Teacher VS Cheater

Me with the entire school staff together with our International Academic Director

TEACHER is an anagram of CHEATER.

I met this teacher ones, he seemed dedicated and seemed to be really have a lot of improvements in mind.  However, as days go by, I realised that he has this certain characteristic of gaining the students approval and popularity for letting the students do what they want, even if it is wrong and against school rules.  Several times I called his attention about his wrong teaching practice.  However, he didn't seem to bother.  Then I realised that he is cheating from his calling as a teacher.  He is just after the benefits of being "popular and cool" among students.

I also observed in him that he really doesn't care whether some other teachers would look like "monsters" in the sight of the students because these teachings are trying to correct students mistakes.  What he would do is to affirm students' thoughts that those teachers are "uncool" or being so "strict" by telling them he agrees to their woes.

Double standards among students arouse.  Students started hating TEACHERS and liking the CHEATER.

Being a teacher of 15 years, I have come to a realisation about being a teacher and good teaching.  I wish that this could help aspiring teachers.

Good teaching practice is telling your students what they did wrong even if it will hurt them, not neglecting to tell them what they did wrong so that they will not be hurt.  Real teachers are are the ones who are not afraid even if students dislike them as  long they do what is right.  Only people pretending to be real teachers are afraid when students dislike them for doing the right thing.

Cheating practice is when you see students doing the wrong thing yet, you don't call their attention or give them any punishment because you think that you will not look "COOL" in their sight.  With this, you are creating wayward citizens in the future.  Cheating is also when you just want popularity among students even if will make you denounce your sworn duty to be just and fair.

What does the Bible said about correcting mistakes? "Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die." (Pr. 23:13)

Students wouldn't die if you tell them to be quiet because someone is reporting in front.  Students wouldn't die if you ask them to throw their chewing gums on the bin because it is against school rules. Correcting students' mistakes won't lead to their deaths.  What could lead to death is when you allow them to do bad things thus in turn will develop a habit of wrong doing.  How?  Let us say you caught a student stealing his classmates's pen.  You knew that the student saw you saw him and you didn't correct him nor talk to him and ask him to return the pen.  certainly after quite sometime, that student will repeat that action even when people saw him because in his mind, "it is ok because a teacher didn't tell him that it is wrong."  When he reaches maturity, he might opt to stealing just to get what he wants, might lead to him being caught by the police and he may die trying to escape from them.

If you are an aspiring teacher, think about what you really want to be in the future:  a teacher or a cheater.  Do not be afraid to be unpopular on uncool, but be afraid to be wrongfully cool and unrighteous popular. Remember that what is popular is not always right and what is
right is not always popular.

OBEDIENCE: A message to the parents

What do you think is reason of extremely high unemployment rate in the Philippines?  Or why are there many successful, powerful and famous people who commit suicide? Do you think it is because our graduates are not good enough?  Do you think the corruption in our system is too much? Or do you think because they have had enough suffering in this world?

The fact is unemployment is high not because our graduates are not good enough nor our system is corrupt, or many people commit suicide because they have had enough. The fact is these are the people who did not answer god’s call. These are the people who lean on their own understanding.

Many parents tell their kids, “anak i want you to be a doctor, because we are family of doctors.”  Or ask their kids “anak what do you want to be when you grow up?  It is very rare that parents would tell their kids “anak, let us pray for god’s wisdom to reveal to us his will in your life.”

The key to success is obedience.  Abraham became the father of all nations because he obeyed god with all his heart and did not hesitate to sacrifice his son Isaac when he asked him to offer his only son to him.  God saw Abraham’s willingness to obey his word that is why, he not only made him father of all nations, He gave him riches.

In Mathew 6:33 it is written, seek ye first the kingdom of god and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

So dear parents, instead of telling our kids “be what you want to be, or be what we want you to be’ let us tell our kids “anak, ask god what he wants you to be.”  And surely dear parents our kids will not only be successful, they will also be happy.  Because it is also written, where your heart is, there you’re treasure be.

Yes, it is indeed good to plan for our kids’ future, but today, god wants us to plan with him.  Proverbs 16:9 says in their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Let us learn to teach our kids the value of obedience not only to god but to us as well.  Let us teach them that in obedience, there is blessing.  In obedience, there is success.  In obedience, there is joy.

