By: LEYMAR J.
MAGUDANG, PhD
Teacher III, Sindun Bayabo Integrated School, City of Ilagan, Isabela
In our classrooms, it is undeniable that our learners differ in many aspects of life-may it be status, culture, ethnicity, and many others. Hence, it is imperative for to us to understand each one of them.
We, teachers play significant roles in developing our learners to become morally upright individuals. A teacher is not only obliged to teach and provide learning experiences but is also required to be a mother or father among the learners and are expected to exercise such acceptable parental authority and parental care or responsibility. As teachers, we are considered as the second parents of our learners. They are in our custody while they are within the school – sometimes, our duties as their second parents extend even outside the physical school.
As parent, we are responsible for creating a safe, healthy, and conflict free learning environment. We are responsible for instilling among ate learners the values that they need for them to maintain good relationship with their classmates despite their individual differences. Respects is just but one of the few values to be inculcated among the students. If they possess it, it will become easier for them to maintain a good relationship with their classmates no matter where they came from, no matter that they believe in, and no matter how they express themselves. It is then important for us, teachers to demonstrate how to show respect to everyone. I believe that when the learners are exposed with positive role models, they will become more conscious about their actions and see to it that they will not hurt everyone.
Also, providing activities that will allow them to collaborate and communicate with their class members from different ethnicities would become an avenue for them to understand each other thereby creating a cross-group friendship
Though it is hard sometimes to unite people with differences, it becomes possible when one is passionate enough to make a difference. Education is inclusive, and so is friendship.