the classroom window (because she knew it was against school rules to do that). She would let "the teacher's pet" eat with her all the time while the rest of the class watched.

On the other hand, I had a really great teacher who was much like the one you remember who had no bias and treated all the children with kindness and respect. It's amazing how much more powerful simple kindness is... even in the little things.

Anonymous said...

Such an inspiring story. I wish someone would remember me that way, and to think that this happened in grade school?

It's true that teachers influence their students so much because these young people spend most of their time in school.

Thanks for sharing and God bless.

Cacai M. said...

Woizztt Te Shaw, who's that teacher man? hemmm, I guess I know her? Anyway, that's cool. You're story is very nice to read. I just stop here while blog hopping to read to content heheh. And it's awesome! worth it.

Cacai M. said...

Hi Te Shaw, it's my second time to be in this post, heheh. By the way, the award is just like the one below but I want you to take a look of it in my post, heheh.. this is the link:
http://www.cacainadjourney.com/2009/03/my-tags-and-awards-from-me-to-you.html

Have a nice day to Shaw! thanks for passing-by.. muahhugs

""rarejonRez"" said...

oh, i had those share of bits and pieces too during my grade and high school years. i guess every "poor" filipino students can relate to it. it's sad, filipino teachers are generalized by such description. there are only few who live to teach the students the good and desirable values that kids should look up. my husband's profession is now a teacher, though he didn't dream to become one, and reminiscing those old days we have had, we could simply tell, "poor filipinos!" and now, he desires to change the way teachers act and do. but i think it's impossible to do it because back home, it has became a culture already rooted since then. :) it's really sad...