BULLYING IN SCHOOL

EDGAR L. MANABAT The Rationalization Program was mandated for government agencies in October 2004 through Executive Order (EO) 366with the goal to improve the quality and efficiency of government services especially in the Department of Education. This new structure is process-oriented, which means that offices are there to perform specific functions.

The School Governance and Operations Division is one of the three offices in the Schools Division Office schools which is mandated to create a conducive environment for the teaching-learning process to take place and provide for the holistic development of learners through the development and supervision of special co-curricular programs and projects being implemented.

Education is a general idea that transcends the four walls of a classroom. The main goal in education is to nurture the holistic development of a child. Total development means intellectual, physical, moral, functional and communal growth. Total development can be attained through education. Education plays a primary role in molding a person and his development as a socially well-grown being. To achieve these aims, there should be equilibrium between curricular and special co-curricular programs.

Special co-curricular programs are those which are carried out along with the curricular activities. They are acquired outside the classroom experiences. They give pupils/ students opportunities to cultivate their skills and display their non-academic capabilities. These co-curricular programs may be necessary, such as music, arts and physical education classes that are included in the curriculum. Others are mostly voluntary, such as participating in School Sports, Leadership Trainings, Journalism. Art club, Science Club, Student Council, and Debate Club which actually supplement the enhancement of curricular activities. These co-curricular activities complement what pupils / students learned in classrooms and support intellectual, emotional, social, moral, creative and physical development. They are the real and practical experiences obtained by pupils/ students which strengthen their learnings.

The Irish novelist Maria Edgeworth expressed in ‘Harry and Lucy Concluded(1825)that AllworkandnoplaymakesJackadullboy,and All play and no work makes Jack a mere toy.” This proverb means that without time off from work, a person becomes both bored and boring.

In the 21st era, the basic academic form of education that students are introduced to, is gradually surfacing means to a modern mode of education with focus to integrate main styles of instruction: cognitive, psychomotor and responsive learning.

The Chinese proverb asserts, “Teach me, and I will forget. Show me, and I might remember. Involve me, and I will never forget.” This says that the academic knowledge is enriched when a co-curricular activities related to the content taught in the classroom is established. Intellectual development of a person is attained in the classroom, but, the artistic development like building good manners and right conduct, spirituality and morality, physical development, creativity and many more are reinforced by co-curricular activities.

Special co-curricular programs occupy a very important partin the development of a well-rounded individual such as: 1.Development Social Abilities and Relationship Skills; Pupils/ students who oftentimes participate in co-curricular activities with other pupils/ students develop relationship skills and, in many cases, develop lasting companionships. 2.Development of Time Management Skills Pupils/ students actively engaging in co-curricular activities tend to effectively and efficiently manage their time, learn to prioritize commitments and activities, and become a practical and innovative problem-solvers. Often, the pupils/students who are most engaged in co-curricular activities have the soundest time management skills. 3.Exploration of Various Interests Co-curricular activities provide pupils/ students wide range of opportunities to develop and cultivate their various interests or skills from athletics to the arts and afar. 4.Development of Self-Respect Not all students are good academically, but experiencing victory or being well-known to a co-curricular activity can significantly improve pupils/students’self-respect. This can have a great impact on their academic performance. 5.Strengthening of Commitment Involvement in co-curricular activities expects pupils/ students to make a lasting dedication. Pupils/ students who stay involved in the same co-curricular activities year after year and can eventually lead on a leadership role.

--oOo— The author is Education Program Supervisor

In different forms and ways, we are all bullies. Bullying surrounds us – it is even within ourselves.

This is something I realized when we had to deal with a bullyboy who threatened to hit his classmate if he doesn’t give him what he demanded from hi m.

Some people may think that bullying is not a serious topic, but it is. It is actually one of the most important issues we need to deal with. I believe that the bully, in himself, has an inner bully. Something he probably doesn’t realize yet. As much as I wanted to reprimand him for doing such a mischievous thing, I felt his need of understanding and concern; and as much as I was displeased seeing him play the villain in our little story inside our classroom, I knew he needs me to protect him. Though I find no excuse in his act of cruelly beating another kid, I chose to see his vulnerable side and be compassionate towards him. He is still, after all, my student.

Teachers, who are also students’second parents, should realize these things in order to understand why such thing as browbeating happens. For one, there must be a reason why they misbehave. These reasons, they probably wouldn’t tell us when we ask them; we should be patient enough to wait for the perfect time – which is, when they’re ready. The next thing we need to do is to recognize that there is a story behind the story. Surely, not one person will hit another just for the sake of it as it would be utterly insane if he does. These kinds of things happen: we act impishly and hurt other people; whether we intentionally or inadvertently do it, we can’t deny the fact that we’ve caused pain and so this aggrieved person takes on a plot for revenge. As they say, the payback always hurt twice as bad as when it was inflicted on them – and, as a matter of fact, it is the only time we see that something bad is happening. Most of the time, we don’t see it as it happens. We only take notice of it when someone had already badly hurt another; then we name the bully – which is wrong. We need to know the roots of the issue before we act. According to Danielle Steel, not all forms of abuse leave bruises. Sometimes they leave marks in our hearts and minds. When we make sudden and unjust decisions, we become their bully and we don’t want it to happen. We want to be their teachers – their second parents, their stronghold and their comfort zone.

In different forms and ways, we are all bullies. Bullying surrounds us – it is even within ourselves.

--oOo— The author is Teacher II at Guillermo D. Mendoza National High School