Mrs X is a public high school teacher in one of the rural areas in Panay. She is the role model of everyone in her community. She prepares for her lesson plan for the week on Saturdays and then creates the visual aids during Sundays. She believes that she can change the lives of people in her area. She wakes up at 5 AM to prepare for her own children’s needs. She cooks and tries to prepare for their needs as well as that of her husband. Then she changes her demeanour and becomes a teacher as she goes to school. At 5 PM, she cannot leave work yet as she has tons of paperwork to be done before going home. Then she comes home to be with her family and does the washing, cleaning, and other household chores. After a few years in the teaching profession, she wonders why she seems to work hard but cannot provide for better things for herself and her family. She is a classic example of a good person who cannot reach her goals despite her hard work.
I have been in the teaching profession for seven years. As I
look back, it has always been my pride to be with the noblest professionals in
the world. These are people who make other people’s lives better. (I hope this
is still true.)
However, as much as we want to make a difference by teaching
these children, I see that most of us grapple with balancing our personal lives
and our professional lives. There are instances when some teachers love their
work so hard that they work beyond the required eight hours. There are those
who give time for other people’s children but they often neglect the needs of
their own children.
However, even though teachers work hard, it seems that their
high intensity of loving their work and their children does not seem to be in
balance with their financial status.
Teachers belong to the rank and file system of the
government (or with their company). That means, there are always limited
opportunities despite the great talents of these wonderful creatures.
Despite the fact that teachers are better compensated
compared with other professionals, I find it sad that most of us still find it
difficult to pay for everything.
Here are my personal reasons why I think teachers never
succeed financially:
3. Teachers do not know the power of leverage. Teachers are trained to educate young minds academically. However, teachers are not trained with financial education.
4. Teachers become chronic debtors. It is a sad fact that even teachers have to be in the sad cycle of receiving their salary, then paying half of it to the loan sharks, then borrow money to finance the next 15 days.
5. Teachers have to spend a portion of their salary for expenses at school. It is a hard fact that the government cannot really finance all of the monetary needs of all schools. Thus, teachers spend their own money painting their room, repairing their ceiling, financing for sports events for their athletes, donating their money for Science Investigatory Project.
6. Teachers base their livelihood in active income. There are harsh cases when a teacher gets sick and he has to make a sick leave. There are instances when the teacher no longer has service credits and he has to be deducted with his salary.
7. Teachers learn the business after they retire. Retirement means having pension and a lump sum. With this large amount of money, some try to invest in business. However, they were not trained and they lose their investment. They did not start while they were young.
8. Teachers never get rich. Period.
If you are a teacher who wants to reach financial success
despite the reasons that you have, there are a number of ways that can be done
so you can reach your goal. If you do not have the knowledge on how it can be done,
you can contact me.
Lornajane Altura
+639197440334
lornajanealtura@gmail.com
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