Tailor's Rule.

I have been guilty of one of most common mistakes a man can ever do:  Speaking out of emotions, and the feeling of regret in the end.

A lot of people can agree with me that people most of the time do not think twice before they speak.  They give in to their emotions that they do not realize the outcome of their words.  They speak and speak and speak without them noticing how rude their words have gone, or how much pain they have inflicted to other people.

But why is it really too hard to hold our tongues whenever we are angry?  Why is it too hard to keep our mouth shut and keep our minds open whenever we we feel we are threatened/

The answer is, it is our human nature to defend ourselves.  It is one of the instincts that our "being with the world" taught us.  It is human nature to defend themselves whenever they are faced with criticisms or accusations.  Instead of listening and being rational about the criticisms, people tend to defend their "honor".  So it all ends up in a word fight which no one ever wins.  It all ends up in both parties are hurt by a series of words thrown to each other that penetrates the soul and sticks to the mind.  The worst part is, this could ruin a relationship.  This could even ruin lives and confidence and all the goodness in everything.

How do we correct this?  people should follow one simple rule:  the tailor's rule.  Measure twice, cut only once.  Let us think twice before we speak.  Let us learn to hold our tongues, close our mouths and open our minds.  For all we know, we really are doing something wrong that we don't see for ourselves.  We need to be open to criticisms and look at every comment to us as positive, a way to improve ourselves.  All criticisms, good are bad are not meant to destroy us, they are meant to make us better, wiser and stronger if we stay positive and if we just learn to control our mouths and open our minds.

If we follow the tailor's rule, we won't be making mistakes, we won't be wasting our time and efforts over a petty fight, and we won't be ruining relationships.  Let us remember that words are far greater to inflict pain than physical pains.  Why?  Physical injuries heal fast, but the injury caused by hurtful words can last a lifetime.

The BIBLE also tells us in James 1:19 "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,"  It only means that we really ought to practice holding our tongues before we release words out of our mouths.  Learning how to practice the tailor's rule will do us better things than none.  Remember, measure twice, cut once and we will go a long way.

A year of being a school principal

While I was delivering my welcome remarks during the school's foundation day.

I was really very excited the first time I read the email that I got the position of being a school principal.  My heart was really filled with joy that finally I was able to get a job before I leave my work as a Secondary Science teacher in an International School in Indonesia.  I didn't really spoke of the good news to anyone else yet not until the very last minute that I have to leave.

June 21, 2013.  My first day to report at the school were I will work.  I arrived there around 10.15 in the morning, early for my call time of 11 am.  I didn't know what to feel, I was having mix emotions asking myself did I do the right thing of moving back to the Philippines to work in a very far place or not and a feeling of how will they accept me.

I saw the guard, he told me "yes ma'am what do you need?"  I told him "I'm Ms. Racquel, your new principal." he immediately opened the gate for me.  I saw a homey atmosphere, slowly, I felt like I did the right thing.  I met Mr. John Proctor, the acting principal at the time.  He was so elated upon seeing me which puzzled me.  He gave me a quick tour of the school.  There I saw students looking at me as I pass by their classrooms.  Then he took me to his office and had me sign my contract.  I couldn't question him though there were questions I'd like to ask, I was too pre-occupied by the idea that I am now a school principal.

I was enjoying my initial time as a school principal, I enjoyed the admiration from the students and the parents that I am a very young principal.  In my country, everyone is used to having an old, old-fashioned looking principal.  I am an exception.  I'm young and fashionable.  At least that is what people  told me.

Days go bye and the position finally sink in, not to mention the piling of work load.  I have unearthed too many long time illness of the school system:  disorganisation, poor service quality, and a lot more!  I was overwhelmed to the point that I got so short tempered that jeopardised my relationship with my subordinates.

I also had different low moments specially from parents who think they own the school and that they  have all the right to control school management.  This is the worst part of the illness of the school where I am working.  Every parent is a school principal!

Then after a year of being a principal, I reliased that this is not the one I want to do for the rest of my life.  This work is not what will make me happy.  I missed teaching.  being with students is what really makes me happy.  Teaching is what really empowers me as a person and as an educator.

