Ritz Angelica V.

Barrita PED100- The Teaching Profession

I. Activity

1. When a mother says, “I think my son has a vocation,” what does she mean?
From the word itself “vocation” means an occupation that requires great dedication.
This means that her son will now have a job and a real obligation to act in the
interests of the greater good.
2. A soldier reports and says, “Mission accomplished,” What does this imply? What
does he mean?
It means that the soldier’s tasks is successfully finished or done. "Mission
accomplished" refers to a job, task, or assignment that has been fully completed and
finished.
3. Some teachers regard teaching as just a job. Others see it as their mission. What’s the
difference?
Based on what I have understood, the difference between a job, and a mission is that,
when you teach voluntarily, it's referred to as a mission, but, when you have to teach
for a living, it's referred to as a job. And also, when people view teaching as their job,
they do it for the money, but when they view it as their mission, they teach from the
heart.

II. Analysis

1. What is meant by vocation? Mission?

Vocation is a term used to describe a person's true calling or desired job, while
mission is a task that is considered to be a very important responsibility.
2. Are these two (vocation and mission) related?
Yes, they are related. Choosing a career is a decision that should only be made by
those who are truly committed to both their work and their community. If teaching is
your mission, then this is the job that has been given to you to do in the world.
3. Teaching as a job or a mission. What’s the difference?
There is a connection between teaching as a job and teaching as a mission. Teaching
is a job if you are doing it because you are getting paid for your time and feel
compelled to educate students. However, if you continue to teach out of love,
compassion, and faithfulness, it is a mission, even you don’t receive payment or
recognized you for your efforts.
III. Application
The Humanizing Mission of Teaching
1. Read this letter given by a private school principal to her teachers on the first day of a
new school year. It may make your humanizing mission in teaching crystal clear:
Dear Teacher:
I am a survivor of a concentration camp.
My eyes saw what no man should witness:
- Gas chambers built by learned engineers.
- Children poisoned by educated physicians.
- Infants killed by trained nurses.
- Women and babies shot and burned by high school and college graduates.
So I am suspicious of education.
My request is: Help your students become human.
Your efforts must never produce learned monsters, skilled psychopaths, and *Eichmans.
Reading, writing, arithmetic are important only if they serve to make our children more
human.
Explain your mission as a professional teacher by helping children become more human.
My mission is to help them become good and knowledgeable people. By being the best
human teacher I can be it means treating my kids like the best humans they can be and
using my knowledge of child development to give them the best possible start in life. As
professional teachers, it is our responsibility to assist students in achieving a holistic
growth. In this way, children can become more human.
Ritz Angelica V. Barrita PED100- The Teaching Profession

2. Watch “Discovering Your Life’s True Calling – Lou Sabrina Ongkiko at Youtube. Based
on the video that you just watched, what is our life’s true calling? How can you apply that
in your calling to teach? Share your answers with the group.
"The call is not our profession. The call has always been to love.'' Based on the video that
I just watched, you must have a job you genuinely enjoy in order to follow your heart's
desire and also receive love in return. As a future educator, we must have a goal to
educate our students so that they learn from us, not only in terms of academics but also in
terms of morals. We need to be an influence on our students and to be a role model for
them. My true calling in life is to teach in the future and to support the students as they
learn, develop, and become contributing members of society. I want them to use all the
knowledge I impart on them for good in the near future.
IV. Check for Understanding
1. Teaching is a vocation. What does this mean?
Answer: A. I only
2. If teaching is considered as your missions, which applies/ apply?
Answer: D. I and II

