Thank you teacher!

Dear Teachers,

Shalom!

I'm one of your most grateful students. Today and everyday, I want to honor you because I know how much effort, agony and sacrifice you give just to make your lessons easy to understand and enjoyable to do. I also know how many edits, toss and turns you make to decide whether you'll give us a passing grade just because you think about our parents' hardwork (not to mention our moms tears for mercy) though we don't exert that much effort to show you that we deserve to pass you subject. 

I also know how much criticisms you receive from people who do not know how hard is it to teach 40-50-60+ students in a classroom telling you that students fail because of your lack of "skill". I know that because of your love for us, you usually miss spending time with your loved ones, and skip most of their celebrations; that we, your students and our parents don't even notice how much pain that gives you.

I know how much of your earning is spent to us just to make the visual aids or lesson materials engaging even if it means that you would skip your salon day, dentist appointment or even ignore that shoes or dress you are dying to buy. I know how late at night you sleep and sometimes don't sleep at all just to finish the grades, paper works, reports, exam papers that we don't even dare to answer correctly, even those tiny little notes that you write just to give us encouragement.

But of all your many sacrifices, what I appreciate the most is that you did not give up on us even if you should have. You did not give up on believing that one day, we will all understand what you were trying to teach us since the start. You never gave up on your dreams that one day, we will reach our own dreams and be the person you envisioned us to be. You never stopped searching for the good in us even if the world sees only the bad in us.

I know all of the sacrifices you make because like you, I am called to be a teacher. I understand you because, I never would have had I not been a teacher. So thank you teacher! Thank you for your selfless acts to make an impact to us your students. I have never and will never forget how grateful I am that I have been under your care, your meticulous hands and your very probing eyes.

Thank you comrades, for all the heart, the soul, the blood and sweat that you give to every child, regardless of who they are, were they came from and what they believe in. You are the reason why I am proud to be a teacher. SALUTE!

Your ever grateful student,

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School leaders as a factor in teacher turnover

Private school leaders face yearly turnovers. They think that teachers leave because of the salary offers in other school. In this country, the government schools offers higher starting salary for teachers.
Is it impossible for a school to experience no turnovers?

It is not! It is achievable. Because this year, the school where I lead has no turnover report (by His grace).

Believe it or not, the compensation in my school is not that attractive compared to the compensation that a teacher can get from the public schools. By all means Makati City public schools offer higher benefits and other additional compensation to public school teachers/employees that can really make a teacher leave the private service.

But salary is not all that matters to teachers.

A great factor to teacher turnover is their LEADERS.

Teaching is a very challenging task. Everyday, teachers are exposed to so many different challenges like the overly pampered pupils, very hands-on parents, politics in the faculty, the ever so changing curriculum and their own personal concerns. And so they need a leader who will not add up to the burden but a leader who can help them carry the burden with them.

Leaders need to look the teachers not as subordinates but partners. Let us admit it, we can’t run the school alone. We need to work with the teachers in as much as we work with the parents, students and the Education community. Unfortunately, some leaders look at teachers as subordinates, not their equals that creates a barrier between a teacher and the leader. Some leaders have an attitude that “I am higher than you so do as I say!” and this gives a feeling of separation from the teachers. Some leaders have the “entitlement mindset” that they think they should be more favored than the teachers.

Leaders need to not only be concerned by how well teachers do their jobs but also how well they are coping up with the other concerns. Teachers need to feel they have a strong leader support who will stand by them when they fall and not leave them when parents complain arises. They need a leader who will tell them what they did and help them realize the consequences of their own actions and not to condemn them or humiliate them in front of a complaining parent. They need a leader who can understand their weaknesses and help them become a better person by their able guidance. They need a leader who prays for and with them, a leader who will not just be concerned about their professional and personal journeys but also concerned about their spiritual journeys. Unfortunately, some leaders don’t even have time to ask “how are you doing?” to their teachers. Some already know that the teachers are going through a rough time, yet don’t even ask the teacher what can they do to help. This gives teachers a feeling of being alone amidst of the crowd in front of them.

