CHAPTER 1: The Teaching Profession

Learning Outcome

At the end of this chapter, I can:

• Recognize the meaning of teaching as a profession;
• Trace the historical development of teaching as a profession in the Philippines; and
• Differentiate teaching as a vocation and as a mission.

Motivate

Explain briefly the quotation below:

“Without hard work and discipline,

it is difficult to be a top professional.”

Engage

Read the following instances when the word “professional” is used. Explain briefly what the word
“professional” means in each case.

1. One night, cellphones were stolen right there from your home while you were asleep. There was no indication
of forced entry, so you claimed that the manner by which your cellphone was stolen was highly professional.

2. “How unprofessional of her to act that way. Teacher pa naman din.”

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Discuss

In the term “highly professional”, the word “professional” implies one who possesses skill
and competence or expertise. While, in the phrase “unprofessional… to act that way” implies
a code of ethics by which a professional person abides.

Therefore, a professional is one who conforms to the technical or ethical standards of

a profession.

So, it is safe to say that the two elements of profession are:

• Competence - having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something
successfully.
• Code of Ethics – a guide of principles designed to help professionals conduct
business honestly and with integrity.

The other elements of a profession are:

• Initial Professional Education
• Accredited Program
• Licensing
• Continuing Professional Development
• Membership in a Professional Society

In a nutshell, teaching is a profession that requires…

• Long years of initial professional education
• The attainment of a college/university degree recognized by a regulatory body,
CHED
• A licensure examination called the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET)
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD); and
• Adherence to the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers

knowledge and skills after they begin professional practices. RA 10912, CPD Act of 2016

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Teaching became a profession in 1976 with the Presidential Decree (PD) 1006 issued by then
President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

The requirement of a licensure examination for teachers that puts teaching at par
with other professions was enacted only in 1994 with the passing of Republic Act (RA)
7836, otherwise known as The Teachers’ Professionalization Act.

There was no formal preparation for teachers during the pre-Hispanic times.

The formal training for teachers began during the Spanish period (Educational Decree
of 1863) when men were trained as maestors by The Jesuits. A few years later maestras were
also trained.

In 1901, a 2-year preparation for teachers was given by the Philippines Normal School.
Then the 2 years became four (4) years since the 2-year academic preparation was
seen inadequate.

To ensure quality teachers and to make teaching at par with other professions, in addition
to a four (4)-year teacher education course, passing a licensure examination was made
mandatory by Republic Act (RA) 7836.

Some people say that teaching is a noble profession, others say that it is only for people
who is knowledgeable enough to teach children and others say that it is done by someone
who has an authority. So, this is what I say on what teaching is.

Teaching is a Vocation. Every person is destined to be somebody in his own field. I can say
that teaching is easy, but teaching with morals and molding humans for the future is not
that simple as 1, 2 and 3. Like everyone can be a teacher but being an effective teacher
needs someone with passion and devotion for teaching.

Teachers became teachers not because of luck or misfortune, but because she/he is destined
to be one. Being a teacher requires a lot of things to gain and even to sacrifice. Therefore,
God will not put someone in this profession if he is not capable to do it or if his fate is not
on teaching. God has always reasons for everything that happened to us and that is for the
person to discover and realize someday.

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Teaching is a mission. Every human being has a purpose or mission in this world and the
main purpose of every human is to produce and protect life. As teachers, we always have
goals in everything we teach and do to our students.

Why? It is simply because we are teachers who have mission and that is to make each of our
students competitive, equipped with the fundamental skills and knowledge and also to be
a total human person for his society.

We teachers are not only teaching to have students with brilliant minds we are also destined
to produce human beings with heart and soul for everyone. A human that is capable to love
and care for the other people. Teachers are like disciples of Jesus. We are expected to teach
and cater the knowledge of our students. What kind of knowledge? Knowledge for subjects,
for himself, for life, for morality, and for God and that is through teaching them the
knowledge and the truth comes with it and God is the truth and that is the great assigned
task of Him to us – to perform with excellence when doing our service.

Teaching is a profession. As what a popular saying goes like “You cannot give what you
don’t have” just like for us teachers, you cannot fully transform our students to be somebody
in this world if in the first place you do not have the mastery of our field or simply the
knowledge, and care and love for them. We teachers are their models and considered as
their second mother. We do affect them easily that much since they are spending most of
their time in school and as being with them every day, we have the great responsibility on
taking care of our actions in or outside of our classroom. Therefore, we teachers should
always have a guidance and that is through thinking that in everything we say and do must
be done for the greater glory of GOD.

Therefore, as a future teacher, you should be thankful that you are taking this noble course
because it is only few who are destined to have the patience and knowledge to be shared
on the large community. Teaching is a powerful profession. Teachers have the greatest
influential duty in this world because they can make either a monster or a hero for the future
of a society. Teachers affect and make characters out of their teaching. Teaching is a certified
noble profession because it does what God and his disciples tried and trying to do – to
teach and spread the truth to His people.

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Innovate

By way of an acrostic, explain the elements of a profession.

P –
R –
O –
F –
E –
S –
S –
I –
O –
N –

Watch “Discovering Your Life’s True Calling – Lou Sabrina Ongkiko” at YouTube.

Then, answer these questions briefly.

1. Based on the video that you just watched, what is our life’s true calling?
2. How can you apply that in your calling to teach?

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Assess

DIRECTIONS: Encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. Based on the elements of a profession, can the taxi driver be considered a professional?
a. No, because driving is not a college/university degree.
b. Yes, because there is such a term professional driver.
c. It depends on the technical and ethical competence of the taxi driver.
d. Yes, if the taxi driver is competent and honest.

2. Which are the elements of a profession like teaching?

I. Long years of professional education
II. Passing the competency-based examination to obtain a diploma from TESDA
III. Continuing Professional Development
IV. Adherence to a Code of Ethics for the professional group

a. I, II, and III

b. II, III and IV
c. I, III and IV
d. I, II and IV

3. In the Philippines there was no teacher preparation since the Spanish regime. Is the
statement CORRECT?
a. No.
b. Yes.
c. There was but informal.
d. There was and for men only.

4. Which is the first legal document that professionalized teaching in the Philippines?
a. RA 7836
b. PD1006
c. RA 9192
d. RA 8981

5. Did teacher preparation in the Philippines begin with 4 years?

a. Yes.
b. Yes, 4 years but informal.
c. No.
d. No, it began with 1 year.