3 R's

Research – Reaction – Reflection (3 R’s) Paper

·         The primary aim of education is to perpetuate the existing power structure.

The Educational Decree of 1863 during the Spanish regime organized a system of primary education with the aim of disseminating the Catholic faith and to teach the Spanish language and the elementary branches of knowledge. A school for every 5, 000 persons for each sex was to be given a school. This was authorized by the law. Children with rich parents were made to pay tuition fees fixed for them by the governor. Although the 3 R’s (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic) were part of the curriculum, there was a great emphasis placed on religion. Instruction in the Christian doctrine, the principles of ethics, and sacred history was at the heart of the curriculum. The parish priests were made to teach the Christian morals and doctrine according to the regulations set by the ecclesiastical authorities.

After the Treaty of Paris where America bought the Philippines from Spain, the Act 74 was approved by the Philippine commission in 1901.

·         The aims of education change according to the context and needs of the time period.

Before the Spaniards came, the Filipinos educate the young by teaching them values like respect for elders and love of family. When the Spaniards came, they mainly taught religion to the natives because the greatest aim of their invasion was to spread Catholicism.

After the Spanish regime came the Americans. They tried to teach the natives how to govern their own lands through the Commonwealth Government. The Filipinos were made to feel and experience what democracy is. Those times, the President was Manuel L. Quezon who felt inspired of the freedom that he formulated the Executive Order No. 17 which focused primarily on values like faith in God, respect and love of country and others. The educational curriculum during this time gave importance to imbibe patriotism, loyalty to and love of country because of the negative experience of the nation under different regimes. As time goes by, several changes were made in the Philippine education. In the extracurricular activities for example, Preparatory Military Training (PMT) evolved into Citizen’s Army Training (CAT) for the secondary level. CAT is a training program for both Public and Private Secondary Schools in the Philippines. It aims to enhance the student’s social responsibility and commitment to the development of their communities and develop their ability to uphold law and order as they assume active participation in community activities and in assisting the members of the community especially in times of emergency. It originated as Preparatory Military Training (PMT) as provided for in Title III, Article I, Sec 52 of the National Defense Act. It was termed Citizen Army Training – I in 1973 as per AFPR G 314 – 033. It was restructured and termed Citizenship Development Training as per Dep Ed Order No. 35 s. 2003 dated May 13, 2003. Latest information about its implementation are contained in Dep Ed Order No. 50 s. 2005 dated August 26, 2005.

In the tertiary level, the ROTC (Reserved Officers Training Corp) patterned after the US ROTC, was a part of the curriculum. Both male and female had to join it. Later, this was changed to CMT which is a required course for every college curriculum but limited this time only to male students. The course is given one day each weekend for the first two years in the university. Students wearing the required combat shoes, fatigue uniform complete with badges and insignia, cap, and carrying wooden rifles, undergo a whole day of rigorous training from seven o’clock in the morning until five o’clock in the afternoon under the intense heat of the sun. As in high school, training is mainly on military drill and exercises. This was changed later to NSTP or National Service Training Program which has aimed at enhancing civic consciousness and defensepreparedness in the youth by developing the ethic of service and patriotism whileundergoing training in any of its three (3) program components namely:

1.                   Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) – is a program institutionalized under section 38 and 39 of RA 7077 designed to provide military training to tertiary levelstudents in order to motivate, train, organize and mobilize them for defensepreparedness.

2.                               Literacy Training Service (LTS) – is a program designed to train students to become teachers of literacy and numeric skills to school children, out-of school youth and other segments of society in need of their services.

3. Civic Welfare Training Services (CWTS)– refer to the programs or activities contributory to the general and betterment of life for the members of the community or the enhancement of its facilities, especially those devoted to improving health, education, environment, entrepreneurship, safety, recreation and morals of the citizenry.

