Being Taught by Students

The KYSD Days. January 2007.

This was the first time in my life to see this kind of Teachers’ Day. Actually, I have always participated on Teachers’ Day in my elementary school. We usually gave our teachers sugar, spice and everything nice(including flowers, candy, and everything dandy) but the Teachers’ Day in UP was so far compared to my previous school. KYSD stands for “Know Your School Day” which might sound more like a school day but it is really a Teachers’ Day. On those days, participating students should take the place of the staff or faculty. It is definitely hard and challenging but I didn’t participate not because I’m a coward but I want to witness first(I really want for my classmates to be the guinea pigs). My other classmates also did not participate in the KYSD but for different reasons. They would say like “It’s tiring” or “It is so boring”. They also would say like “So what? If my classmates are joining, why should I care?” or even “I don’t want to mess my life with that stupid thing. All I want is fun, fun, fun”. Sorry to the last speaker but fun isn’t everything. You also have to work, work, and work.

But my reason for not participating the KYSD was changed when it had started. The “teachers”(you know who I mean) came to the classroom and had started their lecture. I became bored and talked to my classmates. My new reason now was that it is a great opportunity for me to talk with my classmates during class since it was only my other classmate/s that was/were speaking, not the teachers. This is only for at least a few days. They could at least understand. What could be the worse that could happen? Actually, the worse did happen. A surprise test came up that really surprised us(obviously). Fortunately, I passed the exam since I had read it in advance before KYSD had even started. Then I learned that I really had pay attention to my “teachers”. My classmates really had the power of a teacher.

After the days of KYSD(I forgot to tell you that there were two days in the KYSD), the teachers asked their substitutes what they had learned during the KYSD days. They replied by saying that it was really hard. They had to make the lessons understandable to their “students” and had to discipline the hard-headed people(like me). But it was so helpful for them since they learned that the teachers are always doing their best so that we could learn. Those words made me think that it is really challenging in KYSD but I will try that I can be a part of the faculty or staff during the next KYSD.

What about you? Would you like to try being a teacher for at least one day. I might be really difficult but it is worth it. Your Teachers’ Day might be different than mine’s but you may ask your teacher to at least try it.