What editorial cartoons mean

Dolores E. Nogales

WHAT can editorial cartoons teach our children? They are a rich source of commentary about life around the world. They make us laugh about serious problems or warn us about dangers.

Editorial cartoons are ideal for introducing current events to children and expressing their opinions. They can teach the necessary social studies skills to students, and keep them informed on issues that affect society.

In introducing editorial cartoons to students, teachers should provide learning opportunities that are meaningful, interdisciplinary, value-based, challenging, and active.

An editorial cartoon does not have to be a masterpiece; it should just be enough to draw our attention. If it caught our attention, then it worked.

An editorial cartoon is meaningful if it promotes deeper student understanding of civic roles and responsibilities.

It is interdisciplinary if students can explore social issues, and it is value-based if students become aware of values underlying a topic and develop an awareness of their own values.

An editorial cartoon is challenging, because teachers must make sure that the content of any lesson is developmentally appropriate.

It is active, as one way to keep social studies classes interesting, and thereby keep students actively engaged, is to use a variety of materials and to keep these updated.

Just recently, the Department of Education welcomed student journalists and talents to the recent

National Schools Press Conference (NSPC), including editorial cartoonists.

The author is Teacher II at Tabing Bakod Elementary School, Santa Maria,

Bulacan