Who really needs teachers?
Together with my Education classmates, we planned to join the volunteer program in Bagac, Bataan last March 2-4. Just a brief overview, De La Salle Philippines (DLSP) has come up with the full-time school for the poor, of course with the Lasallian education which, for me, is really holistic in nature. (No biases even if I’m a Lasallian by blood.)
A question ran in my mind: Who really needs the teachers the most?
Of course, the society invests much in cognitively competent kids. To whom are scholarships given? Of course, to the intelligent ones. Yes, maybe because not all people can be given the scholarship that will metaphorically open the gates to success. And with this initiation of DLSP, it chooses to give scholarship to all students, regardless of their cognitive competence.
Most students in St. Jaime Hilario Integrated School - La Salle come from families whose occupation includes fishery, agriculture and those which require “sweat and blood”, literally. Even though they are given with Lasallian education, still, they lack someone: teachers.
Teaching is a profession, but we cannot deny that it also a source of income. I myself considered Education as my field of study because of job security, but of course, I see my philosophy of “Giving what you can give to those who need it” in Education.
Students who really are eager to learn despite their financial incapability are those who really need the teachers the most. These far-flung areas are seeking for teachers who are willing to give them what they want.
I am not saying that we should abandon teaching those who are cognitively competent. What I want to expose is that there are students out there waiting to be taught of a simple arithmetic, simple language skills, and simple aids.
Volunteering for a ten-month teaching program (La Salle Volunteer Program) is a great help for these students. And just like any newly-grads, I am not ready yet. Still, I need to serve for my parents first.
Still, there are lots of things that we can do to help those who really need. We can start teaching students from the slums, or those who find streets as their home.
Nothing is better that seeing those who need the most happy. As I may add, (and from a bible verse that I could hardly remember), a healthy person doesn’t necessarily need a doctor.











