THE ESSENCE OF ‘SCOUTING’

JANETTE C. LOPEZ

Scouting, little known to many, provide experiences that will help prepare our youth for their future. It also provides youth with an opportunity to try new things, provide service to others, build self-confidence, and reinforce ethical standards.

Yes, the benefits will be lifetime.

Here in the Philippines, the Scouting Program is anchored on the philosophy of the Scout Method, ‘learning by doing’. According to the Boy Scouts of the Philippines website, the program is a form of experiential learning where young boys and girls are encouraged to teach themselves rather than being taught or instructed.

The website further says that the development is a result of first-hand experiences as opposed to theoretical instruction. It reflects the active way in which one gains knowledge, skills and attitudes and illustrates Scouting’s practical approach to education.

It also allows everyone in the patrol or crew to actively engage with the process and take ownership, with the assistance of their peers and adult volunteers.

The Boy Scouts of the Philippines offers five (5) Sectional Programs for young boys and girls, each with different and diverse programs, instructions and activities that are formed through a ladderized and progressive non-formal education system.

The primary objectives of the programs are two-fold: the development of young boys and girls to be responsible citizens in the community and the society through proper upbringing and acquisition of values; and the development of basic skill sets through the application of special and essential skills learned through the Merit Badge system.

First is the KID Scouting Program, otherwise known as the ‘Kabataang Imumulat Diwa”. It is offered to young boys aged four (4) to six (6) years, and because it is home and familycentered, its activities are non-competitive. It is the first step in the Scouting trail which offers a continuing program for growth in ideals, highlighting useful skills that preschoolers will enjoy doing. It is a holistic combination of fun and learning.

Second is the KAB Scouting Program or the ‘Kabataang Alay sa Bayan’which is offered to young boys aged six (6) to nine (9) years old. It is a program that is family and schoolcentered, with activities that are closely supervised by both the parents and the Kawan Leaders. This program consists of simple skills and group activities that satisfy the boys’ craving for action, adventure and fun.

The Boy Scouting Program, meanwhile, is offered to young boys aged ten (10) to twelve (12) years old, and is a service and outdoor-centered program that teaches young boys how to work with other people. It teaches the young boy to develop his leadership potentials and the skills that are taught are offered in the service of others.

The Senior Scouting Program, offered to young boys and girls aged thirteen (13) to seventeen (17) years old, is a dynamic program for teenagers done largely in the outdoors in small groups called crews which supplement the learning experiences in the home, school and church. It is also a self-education program aimed at the acquisition of knowledge and the development of right values, attitudes, skills and habits through outdoor, social, service and vocational activities. Lastly, the Rover Scouting Program – the fifth and final phase in the youth development program – which is offered to young boys and girls aged sixteen (16) to twenty four (24) years old. It is a jolly brotherhood of open-air and service with young men and women working under a common ideal of service and under a common bond of friendship and understanding.

author is Secondary School Teacher -oOoThe

II at San Vicente-San Francisco High School

KRISTINE BERNADETTE F. DIMACALI

Schools, Institutions and Universities are in demand of a highly competitive educators or a ‘World Class Teachers”. High profiling and ranking are some of its way to extract the best teachers that would fill up the vacancy. Most of the institutions would pre-select candidates by the schools they graduated, the achievements or awards they received and based on their grades and of course if they passed the Board Examination to become a legitimate educator. I have met different teachers since when I was young, some of them are really good and smart and really can teach based on their forte. I may say that not of the students are alike, I have my favorite subjects my own and so as my classmates, I also have favorite teacher, and they also have theirs, so if we will sum it up, student learn more, if they wanted to learn based on their favorites.

As a teacher, the goal that we want to achieve is for our students to learn and succeed in their lives. And that goal is challenging. If you are a teacher of 40 and more students with unlike personalities and behavior, well good luck for the dream of seeing 100% of them succeed in their lives. Yes, the success of course depends on individual perspective, but to be one of the great contributors for their success is more than just a trophy but it gives us a sense of fulfillment as a teacher, that’s why teaching is not just a profession but it is an inspiration.

Inspiring students to learn is not an easy job as a teacher, you may be filled with tricks in every discussion just to make your discussion alive and somewhat captivating but to leave something that would last is more than just those tricks. And to become a teacher means, you need to make them love what is unlovable with the subject that you are teaching. And nowadays, most of the students only wanted to be entertained during class hours and learning sometimes became a poor habit, something that our students would definitely want to be always exempted at. And to become an inspiring teacher is a teacher whose passion is their student’s growth, whose heart is the success of their students. Because learning is more than just an honor or a diploma, it is the actual application of what you have gathered those times the students are inside the four walls of their schools.

To teach means you provide a larger perspective beyond the curriculum, it’s an out of the box point of view that will inspire your students to learn, to grow and to be part of the solution in this world filled with “X”es.

Teachers nowadays, should consider their students’ differences and the method of teaching should be pesronalized, yes I said personalized, this might sound exhausted and needs adjustment from time to time, but for those whose heart is really their students, it will no longer be a problem for them. Just try to imagine those personality icons who really impacted international community, like Dr. Jose P. Rizal, He is not just our National Hero, but also serves as an inspiration even up until now, his works are still being studied.

Being a teacher is not just a profession that you would want to attend with, but it is an inspiration that we need to live the rest of our lives, and to become an inspiration is also to become a history maker and it is our duty to re-shape this generation to its original image as the “Hope of our Nation”. You are an Inspiration.

— oOo—

III at Alauli Elementary School, Apalit District

The author is Teacher