Parents and Quality Education

Public school teachers have been blamed every time the achievement tests results are out. Teacher factor: education officials, media men, parents, community - they all throw the blame as if they are SOOOOOOO clean and perfect.
These pointing fingers can be dropped. We challenge the world to handle our class. Why do students continue to decline on their academic performance? Whose fault really is it? This question is a chicken-egg sort. We teachers blame it foremost on the population explosion. Why? Simple! Let's reminisce the past years during our grandparents' time. How many learners were there in one classroom? Twenty, thirty, forty. How did this contribute to the quality of education? Philipines topped the list on the most literate country. But now, we have more than sixty students, or more. It's very simple really to point to the culprit.
This is a wake-up call for those who are really deep asleep. But I don't believe that people are ignorant about the real cause of this deteriorating sector. Since the issue is population explosion, I point to the parents as the major contributor to the bad quality of education in the Philippines. Parents must control reproduction of siblings if they have no livelihood. They are the parents of our students in the public school system. Parents who don't pay any tax to give revenue to the government. Several parents are too lazy to go the public clinics for consultations on reproductive matters. A lot do not visit their child's school to monitor child's progress/status. Many parents do not bother to follow up the learnings because they have passed on solely the responsibility to the teachers. Come fourth quarter, teary-eyed mother comes to adviser teacher because the child will not be able to graduate.
Teachers need the trainings, professional meetings, demonstration teachings, table of specifications, item analysis, budget of work, learning competencies. These are all important in achieving quality education. Computers? LCD for power point presentation? These are necessary to enhance. enrich reinforce learning. But what happens when the learner has empty stomach? No matter how we inject IT gadgets in the classroom, these will all go down to the drain.

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Gratiitude & Hope

Let me start my very first blog with a positive note though life is thorny as I journey through this life. So many are so depressed, frustrated, discontented from the day-to-day living. Still a number end up in the mental institutions, others just quit by taking one's own life.

From the song with the same title, also from the movie "The Singing Nun", Dominique was a poor man. He had humility, courage, kindness of heart, hardworking and made this world a better world to live in. I wish I have all these qualities, especially courage. Yes, I stand for my opinion. I speak out my thoughts frankly. But in this world full of chaos, I succumb to pressures. I'm sad to admit that I just can't help being weak. I cannot make this world a better place to live in, after all.

So with this blogspot, I intend to amend my SINS.

We have so many reasons to be grateful for. Many people equate material wealth as the most important indicator in a successful man. Well, it's a material world, sings Madonna. I agree but I don't raise my hat to people who puts a price tag in everything, everywhere. First and foremost, life is too sweet to be disregarded. Family, career, friends. What are you bitter about? Yes, family problems crop up now and then. Yes, work climate can be so unfavorable at times. Yes, friends can desert you at times you need them badly. What's the big deal? You still have your LIFE. Live your life to the fullest, through ups and downs.