Reflections on Being Taught By Students

Last January 25-26 2007, the University of the Philippines had an activity known as the Know Your School Day (KYSD). The activity only lasted for two days due lack of time because the Finals for the school year has started and there are still lots of activities that are needed to be done. In preparation for the activity, the students who wanted to apply for positions like teacher, principal and other school personnel filled in forms that are approved by the teachers they are going to take place during the two-day activity. Before approval, the student teachers underwent an interview with the teacher and if permitted shall teach the students on the day he/she is assigned to teach. During the opening ceremony, these student teachers were introduced to the students and were given the right to take charge of the school.

During the KYSD, I didn’t apply for any position because of the jobs I need to finish that week. Personally, I like to apply for positions because teaching has always been one of my dreams in life. Specifically, I’m not that interested in education much but I’m really fond of sharing knowledge to the public. During this event, the spirit of volunteerism is present because the students are willing to contribute their knowledge to their fellow students without any in return.

During the two-day event, student teachers were present during our different subjects in our class. What I noticed on the student teachers was that they really love to conduct tests on students. It is also a very good experience for me to be taught by students. I feel comfortable when a student teacher teaches us because I know that they are that approachable. Well, it is also comfortable when our real teachers teach us.

Sometimes, I can compare them to our real teachers. I prefer teachers to teach rather than student teachers because teachers already have the experience and how to apply their lessons in our daily lives while those student teachers depend on their belief in explaining things. Teachers already have mastery in their subject matters that has been one of the skills of a teacher for his/her students to understand the lesson well. Teachers are more preferable because I can really understand them better than student teachers. Sometimes it is disadvantageous to have a student teacher because students tend not to respect them because they know that they are all equal in knowledge and capabilities.

This has been a very nice opportunity that at least students who taught during the KYSD experienced the importance of teachers. For me, what I’ve learned in the KYSD is that we should respect and love our teachers for they contribute to our knowledge and serves as our second family.

After the giving of tokens to the teachers during the closing ceremony, I realized the importance of teachers in my life such as working hard on their lesson plans just to teach their students. Teaching has not been an easy job for it offers one self to another. It has a sense of dedication, a commitment. I really appreciate teachers because they are not only earning big but they also contribute to society. Teachers are one of the foundations of the society.

Because of the KYSD, even though I did not apply for any position and stayed in front of the whole class, I can really feel the hardships of a teacher; that being a teacher is not an easy work. I salute the teachers and the student teachers as well for they have patience for us despite the noise and the chaos in the classroom during their classes. As a student being taught by students and also by teachers, this is what I’ve learned from them, a reflection of which I am always experiencing in school.