Just recently, a total upheaval of the curriculum was made through the K to 12 curriculum. Several projects and programs were added up to the Philippine educational system even before K to 12. EFA or education for all was and is still the primary aim of the department. Because of this view, TESDA or Technical Education and Skills Development Authority was launched which gives opportunity to people who were not able to continue their schooling or are not interested to do so but have other skills. Another is the ASL or Alternative Learning System which caters to the skills of the youth who are not in school. It gives short courses like baking, meat cookery, and sewing and some other skills.

My stand to this issue is this: Educational aims both perpetuate to existing power structure and change according to the context and needs of the time period. One good example is the current educational system of the Philippines, the K to 12. This was brought up and launched because of the current Secretary of Education has knowledge and experience what a Kindergarten to Grade 12 education can do to help our graduates have jobs and survive their life.

It is not yet visible now because it is just starting. We’ll soon see.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_meaning_of_citizenship_advancement_training.8/4/2013.5:43PM)

http://www.refusingtokill.net/Philippines/MilitaryTraininginPhilippineSchool.htm.8/4/2013.5:46PM)

http://www.academia.edu/2483821/NATIONAL_SERVICE_TRAINING_PROGRAM_in_the_PHILIPPINES.8/4/2013.5:50PM)

Philippine Educational system. Pp. 99-100

Foundations of education. Volume 2. (historical, Philosophical, Legal, Theological. Angel S. Recto.

©2005. Pp. 30 - 33

my co - teachers' philosophy

My Co – Teachers’ Philosophy

                As what the result of my educational philosophy facilitator shows, I am a progressivist. My curios mind is now asking, what kind of teachers are my colleagues? What are their philosophies as a teacher? The only way to know the answer this is to let them answer the same facilitator.

                Seven of my colleagues were available when I made them answer the facilitator. They are entitled to encircle one, more than one or all the choices in each item according to their belief.

                The result of their answers is shown below.

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY	Progressivism	Perennialism	Essentialism	Existentialism	Evaluation
RESPONDENT NUMBER
1	4	2	1	4	Both Progressivist and Existentialist
2	3	1	4	3	Essentialist
3	1	3	4	2	Essentialist
4	3	2	1	5	Essentialist
5	5	0	3	3	Progressivist
6	5	2	3	1	Progressivist
7	6	1	4	0	Progressivist

                The table shows that my co – teachers are both Progressivists and Essentialists.

                Progressivists believe that individuality, progress, and change are fundamental to one's education. Believing that people learn best from what they consider most relevant to their lives, progressivists center their curricula on the needs, experiences, interests, and abilities of students. Progressivist teachers try making school interesting and useful by planning lessons that provoke curiosity. In a progressivist school, students are actively learning. The students interact with one another and develop social qualities such as cooperation and tolerance for different points of view. In addition, students solve problems in the classroom similar to those they will encounter in their everyday lives. Progressivists believe that education should be a process of ongoing growth, not just a preparation for becoming an adult. (http://www.siue.edu/~ptheodo/foundations/progressivism.html. 8/4/2013. 4:43 PM)

                Essentialists’ believe that children should learn the traditional basic subjects thoroughly and rigorously. In this philosophical school of thought, the aim is to instill students with the "essentials" of academic knowledge, enacting a back-to-basics approach. Essentialism ensures that the accumulated wisdom of our civilization as taught in the traditional academic disciplines is passed on from teacher to student. Such disciplines might include Reading, Writing, Literature, Foreign Languages, History, Mathematics, Science, Art, and Music. Moreover, this traditional approach is meant to train the mind, promote reasoning, and ensure a common culture. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_essentialism. 8/4/2013.4:48 PM.)

                These two philosophies help in developing a citizen who is not only sensitive but intelligent. That’s what all teachers try to do.

self - evaluation

Self – Evaluation and Reflection

Who Am I?

                To be a medium of education is a great but heavy responsibility. Teaching a bunch of future professionals is somewhat challenging yet fulfilling. True, being a teacher is full of iron. That is why I thought who I am as a teacher.

                What I did was I took the Educational Philosophies Self – assessment and evaluated myself.

