Lesson 1- Teaching as a Profession

“Without hard work and discipline, it is difficult to be a top professional”

➢ A professional is one who conforms to the technical or ethical standards of a profession. So, two
elementsof a profession are competence and a Code of Ethics.
➢ The other elements of a profession are:
1. Initial Professional Education- Professionals generally begin their professional lives by
completing a university program in their chosen fields- teacher education, engineering,
nursing, accountancy. This means long and arduous years of preparation. Take note this is just
initial, which means only the beginning because a professional is expected to learn endlessly.
2. Accreditation- University programs are approved by a regulatory body like the Commission
on Higher Education (CHED) in the Philippines to ensure that graduates from these recognized
programs start their professional lives with competence.
3. Licensing- Licensing is mandatory, not voluntary and is administered by a government
authority is the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
4. Professional development - This is an on-going professional education that maintains or
improves professionals’ knowledge and skills after they begin professional practice. In the
Philippines this is Continuing Professional Development mandated by RA 10912, otherwise
known as the CPD Act of 2016.
5. Professional Societies - Professionals see themselves as part of a community of like- minded
individuals who put their professional standards above the individual self- interest or their
employer’s self- interest. These professional societies put dedication to the public interest and
commitment to moral and ethical values. Professional societies define certification criteria
manage certification program, establish accreditation standards, and define a code of ethics
and disciplinary action for violation of that code.
6. Code of ethics - Each profession has a code of ethics to ensure that its practitioners behave
responsibly. The code states what professionals should do. Professionals can be ejected from
their professional societies or lose their licenses to practice for violating the code of ethics.
(McConnell, Steve, source: http://www. Alexs brown. com/prof9.html, retrieved 6-3-18)

➢ The teaching profession is governed by the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers. Violation
of the Code of Ethics for professional teachers is one of the grounds for the revocation of the
professional teacher’s Certificate of Registration and suspension from the practice of the
teaching profession (Sec.23., RA.7836).
ACTIVITY: Let’s read theseTeaching as a Profession

Read the following instances when the word “professional” is used. ADD SOME MORE INSTANCES, IF
YOU CAN. As a group, explain 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. Father tells floor tile setter home he asked to work on a newly constructed bathroom “Gusto ko
yong gawang propesyonal, malinis at maganda.”
3. She is highly professional in her ways. She deals with everyone including her daughter- employee
professionally.
4. “How unprofessional of her to act that way. Teacher pa naman din.”
5. Medical doctors, lawyers, education consultants are entitled to professional fees (PF) for expert
services rendered.
6. After his oath taking as a professional teacher, he was congratulated and was told “now you are
trulya professional.”

Historical development of teacher preparation and professionalization in the Philippines

• Teaching became a profession in 1976 with PD. 1006.The requirement of a licensure examination
for teachers that puts teaching at par with the other professions was enacted only in 1994 with the
passing of RA. 7836, otherwise known as The Teachers’ Professionalization Act.

• There was no formal preparation for teachers during the pre-Hispanic times. The formal training of
teachers began during the Spanish period when men were trained as maestros by The Jesuits. A few
years’ later “maestros”were also trained. In 1901, a two-year preparation for teachers was given by
Philippine Normal School. Then the two years became four years since the two-year academic
preparation was seen inadequate. To ensure quality teachers and to make teaching at par with other
professions, in addition to a four-year teacher education course, passing a licensure examination
was made mandatory by RA. 7836.