Leaders need to look at the teachers as members of a family. Each member has their own task to fulfill but for one specific goal. Leaders need to feel what their teachers feel by being always available. Leaders need need to bridge the gap between members of the faculty, They need to make everyone feel that they are equally important. In some organizations, leaders favor the ones “close” to them than the ones who are not. This gives teachers a feeling of ‘favoritism’ in their work place.

Teachers need a leader who is mature enough to acknowledge when they are wrong. It is not demeaning for a leader to say sorry to a teacher when they are wrong. In fact, humility is a strong character that a leader should possess. And seeing that their leader is humble, every member of a faculty will learn humility by your example. In many occasions, leaders do not say sorry for the wrongs that they did, some are even too calloused to acknowledge their own mistakes, instead they feel they are “infallible”.

Any teacher can accept rebuking when done in the office, not in public places where other colleagues can see and hear. A leader should learn the art of correcting mistakes; when they do, the person being rebuked will feel the concern rather than the condemnation. I have witnessed before a colleague being yelled at in the hallway by my former school leader. My co-teacher is already crying out of fear and embarrassment. When I saw that, I told myself that I won’t be like that when I become a leader. My office will always be the avenue for rebuking not hallways, not facebook walls.

Teachers need a leader, not a boss. They need us to show them how things are done and allow them to do things on their own (with guidance) that helps them take responsibility of their own decisions. They need a leader who will walk with them to carry the load, not a leader who tells them to carry the load. In real life, some leaders like that they are being served by the teachers, being given the best front seat, near the fan and with the best shade. This is totally different from how Jesus taught us what a leader should be: a servant-leader.

Leading is never easy and we can’t perfect it overnight. But if you’re leading with your heart, mind, body and soul at their right places, then you’ll be effective. If you’re leading without worrying about your poise, title, privilege and time, then the teachers will have that same working ethics as you are.

Don’t be the factor why your teachers leave. Be the factor why your teachers stay.

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wrong chair and its effect on students' behavior and performance

One of my strategies to understand people better is putting my self in their situation especially when "misbehavior" concerns from students are raised to me by the members of my team. For me, there is a deeper reason why kids "misbehave".

A teacher approached me and told me that she has a student who keeps on standing, sitting on the floor and doing his work on it. He constantly fidgets and complains whenever he is asked to write on his notes. She said that she exerted "all" her efforts to find out what is the problem but she met a dead end.

Determined to find out the cause of this student's "misbehavior", I observed the student and noticed that he's left handed. So I sat on a chair for the left-handed (I'm right-handed) and it made me feel so uncomfortable so I started to fidget from occasional to constant. So I told the teacher that maybe the child is not comfortable with his right-hand chair. She immediately asked the student to use a left-hand chair and his behavior improved, his performance improved, he's more concentrated and writes better.

My conclusion: we really can't just say a child has an "attitude", there is really a reason why they act the way they do. We should be observant and reflective before we react and judge kids (even adults).

I just feel sorry for the left handed kids in the public schools and in some private schools who have to endure the right hand chairs daily. I hope school administrators and even some gov't schools supply officers do something to help these kids because these can lead to medical concerns. This may also be a factor why these kids fidget, constantly stands or doesn't want to write on their notebooks. This may also lead to poor academic performance because prolong sitting on a wrong chair will definitely make a person uncomfortable thus concentration will be lesser because your body is too stressed to focus on your studies and is trying to endure a pain especially in the spine.

Giving a student an appropriate chair will help the child and the teacher achieve that teacher-learner balance. The student will be comfortable and more relaxed thus will be more focused and performance ready.

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Recognition day message

A blessed morning to each and every one of you.

I am deeply honored standing here in front you and welcoming you as the school director.  In as much as you are thankful that your kids are receiving these awards, I, as the school director am more thankful that you have given me this great privilege to be a part of your children’s pursuit to excellence.

It is indeed a rewarding day to see the fruits of your children’s labors.  Today, we shall see how proud they are of what they have achieved and how happy they are knowing that you, their parents will be jubilant of their awards.

