Teaching Success via Zooming IN and OUT
ABS-CBN News reported that 80 teachers from the Philippines travelled to Hawaii to fill teaching vacancies there this SY 2023-24. I am sure there are other USA states that welcomed Filipino teachers. I was one of those teachers years ago. I since learned that the secret to success is to see beyond my own situation. It is the process of zooming out (seeing the bigger picture) then zooming in and finding out how I fit in the whole system.
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are hailed as hardworking employees. The carabao is considered the national animal of the Philippines and like Filipinos, it symbolizes perseverance and hard work. However, when Filipino teachers first come to the USA, they usually see only their own circumstances and teaching challenges. Like the carabao above, it is bigger than the globe.
It took time but I learned to see the bigger picture. See the carabao above? It is now smaller and the world is bigger. It is my goal to help you see the bigger picture so that you can expand your viewpoint when solving teaching challenges. Let’s go back to the new Filipino teachers in Hawaii. I am sure they came here to increase their income, expand their experiences and have a better family future. But in order to succeed, they must ask: why did the previous teachers leave? Honolulu Civil Beat reported that teachers left because of the work environment, cost of living and student behavior. That means, the new Filipino teachers will face these problems also.
Prepared due to Awareness
A lot of us Filipinos want to go to the USA or anywhere abroad where we can earn more. Sometimes, we have a bahala-na attitude where we just want to leave the Philippines and face difficulties later. Pilipinas Info intends to help you see beyond that. For instance, teachers leaving the profession is not only happening in Hawaii. It is happening all over the USA. Washington Post said that resignations in the DC Area is rising again. PR Newswire reported that US is on the verge of teacher resignation and Gradient Learning shared its poll result that “only 27% of teachers say it is very likely that they will still be teaching five years from now.” It is up to you, my dear Filipino teachers, to see this as an opportunity to come here and fill-up the positions and be ready to overcome the challenges teachers face. Subscribe for free so you’ll not miss my future posts on these topics.
Zooming Out in Time and History
Do you know that during the early 1900, Americans were the ones who crossed the ocean to teach Filipinos? The United States of America and the Philippines have a historic relationship in the field of education. Actually, an American, Ms. Delia Delight Rice, whose parents were both deaf, helped establish Special Education in the Philippines. There is a historic marker at the Philippine School for the Deaf about this. However, details about Ms. Rice’s work is scarce.
I happen to uncover historical details about her and her work in my dissertation on the History of Special Education in the Philippines while teaching in the DC Metro area. I also saw how the USA influenced our educational system. I will share excerpts from my research and combine insights from my classroom experience as a SPED teacher in the USA. Looking back in history reveals so much more about us today. I will use the Zoom In and Out method to help us appreciate history and find where we fit in. Subscribe for free so you’ll not miss a post here at Pilipinas Info.