By: Leanne Balahadia
The struggles of the teachers behind the screen of online classes.
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC STARTED last year and as a result, lockdown and series of quarantines were implemented starting from March 2020. During this “stay at home” scheme that happened in all areas of Cavite, a colossal number of businesses and livelihoods were forced to stop operating and academic institutions namely schools and universities were drastically affected.
When the pandemic struck, online classes were merely the option offered by the Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education. Privileged students accompanied by their parents have effortlessly started to buy phones, laptops, tablets, portable Wi-Fi, and other stuff needed for the new normal education. As a counterpoint to this tale, some students are unable to continue online classes due to financial limitation and technological incapacity.
It is easy to assume that this is the only conflict with online classes, but consider the other side of the coin. Have you considered your teachers? Is it proven difficult for them to teach their students during this pandemic? Let me tell you a few stories.
In his 40 years of teaching experience, Mr. Reynaldo Moring, a 61-year-old public high school teacher at Dasmarinas National High School, has never done online classes. He is clueless when it comes to social media and technology. He became sick for three weeks as a result of his stress from constantly worrying about what he was going to do or how he would teach online. He asked for assistance from his co-workers and high school students who were computer savvy, and made an effort to learn. He didn't let his age stop him from learning new things.
There are also teachers, especially single parents, who struggle with time management as a result of working from home. Some of them have a toddler that needs attention. Ms. Princess Ann, a 38-year-old single mother and professor at Cavite State University has three children (the oldest is 15 years old, the middle child is 9 years old, and the youngest is 4 years old) is an example. She currently handles 9 sections and she's all by herself at home. She doesn't have someone to support her, but her eldest is old enough to assist her with the chores. Ms. Princess Ann has the most difficulty with her youngest child; she is unable to complete her schoolwork while her child is up.
We, in both perspectives of students and teachers, are all affected by this new normal setup of education. We all have different stories of struggles. Hence, whether you have the choice of being right or being kind, always choose the latter.
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