Kids… Today you will honor your parents for your JOB WELL DONE.  But I remind you, not just to honor them with medals, but to honor them more with your righteousness, never yielding to temptation of giving up or defeat, but always looking ahead, that success is just around the corner.  Bear in mind that success is not just achieved by intellect, but by great faith in God, for without HIM, we are nothing.

I hope that you, in as much as the academic knowledge you gain in school or your after school programs, develop a deeper love to our Lord, and acknowledge Him always in everything and when I say everything, I mean the success and even in failures. For what good is a child who earns all the awards, recognition and honors, yet loses his relationship with God, family and friends?  Always remember that every success is a reward, but not every reward is a success.  It is ok to fail once in a while, because in failure, you gain wisdom, you gain resilience.  So if today, you fail, try again another time.

Parents… These kids worked hard to please you and as one of kids of grade 2 told me “I want to see the look in my parent’s eyes when I show them my medals teacher Khaye”

I would like you all to know as well that your children work hard because they know you also work hard for them.  Surprised?  Don’t be dear parents.  I have talked to your children as much as a director can and have spent time with them as much as I can afford and you will be surprised how much love they have for you that they don’t want to see you sad or disappointed because of their “lack of achievements”.  You will be surprised how excited they get to be with you so they can show you their winnings.

Now I am not going to speak to you today as the head of this school, but as a fellow parent given equal blessing by God to nurture wonderful kids. As a parent, I am proud to see how these children have become.  Seeing them every day learning things from the simplest to the most complex gives you so much joy. Can you imagine how happy and proud I am being just their school director, because I can feel how much joyful you are as the parents of these wonderful children.

Some of you may have different orientation of success and achievement; but for me, my orientation of success is simple:  When I see a child confidently speak to a person in authority, that is success, that is an achievement; when I see a child with no to little English ability, try to speak in English, even in wrong grammar, that is success, it is a great achievement; when I see a behaviorally challenged child learn to control his emotion or even to say thank you and I’m sorry, that is success, that is an achievement;  and when I see a child excitedly comes to school and wants to stay in school, that is success, it is an achievement.  Every child is successful; it just depends on the person categorizing success.  Even the children who are not here with us today are equally successful; because they have finished this year and they endured until the end.  It is a great success, it is a great achievement.

Let’s guide our kids to take one step at a time, one learning moment at a time. Let us not rush them to reach the kind of success that we have in mind, but the success that they have in mind.  After all, they are the children, they are the future.  Let us allow them to experience failure, it is a good way to teach them patience, determination and redemption.  Let us allow them to enjoy their journey as children and us as their parents, taking full consideration of the time we spend with them.  Let us allow them to grow in faith, patterned to faith that Jesus Himself taught us, the kind of faith that move mountains, the kind of faith that transforms the world.

Look around you dear parents, these are you in the future.  How do you see them?  Whoever we want them to be lies in our collaborative effort, not just you, but also us teachers as their role models, so let us not give up on them, day and night let us pray for them, reward them every now and them but rebuke them if need be, let us be the kind of parent that God wants us to be and surely, we will have the kind of kids we want our children to be.

Proverbs 22:6English Standard Version (ESV)

⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go;
    even when he is old he will not depart from it.

I took a piece of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it one day,
And as my fingers pressed it still,
It moved and yielded at my will.

I came again when days were past;
The bit of clay was hard at last,
The form I gave it still it bore,
But I could change that form no more.

I took a piece of living clay,
And gently formed it day by day,
And molded with my power and art
A young child’s soft and yielding heart.

I came again when days were gone;
It was a man I looked upon;
That early impress still he wore,
And I could change it never more.

(Author Unknown)

Finally, I boast that a Spurgeon student never gives up because  Spurgeon school will not give up on you either.  SSFI Community, let us rejoice for today, we did not only finish the race, but we finished the race strong.  Thank you and may the blessing and wisdom of the Lord, Jesus, be upon us all.

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Don't hate "The Teacher"

Life teaches us a lot of things. From the simplest to the most complex. At some point, we face tribulation when we become complacent in whatever situation we are in that we forget how to improve ourselves or check the status of our own performance.

