The Theory on a Teacher

By Sherwin Garbinez Jr.

          He came in through the door with a no-non-sense air, effectively cutting off the chatter that diffused in the room.

          “Hi, I am your teacher for Botany 111.1 Plant Morphoanatomy Laboratory.” Then, he proceeded to blackboard. Brisneve Edullantes, he wrote.

SURPRISE SURPRISE. EDULLANTES RECEIVES 

BIRTHDAY CAKE FROM BOTANY STUDENTS 

LAST JULY.  Photo credits to Sir Edullantes

           “After a brief introduction, he asked us to introduce ourselves. He then went straight to explaining the syllabus. After the rundown, we were off to the first topic. This semester we have a class with him and still, the first day was really the first day of class,” remembered Annaliza Cainglet, one of Edullantes’ then Bot 111.1 students.

          Such impression of directness inside the classroom stayed with his students. Up until he became part of what some teachers deem the rowdiest batch.

          “I really thought he would not be compatible with our batch for we are this really loud bunch of students,“ Sharmaine Naquila, another third year Biology major.

          However, reputed as rowdy as the case may be, but Edullantes saw it as something commendable. “They listen attentively and make ‘real noise’ when they voice out their thoughts and ask sensible questions.”

          This semester, he is teaching Comparative Anatomy lecture to the third years. Amid books and power points on the anatomical structures of vertebrates along the evolutionary chain, students enjoy the discussions.

          “His classes are really fun because of the relationship we have with him. The class makes learning fun and it drives the point that it does not need to be rigid and strict, that you can breathe life into it and actually the discussion,” Jessa Adonay commented on her teacher’s teaching approach.

Such easy relationship stems from Edullantes’ idea that building bridges with your students is vital to effective teaching.

          “I don’t build walls to students, which opens an opportunity for me to know and understand them. Whatever knowledge about the students that I may acquire, I can use it to my advantage in making my teaching more effective,” Edullantes said.

          For Cainglet and her batchmates, his approach is what sets his class “apart from a boring lecture.”

photo from Sir Edullantes

          “I enjoy sharing my experiences and knowledge to the student; especially, when I see their eyes sparkle, which are indicators that I got their attention and interest during discussion.” Edullantes added.

          Behind every person is a great source of inspiration, whom, in one way or another, affects one’s view of the world.

          “I look up to my first teacher - my mom. She teaches me valuable lessons of life which cannot be learned in books. Her patience makes her the best teacher in the world, and her bravery and unconditional love makes her all the more admirable,” he said.

To extend such influence to others is one of his goals as an educator. For him, you do not just teach lessons, but you have to teach the students the lessons.

          The theory of evolution embodies the principle of his life: changing to make me a better fit to the ever-changing environment. His stay at Korea for his Masters degree in Environmental Engineering at Mokpo National Maritime University is a proof. He sees himself as a work in progress, on the way to becoming an excellent educator, motivator, game changer, and learner.

          In discussions that tackle the influence of teachers, the general notion is: teachers tend to be catalysts in an experiment with regards to the future of the world. Henry Adams, an American writer, put it best when he said that “a teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." And he is still 26 years old.