Being a teacher takes a lot more than just giving lessons in class. Photo by Monika Kozub on Unsplash
Teaching is a virtuous career to enter, as this profession is about the commitment and responsibility of an educator to generate leaders who will ensure a better world in future.
In fact, being a teacher is not an easy job because it requires passion and courage to ensure that students understand lessons delivered and recognise the impact of their studies to their lives.
However, teaching is surrounded by its own myths like other professions, from its level of education, time, workload, and salaries to criteria and characteristics of a teacher. Let’s find out what a few of them are and know the truth!
Myth 1: Teachers do nothing when there is no physical class
We all noticed that during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, school were closed and lessons were halted for several months due to the Movement Control Order (MCO).
Some people thought that teachers during this time only sit at home doing nothing but getting a full pay every month, because there isn’t any face-to-face lessons to conduct.
The truth, however, is that they, like many others in these difficult times, are mentally, emotionally and physically drained, especially because they are concerned about their students’ well-being.
Even when they can conduct their lessons online, teachers need to get more creative with the way they teach to ensure that their students attend classes, complete assignments and overall stay on track with their studies.
Myth 2: Teachers have a lot of free time after class
Schools with morning and/or afternoon sessions have their students attend classes for five to six hours. For that, some would assume that those are the same working hours for teachers, thinking that delivering lessons is the only thing they do at work.
However, after class is dismissed, teachers have several other tasks to perform, including attending school meetings, preparing for the next day’s class, and doing administrative work. Some teachers might continue teaching as tutors outside school.
In short, their job entails them to work inside and outside the classroom, sometimes for long hours, which is why it is important for us to have a better understanding of their job scope rather than make assumptions on their ‘free time’.
Myth 3: Teaching is a female-dominant career
Commonly, we see women as teachers in school, more so in primary school or kindergarten with their motherly characteristics that help put their young students at ease with their presence.
Yet, research has found that it is important to have male teachers in an educational setting, regardless of subjects, because they are crucial role models for boys.
Men in the teaching profession is increasingly important nowadays as they play a large role in educating and nurturing boys to be better men in the future.
As such teachers, irrespective of their genders, are key to the education system, and their efforts shouldn’t be taken for granted – all the more reason for us to pay attention to the layers of the teaching career.
Read more: Careers in Education and Teaching