                The first question was “What is the essence of education?” I chose the second statement which says that ”The essence of education is growth.” I believe that through education, mentors like us will be able to provide room for development for each of our learners who have different capacities. It is our job to help them identify what they can do and who they can be

                Second question states, “What is the nature of the learner?” I answered b and d stating “The learner is a unique, free choosing and responsible creature made up intellect and emotion” and “The learner is a storehouse for knowledge and skills, which, once acquired, can later be applied and used”, respectively. Based on my five years experience as a teacher, I can’t deny the fact that whatever rules I imply on the set of learners I have, they will try to impose what they believe is good for them. So, I have to gauge things and let their rules and my rules click so that they can become a storehouse for the knowledge and skills that I transfer to them.

                “How should education provide for the needs of man?” is the third question. I replied, “Since the need of man is variable, education should concentrate on developing the individual differences in students.” A teacher cannot force his pupil to learn the academics if the pupil has no interest in it. We can only teach them the basics about it but we have to cater to what the learners are interested in to make them have the confidence and the knowledge they would need when they will be on their own.

                The fourth question asks, “What should be the environment of education?” The answer I chose was “Education should possess an environment where the students adjust to the material and social world as it really exists.” Of course we can show them how to cooperate with their “little community” and socialize with their “little neighbors”. If ever they get in a fight, the teacher or guidance counselor can talk them about how they should deal with things like this and how it would affect their life in their community and in the future. The learners get an experience on how to act in a bigger community as times go by.

                Number five asks “What should be the goal of education?” I said, “Growth, through the reconstruction of experience, is the nature and should be the open – ended goal of education.”  If education is open – ended, it is able to scrutinize possible changes and embrace that change.

                “What should be the concern of the school?” I answered in number six that “The school should provide education for the ‘whole child’, centering its attention on all needs and interests of the child” because the school was made for the development of the child. Who else was it made for?

`               Question number seven was, “What should be the atmosphere of the school?” I chose several answers to this question. First answer I chose was “The school should provide for group thinking in a democratic atmosphere that fosters cooperation rather than competition.” This makes the learning process a comfortable one. The second choice I made was “The atmosphere should be the one of authentic freedom where a student is allowed to find own truth and ultimate fulfillment through non – conforming choice making.” Though I try to make my students follow the norms of the culture, I still make them think out of the box. This makes them good decision makers. The third choice was “The school retains an atmosphere, which would introduce the student to a perceptual examination of the realities about him.” Experiencing reality is good for the learner so that he or she knows how to act on and solve the problem he or she faces.

                “How should appropriate learning occur?” I answered “Appropriate learning takes place through the experience of problem – solving projects by which the child is led from practical issues to theoretical principle (concrete to abstract).” This will probably sharpen the young minds.

                In the question “What should be the role of the teacher?” I answered, “The teacher should present the principles and the values and the reason for them, encouraging students’ to examine them in order to choose for themselves whether or not to accept them.” Teachers should only facilitate and leave the thinking to the learners. I believe this is the way to let the youth know how to decide for themselves.

“What should the curriculum include?” this is the tenth question and I answered that “The curriculum should concentrate on teaching students how to manage change through problem solving activities in the social studies….empirical sciences and vocational technology.” I am a believer of academics, yet if the students can’t cope up with this, why not try on their skills? We may not need to drop them all out of the system, instead we give importance to the other things that they can do better other than the academics.

The last but not the least questions asks “What should be the preferred teaching method?” I answered “Projects s should be the preferred method whereby the students can be guided through problem – solving experience”, “Lecture, readings, and discussions should be the preferred methods for training intellect”, Demonstrations should be the preferred method for teaching knowledge and skills” and “Socratic dialogue (Drawing responses from a questioning conversation) should be the preferred method for finding the self.” Yes, I chose all four because, whatever educational philosophy you stand for as a teacher, you still have to compromise according to the needs of your learners. Teachers should be flexible.

My answers resulted to PROGRESSIVISM. Having the Progressivists’ view, or any view for that matter, is good as long as the main aim of each teacher is to help a young mind become developed, useful and better for the future generations to come. That’s what teachers are here for.

