ADMIT IT OR NOT

MARIA TERESA C. MALUNTAG

The classroom is a place where minds are moulded, trained, shaped and turned into something significant. It is where great things begin. And inside that four – walled, four – cornered place are the minds entrusted to teachers, naïve and young, but ready and hungry for knowledge and to be trained and transformed into the future’s chosen ones. It is the place where diverse personalities and backgrounds meet. It is where multiple intelligences, talents and skills collide, work as one and create wonderful and extravagant outcomes with magnificent results. Each student is different from the rest of the class, but each individual has a common goal aside from learning the subject area; that is to be a person equipped with principles and skills. And it is their teachers’task to make sure that they will get there. But what students do not know is that they already gifted with such principles and skills, they just do not know it yet.

Whether students admit it or not, they can make decisions and support their decisions based on what they sought, researched and found out. Try to give them a theory during a class activity and they will support that theory based on either experience or acquired knowledge from what they read or heard from others. They can also communicate effectively with each other and with their teachers. They can speak and write in able to communicate even though they have grammar lapses, but that’s why they’re in school, right? To learn how to be literate both in oral and written for a much more effective communication. Students can also devise and develop their own systems to see if they’re following the instructions right and well. Some can verify and confirm their own thinking, as well as their classmates’, and reflect on the mistakes they committed without their teachers telling them. There are those who can analyse past and present practices in taking into consideration the future and examine complex issues and concerns, then formulate their own solutions to solve them. Critical thinkers and problem – solvers arise during times that the class encounters hardships and struggles towards difficulties.

Not only that, students are also capable of exhibiting and promoting moral by appreciating and respecting the ideas and gifts of their classmates. This is where collaborative learning occurs. They interact with one another to seek improvement from their peers, engage in group dynamics and activities to use their knowledge and to capture knowledge. This also where leaders emerge and different leadership styles are practiced and displayed. Without appointing, they themselves will chose the leader of their group, again, practicing their decision – making skills.

Principles of ethics are also evident among students. Each is possessed with a different set of attitude, behaviour, ethics and etiquettes. One student may be the nerd, the geek, the bully or the teacher’s enemy number 1 of the class, but under uncertain circumstances and situations, all of them will think and act as one, because of the spirit of camaraderie. They have this instinct that they will defend their class or section if it’s being degraded by other levels or classes. And they show their support to their classmates and schoolmates during times of events, programs and contests, without their teachers instructing them. What students do not know is that they are already equipped with knowledge, wisdom and skills. They just need to hone them in order for them to be ready in case they start to think on what endeavour to choose or what field of expertise they’re going to enhance more. All have the capacity and the capability. All have the chance and the opportunity to be somebody and something great. It’s just a matter of choice. Whether they admit it or not…

— oOo—

I at Camachiles National High School

The author is Master Teacher

ARLYN Q. ALQUERO

Summer vacation is just around the corner. It’s not a complete stressreliever and a perfect getaway from school work though. It is time-off in conducting classes and forming discipline strategies to get all those fifty heads together to focus on the learning paradigm. I must attend seminars and it won’t be necessary to wear make-up. I have to complete workshop presentations and I won’t be bothered consolidating my student-counselling forms, remedial class programs, quarterly worksheets and all. I’d love staying up at night to watch my favorite dramas and to read romantic love stories from books I have bought years ago. I would not be anxious that I cannot get up early because I did odd things that refresh my soul. It would be all right to enjoy a cup of coffee at the dining table while preparing my bath. I definitely love vacation as anybody does. Then, why do a miss a lot of things at this space in my solitude?

Teaching is thinking 60 seconds in a minute. I have to contemplate my thoughts as to how I can formulate my lesson, its steps and other back-up plans. I have to filter thoughts to come up with reasonable ideas to form guidelines on how my young learners could possibly process information. There are numerous worksheets to complete, validate and consolidate. I have to record scores and check out those who didn’t make it. Then, I have to think and think. I need to write more reflection. Why did half of the class fail? What have I overlooked? Was there something amiss? Is my teaching plan erroneous? Was it even impeccable? What could I have done to prevent such failure?

Despite all these, it keeps me going. Teaching keep my nerves up high and running. I learn to think more, to have undying patient, to be sensitive on what other people feel. Teaching made me a social person. I know that teaching is not for everyone but I feel that it’s for me. I cannot imagine having this best and sensationalize version of me if I could not have done teaching and guiding my students to move forward and beyond.

I remember my students whom I inspired when I was at my very best. Some of them are pilot, engineers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, architects and even professional online gamers. They would always have bright eyes whenever I them around. I giggled. I remember how I screamed at them when they were too childish. Now, most of them are family men or women. They realized how valuable my words were. Teaching is more than teaching. It encompasses various duties like rearing a children’s minds, guiding them to acquiring knowledge and wisdom, shaping their future and sculpting how could they possibly turn out as an adult person with mature and justifiable way of living and behaving. Despite all the difficulties that I have met through the way, I am still overflowing with happiness and contentment.

Is this true? I am in front of the beach and enjoying the sea breeze and warmth of sunshine. Is this true? I miss the classroom and the atmosphere of giggles and noises. Teaching is full of happy and well-versed memories. I see everything written in the clouds. I hope to meet more smart and jolly students again in June.

— oOo—

The author is from Rafael L. Lazatin Memorial High School