Socially responsible teachers: Active Members of Social Institution

The metaphor of a MOUNTAIN

The mountain is a huge creation that stands towering over all other structures in the land.

- Majestic

- Impressive

- provides a soothing effect

- symbol of Strength

- symbol of Stability

Personal Qualities and Attitudes of a Teacher

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.

Honest

Honest teachers possess good sense of value. They are trustworthy and viable to manifest integrity as
professionals.

Enthusiastic

Enthusiastic teachers have pleasant outlook, optimism and sense of humour.

Caring

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

Role Model

Models good behaviour and sets a good example for others to emulate.

Fair

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

Friendly

Friendly teachers demonstrate pleasant, warm-hearted and loving relation with their students.
Respectful

Being respectful means being well-behaved. Teachers show politeness and courtesy in dealing with their
students and the public.

Dedicated

The teachers are devoted, loyal and committed to the profession

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.

Dedicated

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

B. Attitude of Professional Teachers are Manifested in Terms of:

Empathy towards students

Commitment and dedication to the profession

Reflective practitioner

Passion for teaching

The Teacher as a Professional

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
behaviour 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.

Ex: National Organization of Professional Teachers Inc (NOPTI), Manila Public School Teachers
Association (MPSTA), Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP)

Teachers are Active Members of Social Institutions

What are Social Institutions?

Social institutions are special structures which are organized to meet the basic needs of society.

1. FAMILY

It is a group of people who are related by marriage, blood, or adoption and who often live together
sharing a common residence and common economic resources.

The Family is the universal social institution.

Its functions are :

provides for physical and emotional needs of its members

develops socialization skills

develops valuing, sense of right or wrong, proper behaviour and religious practice.

PARENTS are regarded as their first TEACHERS

2. EDUCATION

Refers to the process in which knowledge , skills, values and pattern of behaviour are transmitted from
an individual or group to another.
Schooling is formal education which involves instruction based on a curriculum by professional teachers.
School acts as agent of socialization.

Society's expectation from the 21st century teachers :

1. Help the students succeed in the knowledge society

 Academic Achievement
 Communication Skills
 Creative and critical thinking
 Social problem-solving
 Workplace skills

2. Prepare students to be functioning members of society

3. Teach virtues such as punctually, truth, hard work, honesty, hygiene, patriotism, love and sincerity,
obedience, etc. Society needs these values to be propagated.

Theodore Roosevelt – “To educate a person in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to
society.”

4. Act as the bridge between the school and the community.

5. Identify pressing issues and provide enlightenment to society.

The 21st century education demands opportunities for the students to develop intellectually, ethically
and aesthetically.

They also expect the school to develop skills to prepare the students to meet challenges of the new era.

 Academic

The school provides for the development of a brand array of knowledge and intellectual skills. The
school develops problem-solving and critical thinking skills among the students.

 Vocational

The school prepares the individual for the world of work and his economic responsibilities. The school
develops skills and work habits that will enable them to work in teams. It also provides opportunities for
developing survival skills of the students that they may be able to function in society.

 Social and Civic

The school acts as an agent of socialization. Students learn how to get along well with others through
the various activities they engage in. The school prepares the students to become worthy members of
society and models behaviour that would prepare the students to participate in a complex democratic
society. Social ethics are discussed in schools to make students aware of their moral and ethical
obligation as a person and as a member of society.

 Personal

This pertains to the development of individual talent and self-expression. The school provides the total
development of the individual including creativity and authenticity.

3. RELIGION (Church)

Religion is a system of roles and norms that involves faith which binds people together in social groups.
The church is an institutionalized organization of religious believers following a body of doctrine or
dogma

 Function of religion
 Social cohesion

Religious beliefs encourage strengthening of bonds among people and cultivate social solidarity and
collective conscience among the believers.

 Social Control

Religion guides people to conform to the norms and values of society. Specific religious norms of
conduct and values control the behaviour of the members. They become the standards to follow. The
church has an intense influence over the beliefs, principles and practices of its believers.

 Emotional support

Religion provides meaning of life. It fosters closeness, love, cooperation and helpfulness among its
members.

3. GOVERNMENT

It is an institution that holds the power to make and enforce the rules and laws of society. The ruling
body must be recognized by its people to enforce the laws or rules and govern them. In democratic
type of government, the citizens elect their official periodically to govern them for the period.