Hindered heroes

Zephaniah Muyalde

Even heroes grow tired. And sometimes, even the most celebrated heroes carry silent burdens of exhaustion, financial stability, and pressure.

“Nakakatakot maging teacher”

Growing up, it has somehow become a mantra for me to question my peers whenever they say being a teacher is one of their dreams. Truth be told, being a teacher is described as one of the most fulfilling jobs in the world. Peer-reviewed studies even suggest that seeing students learn reignites the purpose of being a teacher. And while people often highlight that side, living with my mother has shown me a different reality. 

Burdened Hours

Before studying far from home, it has become a norm for me and my sister to sleep and wake up at the sight of our mother still working on her computer. So when my classmates would say “Salita-salita lang naman ginagawa ng mga teacher”, it feels like an invitation to a debate. In fact, IDInsight showed that 55% of teacher workload becomes consumed mainly by paperworks, consuming even more than the 40-hour standard work week. 

Empty Pays

“Anak, sa susunod nalang” was a frequent line from our mother. After the deductions from Philhealth, GSIS, Pag-ibis, and such, the money she brings home can only be enough for our daily needs and a few additions to their savings, which I think contributed to my stingy side. Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) even reported that 9 out of 10 teachers earn below the family living wage.

Subsequently, when I was just a kid, I used to accompany my mother to every Brigada Eskuwela. Imagine the shock on my face that despite the education sector’s budget of millions, my mother and her co-teachers relied on donations from parents to improve their classrooms — even harsher when I saw my mother took her very own money as an addition whenever their classroom funds fall short, even for materials like chalk and cleaning necessities. ACT even had an additional report where 75% of teachers have spent more than Php 5,000 of their own money for Brigada Eskuwela.

Weighted Blame

ACT stated in a separate report that teachers get showered with the blame of the learning crisis despite working under inadequate conditions — lack of classrooms, lack of learning materials, inadequate funding, and excessive workload. With the learning crisis going on, DepEd has implemented numerous curriculum changes, and those come with numerous seminars even during holidays or the no-interruption one-month break. 

I remember my mom barely being uninterrupted during their break with the amount of seminars. And despite her best efforts, there always seemed to be one to five students that cannot seem to grasp lessons. “Anyamit daytuyin” (Ano ba naman ‘to) I would always hear her mutter under her breath as she sorts through student reports. In addition to that, she has grown accustomed to steering clear of comment sections. Whenever issues in education surfaced online, “Kasalanan ng mga teacher”, was often among the first reactions, despite many commenters lacking the full picture.

Clarion Call

The weight of exhaustion, financial stability, and pressure are not to be carried by teachers alone. As the ubiquitous slogan said, “It takes a country to raise a child” — systems around education are to actively share the load. Congested schedules call for workload designs that set clearer boundaries on work and home. Underpaid wages point to increased salaries that cope with the cost of living and the realities of teaching. And most importantly, learning outcomes need the broader understanding that not every variable can be controlled by teachers alone. 

The irony is that these heroes are expected to shape the future that limits them from shaping their own. Maybe if I grew up seeing that my Mama has not sacrificed her health for the sake of completing paperworks, not withholding her wants because of being paid less, and not joining countless seminars that are met with people’s disdain, then maybe I too, have wanted to become a hero like her.