LESSON 3: THE ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF TEACHERS

Everyone has a specific role to perform in life but the role of the teacher is extraordinary and
full of responsibilities because he shapes and forms the learner's mind, body, heart, and spirit
for him to become the mover and manipulator of the nation in the near future.

A. DISCIPLINARIAN
To discipline implies to ensure that every learner obeys the school rules and regulation by
instructing him to do so and punishing him if he does not. Classroom guidelines and procedures
to be followed by the learners must be clear and attainable. Punishment to any defiance and
naughtiness need to be explained clearly before implementing it based on the right and dignity
of human person. Corporal punishment such as whipping, long hours in squat position or
kneeling on hard tormenting particles, and other degrading punishments are to be avoided.
Moreover, the teacher has no right to defame or deprecate the learner in public due to his
misbehavior. Efficient discipline must observe proper decorum in which the teacher advises the
learner in a face-to-face interaction.

B. GUIDANCE COUNSELOR
The teacher guides his students and is always ready to give his advise for the benefit and good
of the learners. Several students perform poorly in academic subjects for various reasons such
as domestic problem, insufficient learning materials, parental attention and affection and the
like. In this case, the teacher cannot go on with his lesson for it may end up to nothing. The
teacher has to touch the life of the learner and his parents by mediating both to help solve the
problem in connection with the academic subject.

C. CURRICULUM PLANNER
As a curriculum planner, the teacher has the freedom to choose the topics to teach at a
particular time, the method to be used in teaching, the instructional materials to be used, the
activities to be given during the discussion of the lesson, the type of assessment to measure
how much do students learn and the assignment or enrichment activities to be given.

D. RESEARCHER
A good teacher does not rely on one reference book that he purchased years back or borrowed
from the library or friend. Effective and efficient research is the soul and spirit of an excellent
teaching in which the learner captivates the knowledge from his teacher. The educator makes
his research not only from the written instructional materials theorized by countless authors,
but also from the reality of human existence in society that continually struggles in order to
survive.

E. AGENT OF SOCIAL CHANGE

The teacher is the molder and framer of one’s mind, habit, values, and tradition. The future of
the nation is in the hands of the educators and teachers. Change occurs only if the teacher is
good and sound enough to influence the learner, which entails practicing what he teaches.
Action speaks louder than words.