When the school year ended, I took a day out for the very first time and pondered on what transpired for the year.  I reliased that being a principal is just a prestige that I enjoyed for a moment.  I reliased, that being a teacher is what will give me joy for a lifetime.

What is in a prom?

What is a prom?  Is it just a regular social event?  Is it just a regular school function that students have to attend?  Or is it something else?

In layman’s term, a promenade is a formal dance; a ball.  For your parents, prom night is just a dinner followed by a dance at school. For you, a prom is where you get to wear something formal, a night where you can flaunt your formal side.  For some, it is where they get to wear their first ever night dress or a formal suit.  For others, it is a night where they get to experience their first dance, it is where they get to meet their first love or experience their first heartbreak. But in the eyes of a visionary, a prom is something else.  A prom is a rite of passage; it is an event that no high school student should fail to experience.  It is where dreams of becoming somebody someday begin.

What is in our prom’s theme: red carpet night?  I did not choose the theme because of its glamour, its flamboyance, or its eccentricity.  I chose the red carpet night as a theme for each and every one of you to feel that for me, all of you are a star; stars in your rights worthy to be treated with class and with honor.  For me all of you are the starts that I look up to each night.  You are the stars that I aspire to reach out and hold in my hands.  I chose the theme because I want all of you to feel how it is to be a star so that when you finally able to feel the red carpet, you would aspire to dream bigger than what your dreams are at the moment.  I chose the theme in the hope that one day; you would once again walk on a red carpet with your dreams finally fulfilled.

The red carpet is a symbol of a successful journey, the symbol of triumph. However let us not forget the one true source of our victory, our Lord God almighty. Let us acknowledge him in our every step for it is written “for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.” (Ps. 1:6). Tonight, as you walk on the red carpet, begin your first step towards the realization of your dreams.  Juniors and seniors! Look up and claim your victories, for tonight, you are the stars blessed by the shiniest star in the universe.

I AM CRAZY!

When I went home from Indonesia and finally decided to stay here for good, peoples' initial reaction to me is:  "ARE YOU CRAZY?!"

They couldn't believe that I will leave my bread and butter, Indonesia, for good.  Sometimes, they would ask, "What will you do in Philippines?"  or "Where will you work?"  or they will tell me: "You are going to have a small income there (Philippines) compared to indonesia."

Actually, before I leave my work in Indonesia, I had a very long moment of reflection and prayer before I finally decided to stay here for good.  I considered my students that I love so much, I couldn't just leave them like that.  I couldn't leave my dream to be a prime mover in my school.  Lastly, I couldn't leave the financial compensation which helped me and my family for the last five years.

Then, I came to realise that it is time for me to go back home when I wasn't able to reach my goal after staying there for five years, for reasons I wouldn't want to elaborate further because I do not wish to undermine some of my colleagues that I have learned to love.  But God showed me that I wasn't really meant to stay there longer.  That my place is not there to lead but here in our own country.

So why did I leave?

I left because I have come to realise that It is time for me to be with my daughters.  It is the right time for me to be their mother now that my older daughter is at the critical stage of teenagehood.  I want to be the source of her strength when she experience her first heartache.  i want to be the source of her determination when she experience difficult times in studies.  i want to be the source of her knowledge to discern what is good and what is right; what is virtuous and what is not.  I want to be her source of companion when she feels left alone by her friends especially when she stands for what she believes in.  And if you think that I am crazy for staying here for that reasopn, then I AM CRAZY!

I left because my younger daughter needs me more than ever.  I never really had time to express how much I love her because I left the country since she was 1.5 years old.  I never really had time to teach her how to write or read because she was still being bottle fed when I left home.  I never really had that precious time to hug her whenever she is hurt from playing or in pain when sick.  I left because I wanted to be not just a mother to her, I left Indonesia because I want to be a teacher and a playmate to her.  I want to hear her stories when she come home from school.  I want to be the one to dry her tears when she gets hurt.  I want to laugh at her jokes because believe me she has lots of them.  I want to hear her chuckles, I want to see her expressive eyes.  I want to look forward to bringing her presents whenever I get home from work, and man, oh man!  her expressions are precious that comes with buttlerfly kisses!  So if you think I am crazy for coming home, then yes!  I AM CRAZY!

