A Teacher's Creed

I've been teaching for seven years already and believe me, this job is so tough that it really challenged my patience as well as my perseverance. Students nowadays are way too different from students in the 90's. Talking about respect, responsibilities, determination- the comparison would be disheartening but of course with exception to those who give prime consideration with their studies. As a teacher, I met almost all kinds of students and I am glad that somehow I was able to cope up with them though sometimes I come to a point where I really got mad causing me to walk out.

At once I review the Teacher's Creed just to remind myself of my responsibilities. Allow me to repost it here:

A Teacher's Creed

I believe I have been called by God to teach.
I believe in children...young and old...black and white...rich and poor....each in need of learning.
I believe in blackboards, chalk dust, textbooks, and computers for each has a part in imparting knowledge.
I believe the love I give to my students will someday be reflected in their lives.
I believe the gift of teaching is not measured simply by marks, enrollment, or the end of the school year.
It is in the witness I give and the fullness of the life lived by those I teach.
I believe I have the power to lead those in need of learning to the threshold of their own minds.
I believe in my giftedness to use each of the tools available no matter how new or old..for the light of knowledge in the eyes of another is my goal.
I believe teaching is more than tests, diplomas, paperwork, and fundraising.
It is the values I breathe daily into another...slowly.
It is in the faith I share in Jesus...ever changing and growing...never ending.
I believe my success today goes unnoticed...until those I teach and touch can stand alone and say "in my life I have learned..."
I believe if I have taught and touched one person...in God's name...I have used my gift to me justly..and can humbly say...
I believe in teaching....
I AM A TEACHER!!
~by Julie McClellan

I knew for a fact that it is not by accident that I was here, doing this so called "noble" job. And as much as I could I tried to become the "ideal" teacher. However, I realized that struggling harder to become one will only stressed me.Trying to be an ideal teacher will only cause me to limit myself in the things that needs to be done. I was reminded to impose discipline, yes I did. Everyday I tried to inject values among my students but somehow it is difficult for them to adjust on the "right values" that I tried to tell them because they are just not "used" to it. In my class you often see students who does not seem to care enough for their classmates. You can hear foul words, sometimes bullying but the worst of all is seeing them not improving at all when the semester ends. I am not really sure if they gave value to everything that I say, maybe not because judging from the way they responded, only few were able to show a remarkable change. On the other hand, I also learned a lot of things among my students. I learned the value of patience- I only have a little of those. Honestly, I could not consider myself as ideal but one thing is for sure, I am who I believe I am- a Teacher who only wants nothing from her students but their cooperation and responsiveness. Like what I always used to tell them, I am just a mere human like them, imperfect in so many ways- the only difference is that I am just one step ahead of them.