THE NATURE OF PROFESSION

What is Profession?

The term Profession' stands for an occupation which requires some specialized study and training, and
the purpose of which is generally to provide skilled services and guidance in lieu of a definite fee or
remuneration.

A profession is a calling and implies acquisition of a fond of knowledge, range skills and their
application in service of humanity. The services rendered by a professional may be direct as will the case
of teachers and doctors or indirect as is in the case of teacher educators i.e. teacher of a teacher.

This service might be rendered for limited segment of the population or for a limited period of
time or phase of life. This service is not rendered to the entire student population which gets graduation
or post-graduation, but, it is rendered to those who have aptitude for the profession.

Any professional provides professional service for a limited period of time when his/her clientele
are in an institution or within the institutional framework. A profession can be practiced independently
or within an institution or both.
PROFESSIONALISM

Professionalism for educators encompasses various components that influence student learning.

•Professional standards and ethics

 Adhere to legal and ethical guidelines

 Follow standards defined for the profession
 Model professional demeanor and positive interaction with others
 Respect the diversity of ethnicity, race, gender and special needs

•Continuous self-reflection and professional development

 Act as reflective practitioner

 Acquire and refine professional knowledge and skill
 Engage in ongoing professional growth
 Act, as appropriate, as risk taker, stepping out of the comfort zone
 Embrace practices of a life-long learner

•Contributions to the profession

 Perform as a role model for other educators

 Serve on school, district, regional, and state educational committees, work groups, etc.
 Participate in professional associations

The teacher's ethical and personal qualities of empathy, care, respect, fairness, motivation,
perseverance and a strong belief that they can make a difference in a student's life are dispositions
associated with professionalism.
TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL ROLES OF TEACHERS

1. As a Director of Learning — The teacher....

o Plans and organizes learning activitie

o Leads pupils/students through the learning episodes

o Controls the whole learning situations

o Appraises the effectiveness of the learning situations

2. As an Information Processor — The teacher....

o Analyzes information and events

o Makes informationand events

o Makes information readily learnable

o Facilitates the comprehension of information and events

o Interprets information to learners

o Communicates information in a manner that pupils/students comprehend

3. As a Knower — The teacher....

o Knows much about the general fields of knowledge

o Masters thoroughly the subject matter of his/her field of specialization

o Brings learners to the world of ideas

o Provides accurate information to pupils/students

o Answers readily pupils/students' questions

4. As a Pioneer in the World of Ideas — The teacher....

o Carries students to new insights and knowledge

o Leads children to wide ranging and unlimited inquiry

o Develops new ideas and practices to meet the needs and demands of the time

5. As a Decision-Maker — The teacher....

o Decides on what objectives should be established

 o Decides on the type of instructional program that could best achieve the objectives

o Decides on what body of information should be conveyed

o Decides on the most effective methods, techniques, approaches and materials that will
facilitate the attainment of the objectives.

o Decides on the most appropriate grouping that would best benefit the learner

6. As a Judge of Achievement — The teacher....

o Defines what is worth achieving

o Defines ability levels of pupils/students

o Evaluates pupils/students/levels of achievement

o Determines who will be promoted or retained

7. As a Counselor — The teacher....

o Establishes effective relationship with the individual pupils/students

o Collects pertinent information about each pupils/students

o Receives confidences

o Guides pupils/students in understanding himself

o Gives advice

o Assists pupils/students to find solutions to his/her own problems

8. As a Moralist — The teacher....

o Develops a functional moral and ethical code

o Creates acceptable moral atmosphere

o Establishes norms for behavior within and outside the classroom

9. As a Model for the Youth — The teacher....

o Exemplifies the scholarship and ideals valued by society

o Demonstrates acceptable sets of values

10. As a Person of Culture — The teacher....

 o Possesses a broad general cultural education is well-informed of current developments in
various fields of science

o Appreciates arts and literature

o Demonstrates adequate skills in the use of language

11. As a Community Link — The teacher....

o Participates actively in the life of the community

o Interprets the school program to the public

o Brings parents to participate in school activities

o Utilizes the resources of the community to develop significant application of subject matter

12. As a Mediator of Culture — The teacher....

o Articulates social, political, and economic traditions

o Develops cultural values

o Transmits culture

o Enriches cultural growth of pupils/students

Essay questions:

Answer straightforwardly the following questions.

Note: Answers are limited to three sentences only.

• Why is teaching a profession?

• Why did you choose teaching as your career?

• How do you become the epitome of a professional?

B. TRUE or FALSE

Below are characteristics of teaching profession. Identify if the statement is true or false. Tips: READ the
statements CAREFULLY. There may be words negating or changing the thought of the statement.