Then the TEACHER comes a long with a test so heavy that we are shaken from the inside and out. The teacher may come in a form of a friend, a colleague, a family member, a parent or a student. The initial reaction of an immature person, is to be angry and at the most, hate the ONE who brings the lesson; but a mature person whose spirit is rooted in Jesus, will thank God for the test and will begin to reflect on what must be done in order to pass the test.

Sometimes we are blinded by anger over "the teacher" whenever our convenience or comfort zone is questioned, but should we really? Must we react immediately before reflecting what is our cooperation in why we are being TAUGHT a lesson?

I found this amazing statement from Fritz Cherry on how we should look  at trials in life.  It says "Think of trials as training."  God has to train His troops. Have you ever heard of any staff sergeant who got to where he was without going through tough situations? God has to prepare His children for the future. 

Don't try to explain everything that is going on in your life, because you just.  Most times, you simply have to trust God, that His test is for the best and for your improvement.

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." (James 1:12-15, ESV)

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Developing our speaking skills.

Nowadays, people are so engrossed with what the digital world offers that their whole being is occupied with viewing videos, reading emails, checking friends' posts, playing their favorite games/apps. Their minds are so busy multitasking by using their eyes, hands and mouth at the same time that they forget what a quality talk means.

Because of these advancements in technologies and development of different apps that allows us to be entertained by ourselves that we forget how to enhance our speaking skills. Because we are not 100% focused to the person in front of us, we miss their important message or reminder, we miss the love that they speak, the pain that they share, the joy they extend, or we forget what word to use for a particular situation. We live fast that we forget how to select the words that we will utter to the people we talk to.

Sometimes, we are given a voice to speak for others, but it doesn't mean that everything that we will speak is beneficial, sometimes how we speak things hurt others, demoralize them or emasculate them. We have forgotten the etiquette of speaking because we are focused on passing on information. We forget that there are proper ways of saying things.

So before we end up in a no talk type of society, let us put down our gadgets, turn off our screens and let us start to really talk with our mouths and not with our hands. We'll find it more relaxing, less annoying/intimidating and we build more understanding and better relationship.

Proverbs 25:11 (ESV) “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”

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The Only One who can heal

There are many kinds of pain, suffering, illness or even challenges. 

Some people turn to doctors to find a cure for their illness. They hop from one doctor to another, seeking one opinion to the next to satisfy their health issues.  Some people, during new year, turn to astrologist to find 'direction" for their future. They buy all sorts of charms from bracelets to house ornaments just to have " a prosperous year ".  Some people turn to vices to find temporary joy to their aches. They try all sorts of drugs from the simple to the complex, yet still find themselves lonely after the effect subsides.  The youth nowadays turn to advises from personalities in the radio stations to find answers to relationship issues yet fall into brokenness from one relationship to another.

Nowadays, people are concerned with mending their "brokenness". We may be broken by the death of our love ones, by the failure of our relationships, by the disappointments we have in our lives. But no matter how broken we think we are, no person, or thing in this world who can fix us as if we were never broken; only God can.  Turn to God and find yourself be transformed from glory to glory.  Open the Bible and be enlightened to find your every questions answered, your every burden unloaded, your every pain healed.

There are many sorts of broken hearts, and Christ is good at healing them all. —Charles Spurgeon

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." - (Revelation 21:4)

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How to tell the truth to a child

Parents nowadays are so concerned on how to tell their kids something without their kids feeling hurt. We beat around the bush before we tell our kids what they did wrong. At school, teachers try not to say "you're answer is wrong" to a child because some say, that will humiliate them and might lowers their self esteem.

But how do we really tell our kids the truth that they were wrong, or this is how they are supposed to do things, or they just simply have to stand up and move their bodies and work.

We don't need to sugar coat the truth to our kids. We just have to tell them what they need to hear. Yes, it can hurt them, it may scare them, it can even break them. But as long as we stay with them as they deal with the truth, they will not fall apart. They will gain wisdom as they try to handle things.

Life can be hard, frustrating, depressing, confusing. It can also be fun, rewarding, encouraging and sweet. They can't experience the latter if they won't experience the first.

They need to learn, not to be pampered. If we want them to be tough and decisive people, we need to show them things as they are.

"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)