I left because I know I can contribute a little in the education system.  Even the contributions will just be in my humble school in pulilan, I know people will realise that CHANGE in the education system is possible becuae a humble school principal from the town of Obando dared TO BE THE CHANGE.

I wanted to take home to the Philippines all the educational strategies that I know will elevate the quality of teaching and learning process here in our country.  I wanted to share all the things that I have learned, to my countrymen that I know will not only benefit the teachers, but the students as well and with GOD's help, our country too!  So, if you think I am crazy for coming home, then yes IAM CRAZY!

I left because I know I needed to focus now on being a CHRISTIAN more than ever.  I wanted to practice my faith and share the LIGHT to my fellow teachers and wanted to believe that if I won't give up, the teachers in my school will live a life full of love for the students and not to live a life of love for the money.  I wanted to show them that living by the WORD of GOD is an essential element to being a good teacher.  And if you think that is crazy because it is difficult to do, then I AM CRAZY!

You may wish to call me foolish, crazy or out of my mind I will accept them all because my love for my kids, my love for my country and my love for the LORD is crazily overflowing and that I may be crazy to believe but I know it will pay back someday.  I believe that one day, through my humble efforts together with some other teachers and principals in our country who still have genuine love for our country, our country will regain its previous glory, will regain its honor to be once again be one of the best, richest and righteous country in the world!  and if you think i am crazy to believe that it will happen, then I AM CRAZY!

A school principal's message

Today is the start of the new academic year in the Philippines and I am so blessed to be a part of a new community where I will be working as their school principal.  Isn't it amazing how God blesses me with a work while I am still here in Indonesia working as a Science teacher.

And eventhough I am still here, I know what difference it will make to school teachers to be given an encouraging message by their principal to their kick start day... I know because I have been a teacher and I always look forward to be given a "blessing" by my principal.

Therefore, I made a letter to my "entire staff" for their start of their new endeavor.  I want them to feel that I am with them even not physically, and I am with them in prayers and in spirit.  I am hoping that this message will inspire them to continue molding young minds to be the kind of person they wanted to be.

Here is the message.

Dear ALL,

May the peace of God be with you!

On Monday, we will start a new voyage, a voyage that will bring her passengers safely to the other side of their journey.  The voyage that we chose is to help the students reach their primary goal in life:  to acquire as much knowledge and skills as they can for their future.

Every one of us is a part of this voyage; we are all crew members, ADP is our ship and the students are our passengers.  And like in all voyages, we all have different tasks to make the ship move, but just like in all ships we all have one main goal:  to bring our passengers safe to their destination.

We may experience rough journey, it is normal; but the journey never ends there.  We must keep rowing.  We may get tired once in a while, it is normal; but our role never stops there.  Rest, and then keep rowing after regaining your strength.  Remember that our goal is not to row for our own, we row for the passengers, our students. 

You are all here in ADP because you have the qualities that ADP envisions for.  And we are all in the academe because God chose us to.  Therefore, it is but right that we all work for the ONE who made everything possible in our lives. (Colossians 3:23)”Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”  When we work for HIM, we will never get tired; when we work for the students, we will always be satisfied.  Our rewards may not be as prestigious as what other professions have, but our rewards lie within the success of every student who has reached their goal, to those who have realized their purpose, and those who have continued the legacy of selfless service.

As our ship sets sail on Monday, I pray that the Lord bless you with the W-A-R-M-T-H of a teacher:   Wisdom to teach not only what they need at school but also what they need in life, Active body to be physically present for the students, Respect to realize ones’ mistakes and to make amends of what needs to be corrected, Motivation to be an instrument for the students to realize their purpose in life, Tact to speak kind and constructive words not only to your fellow workers but more so to the students, Holistic personality  to teach the students by example and not just by words.

Ignite the WARMTH in your hearts as the educators of ADP.  Let us start our voyage with GOD as the center of our goal because it is only HE who will set the course of our journey.

Godspeed and see you all on the 20^th of June.

Sincerely,

RACQUEL ARTIOLA-AÑADA

Principal, ADP

I hope that even if you are not my "teaching staff" but a teacher or working in a school, you would also be inspired and know that you are not alone in your pursuit to helping your passenger get tho his destination.