V. Research Connection
Read any research related to teaching as a vocation and mission then fill out the
matrix below.

PROBLEM RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Increasing numbers of individuals are entering the A qualitative method was chosen for this study
field of education as second-career teachers. because this type of research can provide the concrete
School administrators are now forced to work with detail needed for understanding. The particular
and motivate the second-career teachers who are branch of qualitative research used in this study is
entering the public schools. The reasons why phenomenology. Phenomenology addresses the
individuals choose to enter teaching as a second experiences of an individual and how those
career, what type of differences are perceived from experiences are interpreted in relation to the world. A
previous occupations, how second-career teachers basic assumption of phenomenology is that there is a
perceive administrators, and the shared values or basic essence or essences to shared experiences.
These shared experiences and essences form the core
mission that aids the second-career teacher during
meanings that are mutually understood through the
the career transition period, are information that
phenomenon that are commonly experienced. The
can help administrators and the second-career findings from this study can be related and integrated
teachers adjust to their new careers. into the body of knowledge that currently exists on
second-career teachers.

SECOND-CAREER TEACHERS: PERCEPTIONS

AND MISSIONS IN THEIR NEW CAREERS
Frank W. Powers (2002) Second-career teachers:
Perceptions and mission in their new careers,
International Studies in Sociology of Education,
FINDINGS 12:3, 303-318, DOI: CONCLUSIONS
10.1080/09620210200200095

The material was summarized and the following Second-career teachers enter the occupation with the
themes emerged as significant to this study: desire to provide positive environments and learning
experiences for their students. Their choice to
• Life-changing events become teachers is conscious and is done without
selfish notions or compromise. They want the
• Differences between prior occupations and opportunity to be brought into the field and
teaching recognized for what they can contribute. As good
leaders, second career teachers have the ability to be
• Challenges related to students and administrators good followers – if the administrator recognizes
their need to be treated with respect and dignity.
• Personal mission. They can be a valuable asset with their strong sense
of mission and purpose. The motivation is in their
All four themes were found in each participant’s mission, and the power is in their purpose.
narrative. Some accounts of certain themes were
somewhat stronger than others; however, all
participants experienced the themes to a relevant
degree in relation to the study
Ritz Angelica V. Barrita PED100- The Teaching Profession

VI. Synapse Strengtheners

1. To be true to your vocation and mission as a teacher, you have to “have more, do
more in order to be more” to your students and all others to whom you were sent.
What does “do more, have more in order to be more” mean?
"Do more, have more in order to be more" means that we possess the potential to
be great teachers someday, both as individuals and as teachers, but it will take
time to develop or harness that potential to become professionals. But working in
a profession has a lot of responsibility; we must devote our time and energy to it
in order to help students be more advanced in their quest to become "humans." As
a future educator we have to do whatever it takes to become the best teacher. We
must accept this calling, as it is our mission.
2. The greatest teacher, Jesus Christ, spent much time to prepare his apostles before
he “sent” them for their mission to “go into the world baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. “What is the equivalent of
this preparation in your life as a future professional teacher?
As a future professional teacher, this preparation encourages me to do more and
do better, to help us strengthen and develop our knowledge to make all missions
possible by spreading our capabilities around the world.
3. Some teacher education institutions have a “sending off” ceremony for student
teachers before Education students go for practice teaching. What is the
significance of this ceremony?
Before education students begin their practicum teaching, there is a sending off
ceremony that serves as their official welcome to the teaching profession.
Moreover, it shows that they are all set and prepared to be sent to the various
schools, where their help and guidance is desperately required.
4. What mission has God has given to teachers according to The True Decalogue of
Mabini?
The mission that God given to the teachers according to The True Decalogue of
Mabini, is to work hard, and stay dedicated to our passion because God gives this
special talents to us, so we should contribute to the progress of humanity.

VII. Reflection
If you say “yes” to the call and mission to teach in this life, reflect on how you are
going to prepare yourself in this four-year teacher education course.
I am going to study hard and give my very best in this course. For I know that this
course is not easy. I want to educate myself in order to become knowledgeable about
specific topics, and to be able to answer questions easily. I know that studying is not
enough to prepare this four-year course, and so I will need guidance and help from
our Almighty God to bless me in any way possible.