Somethings aren’t changed

Princess T. Sangalang

Early walks going to school, well-designed classrooms and bright smiles form the school personnel---well, we might expect these traditions this coming October 5. But, we might fail to see these, personally.

The perilous Corona Virus is still putting everybody’s health at the brink of danger. And so, the usual physical setting in every classroom whenever the school year starts, is now modified. Modified to tailor-fit the new normal that we call.

No earlier walks going to school.

No more well-designed classrooms with decorations and curtains to shelter at for eight hours a day.

No more personal bright smiles from security guards, teachers and principal. As we see, we are slowly embracing the changes brought about by the pandemic. But this assertion doesn’t mean that education will be stagnant.

In the new normal in education, teachers are still teaching. Students are listening, reading, participating, reacting and most importantly, learning. The only thing that changed is the location. Teachers teach from home and so with the students. Teachers still teach in this new normal. That is a fact.

Teachers in this new normal are still responsible for the success of teachinglearning process. They read and review lessons. Only, this time, more time will be spent since there are new modalities that had to be embraced.

Teachers in this new normal are still delivering instructions. Only, this time, teachers will also consider online simulations, radio and TV-based instructions.

Teachers are still facilitating learning. Only, this time, teacher will also have synchronous and asynchronous type that allows students to have their self-study.

Teachers are still computing grades, checking outputs and providing feedbacks. Only, this time, teachers will choose a safe and appropriate means of communication--virtual teleconferencing.

Teachers in this new normal are still teachers. They are still committed to transform lives. Only, this time, they are also moving with requirements of the new normal. But one thing is for sure, they are still entwined to the battlecry of DepEd: Para sa Bata, Para sa Bayan.

No early walks, for sure. But there would be some sort of stretching before the start of the online class and self-study.

No more decorated classroom, for the meantime, but there would surely be an interactive online classroom for enthusiasts.

And for sure, no more sweet, personal greetings from the personnel, for the meantime. But, for sure, there would be warm greetings from the screen from a warm heart--teacher.

The author is

--oOo-

SST-III at Angeles City Science High School