THE TEACHING PROFESSION

Teaching is a profession with a long and cherished tradition.

It is universally acknowledged as a respected and highly esteemed

career. The relentless pursuit of knowledge, development of skills

and acquisition of values are its lifelong mission. Teaching is

not only a time-honored career, but a moral activity as well.

Though the context of teaching and of learning is constantly

changing, undoubtedly our nation and the whole world are indebted

to the multitude of dedicated teachers for ushering a literate,

enlightened and humanized society. As George Bernard Shaw says,

“The hope of human salvation lies in teaching”. Teaching indeed is

a lifelong mission and teachers are labeled nation-builders.

Everyone who deserves to be called a professional teacher has

made one of the most important dreams of a lifetime come true.

Teaching as a universally accepted profession does not only refer

to ones occupation, job or specialty, but it is more of a vocation,

a mission. Anyone who is engaged in teaching is motivated to

pursue achieving a purpose, to provide opportunities for self-

fulfillment and most importantly, to express love, care and

compassion for children.

An informal survey was conducted by asking teachers of varying

ages who have been teaching for at least five years their reasons
for continuing teaching with the same eagerness and motivation.

Those who have left were asked the same way. The fastest answer

when teachers are asked why they continue to teach is “ Teaching

is the noblest profession”. The other popular responses to the

question include: teaching is an honorable calling, teaching is an

accepted mission, it is self-filling, it is a profession of one

with high moral standards and it aims at molding children’s’ minds

and hearts.

On the other hand, those who left teaching have the following

compelling reasons: the salary for teaching is very low, tasks are

too time-consuming, it is not regarded as prestigious as others

like medicine or law, those who go into teaching are not-so-bright

member of the family and teachers are kept in the school all day

and have no time to socialize.

Every teacher could cite compelling reasons for pursuing or

leaving this career. For those who left teaching, perhaps,

teaching is not really their first love. They maybe underwent the

teacher education not by choice but by force of circumstances.

Consequently, they find themselves swimming against the current

because they really do not have the passion. For those whose first

love is teaching and are still in love with it, they find
themselves enjoying what it offers and willingly responding to its

demands. Indeed, it like swimming with the current.

To continue nourishing the passion for teaching, one must

evoke a stronger pledge and determination to keep on despite

perceived difficulties on the way. Those who continue to stay,

driven by unending commitment and loyalty to the profession and to

the nation, deserve the highest commendation for life.

A famous saying goes, “Once a teacher, always a teacher.”