A TEACHER’S DAY

It’s 5:00 in the afternoon.  A yawn and an arm stretch would have relaxed the muscles.  The sweet aroma of a hot cup of coffee would be nice to awaken the olfactory nerves.  A sip would have stirred the brain as bright as the glow of the computer screen.

Ten hours ago, the classroom was as quiet as it is now.  The chairs are in order, the floor is clean, and the big board up front is as welcoming as what the day has in store for everybody.  On the same chair, the same cup, and the same stare on the computer screen, you wait as the room started to come to life as each one the students arrive.  Even without looking, you call them by name to give them a pleasant morning greeting as they struggle with all the school stuff to be put in place.

At eight, morning preliminaries proceeded with a prayer to bless the day, a recitation of some sort to inculcate pride to the school, an attendance to check if everybody is present (and sometimes wondering about the absentees), and finally a walk around to see if the diary has been signed by the parent or a note is awaiting to be read.  

As the day moves on, different pairs of eyes meet yours.  You look into their eyes and you would see those that are confused, those that are sleepy, those that are bright and sparkling, those that are mischievous, those that are sad, and those that are blank, staring at something that’s not inside the four walls since their imagination has brought them to places you would never know about.  Then, they look back at the eyes of the person in front of them talking nonstop, or showing presentations while they believe to everything that you say. Though different, their eyes are all the same with such innocence.  It becomes a responsibility to mold their young minds so that the words that you say, the firm gesture of your hands and a reassuring smile would tell them that everything is going to be okay. 

You’ll soon realize that it’s past your lunch time, but there are papers to check, and submissions to meet.  All of a sudden, the only five-minute window for you to just linger will be spent to those who would test your patience and see how far you can go if his young roguish mind starts to operate.  They would start a skirmish just because they couldn’t stand their differences.   You would then try to settle things and wish that they really understand life.  A reminder to write a note to their parents is noted, for you need to hurry to your next class.  

It is dismissal time, yet the brood do not want to go home.  Despite the restrictions on the teacher’s corner, they keep meddling with your affairs.  The world turned upside down.  They become the inquisitor, and you, the respondent.  At times, they’d share secrets and goings-on in the clique.  With concerned eyes and rapt ears, you let them speak nonstop about anything and everything.  At the back of your mind, you are seeing yourself in them.  You were who they are now--- a young student with lots of dreams and ideals, yet so naïve about what life has to offer. 

As the day goes to an end, they go one by one until everybody has gone home.  The order of the morning set-up is the exact opposite of what you would see around---chairs are askew, pieces of paper are scattered on the floor, a tumbler or a book has been forgotten, the board are filled with evidences that learning has taken place.  Maria had asked you a thought-provoking question in History.  Dave had raised his hand to answer your question about vertebrates.  Henry had submitted a homework that has been long overdue.  Eve had solved the word problem in your Math quiz.  And finally, Erwin had spelled ‘because’ correctly!  With all these, you are so grateful that you woke up today to come to work.

There are myriad ways to make a teacher’s day out of the ordinary.  Nevertheless, what makes a teacher’s day extraordinary are the little adventures they have to go through each day as they step into a classroom.

It’s 5:00 in the afternoon, but you are not ready to go home yet.  You take a long and deep yawn, and stretch your arms to relax your muscles.  You smell the sweet aroma of a hot cup of coffee to awaken your olfactory nerves.  You sip into your cup to stir the brain so it would be bright as the glow of the computer screen.  Your fingers reach for the keyboard, and the letters appeared on the screen.  You know that your day has no end… but it is okay, because you accomplished well today.  And the fun part is, you know that you will have more of this day.  More days to meet Maria, Dave, Henry, Eve and Erwin.  Finally, your lips twitched into a knowing smile.  This has been a wonderful day.  That makes a teacher’s day!

www.stonyhurst.edu.ph