1. There is an average level of public trust and confidence in the profession and in individual
practitioners.

2. The profession has agreed-upon performance standards for admission to the profession and for
continuance within it.

3. Professions are occupationally related social institutions established and maintained as a means of
providing essential services only to individual.

4. Each profession is concerned with any area of need or function.

5. The profession collectively, and the professional individually, possesses a body of knowledge and a
repertoire of behaviors and skills (professional culture).

6. Individual practitioners are characterized by a strong service motivation and lifetime commitment to
competence.

7. There is absolute freedom from direct on-the-job supervision and from direct public evaluation of the
individual practitioner.

8. The profession is organized into one professional association, which is granted autonomy in control of
the actual work of the profession and the conditions that surround it.

9. Members of the profession are involved in decision making in the service of the client. These
decisions are made in accordance with the most valid knowledge available, against a background of
principles and theories, and within the context of possible impact on other related conditions or
decisions.

10. Authority to practice in any individual case derives from the client or the employing
organization; accountability for the competence of professional practice within the particular case is to
the profession itself.
11. Preparation for and induction into the profession is provided through a protracted preparation
program.

12. The profession is based on one or more undergirding disciplines from which it builds its own applied
knowledge and skills.

13. The services rendered by a professional may be direct as will the case of teachers and doctors or
indirect as is in the case of teacher educators i.e. teacher of a teacher.

14. A profession is a calling and implies acquisition of a fond of knowledge, range skills and their
application in service of humanity.

15. The term 'Profession' stands for an occupation which requires generalized study and training, and
the purpose of which is generally to provide skilled services and guidance in lieu of a definite fee or
remuneration.

C. Multiple Choice Test

Choose the correct answer.

1. Which does not belong on the roles of teacher as a judge of achievement?

a. Defines what is worth achieving

b. Knows much about civil laws

c. Defines ability levels of students

d. Determines who will be promoted or retained

2. What particular role of a teacher does the planning and organizing learning activities, leading the
students through the learning episode, controlling the whole learning situations and appraising the
effectiveness of the learning situations?

a. As an information processor

b. As a Director of Learning

c. As a Pioneer in the World of Ideas

d. As a Model of the Youth

a. Is well-informed of current developments in various fields of science

b. Appreciates arts and literature

c. Demonstrates adequate skills in the use of language

d. Creates acceptable moral atmosphere

4. Ms. Divine, a Management instructor, actively participates in their monthly community outreach
program. She also organizes school activities which include community involvement. She asks the
students' parents to take part in these school activities. What role of a teacher does Ms. Divine portray?

a. As a Person of Culture

b. As a Community Link

c. As a Mediator of Culture

d. As a Counselor

5. Sir Rannie is a well-known highschool teacher because he's considerate of his students' concerns. He
even listens to their problems and assists on finding solutions. What role of a teacher does Sir Ramie
portray?

a. As a Person of Culture

b. As a Counselor

c. As a Community Link

d. As a Mediator of Culture

6. 'Which is not depicting the responsibility of a teacher?

a. Mr. Ron abides by the policies and regulations of the school.

b. Ms. Gie shows her professional attitude with honesty and care.

c. Ms. Leonida treats her students equally and fairly

d. Mr. Gabriel overlooks the significance of community as a partner in teaching.

7. Who among the following best depict the role of a teacher as the Mediator of culture?

a. Mr. Lorenzo enriches and transmits cultural values and growth.

b. Mr. Velasco knows a lot of information about his culture.

c. Ms. Fernandez greatly appreciates arts and literature.

d. Mr. Mays exemplifies the scholarship and ideals valued by society.

8. Which among the following is not a responsibility of a teacher?

a. Evaluates students' progress and provide various experiences for their continuous development

b. Prepares effective lesson plans

c. Maintains membership in professional organization

d. Conducts volunteer works in various communities.

9. Which is not a task of a teacher as a decision-maker?

a. Decides on what objectives should be established

b. Decides on what body of information should be conveyed

c. Decides on what to teach for the entire school year

d. Decides on the most effective methods, techniques, approaches and materials

10. Why do teachers wear different kind of hats?

a. To become creative in teaching

b. To become more effective and competent teacher

c. To be multifaceted in their profession

d. To be famous

D. Create a graphical representation of professionalism and the nature of a profession.

Example: Teacher as a Professional

REFERENCES

• Characteristics of a Profession. Retrieved

from http://www.adprima.com/profession.htm Citation intext: (ADPRIMA, 1997).

• Langford, Glenn.(1978) Teaching as Profession: An Essay in the Philosophy of Education.

IvlanchesterUniversity Press. pp.1-39.

• Nirav, S. (2012) What are the Important Characteristics of a Profession? Retrieved from

http:. wn,vw.presetvearticles.cora/2012011220561/what¬are-the-important-characteristics-of-a-
profession.html