Common Malpractices of Teachers

                 Republic Act No. 7836 known as Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994, Article 1, Section 2 states that “The State recognizes the vital role of teachers in nation-building and development through a responsible and literate citizenry. Towards this end, the State shall ensure and promote quality education by proper supervision and regulation of the licensure examination and professionalization of the practice of the teaching profession.” To be the ones to shoulder the responsibility of nation building is no easy task. That is why, as a teacher, being a role model is one of the “visual aid” that he or she needs to be. But teachers are not perfect, as all humans do, we commit mistakes.

                In this article, I will cite some malpractices I have observed in some teachers. Yes, I am a teacher; I am not perfect, too. But this is one time in my life that I will be able to express my thoughts anonymously and cite some suggestions. If you know me, you can tell if I did something which could be coded under malpractices of teachers, but this is my time to do it, so let me.

Responsibility and Accountability of a Filipino Teacher states on page 7 under Characteristics of an Effective Teacher that “Effective teaching is responsible teaching”.

                How come there are still ‘learners’ who doesn’t learn? Many times I’ve heard that if many of the learners in the class do not understand the lesson of the teacher, then there is something wrong with the way the teacher delivers the lesson. If you give a five – item quiz to the class and most of them got 3, and you have taught them the lesson more than twice, it is believed that the teacher was not effective in teaching. Maybe the strategies were not right for the level of thinking of the pupils. Yet, many times I see teachers still stick to the same strategy that made the pupils fail the quizzes.

                This is one of the common malpractices of teachers I have observed that I am now in the field. Yet, sometimes, ineffectivity of the teacher in the classroom is not the only and the ultimate malpractice that a teacher could commit in the profession. Unprofessionalism is one of the greatest malpractice a teacher could ever do in the field. What is unprofessionalism? Before we go to that, let us discuss the root of the word.

                Profession is a paid occupation, esp. one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification. Being a Professional (of a person) engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime. Being unprofessional is below or contrary to the standards expected in a particular profession.

                What is unprofessionalism then? Unprofessionalism, not conforming to the standards of a profession, which means that standards, which could be considered as norms of the profession, should be followed by the professionals so as not to be called as unprofessional.

                When does a teacher like me become unprofessional? There are many ways. Some are so downgrading to mention so I won’t mention those. I would like to mention a few though because it seems to be common in people but just out of bounds to be done by teachers like us.

                Teachers, as all people do, crave for gossip. But sometimes, gossip within the teaching field is very grave that it leads to breaking up relationships between the groups.  Teachers, as always, talk about their school heads when she or he is not around. They call them names, make fun of how they talk, walk, laugh, dress up and everything about him or her. Why does this happen? It is because they do not like the standards set by the school head. They don’t want to be bugged about the requirements they need to pass and the deadlines set for these requirements. They don’t want dress codes when it is Friday, the free day to choose what to wear. They don’t want their log in and out to be checked and they don’t want to be reprimanded because of it. Like hard – headed children, teachers act this way.

                If this happens, I believe the school head should do the first step to make things clear. She or he should tell that she or he needs the requirements because they were told to pass it on a certain date. If they do not feel good about these requirements, she or he doesn’t feel good about it, too. Since this is the job they choose, everybody must do his or her share.

                On choosing what to wear, I believe this is a very common problem. Even parents’ have this problem with their children. Teachers are models, especially in the dress code. You cannot wear mini - skirts on Fridays to not let your male pupils gaze at you like an artist from Hollywood who they fantasize about. Respect starts on how a person dresses up so the teacher should dress properly: no mini – skirts, no sleeveless tops, no see – through blouses and tight – fitting jeans. For the male, tight fitting jeans is not allowed, too. Polo or polo shirts will do for both males and females.

                Being seen in night bars and clubs enjoying a night out is not a good idea also. Drinking in public, especially in view of your audience for the class the next day is not going to help you teach moral values. Your pupils will defy you in every way they can knowing that you are not a good citizen more than they are.

                Even outside the school, a teacher should remain a teacher in her ways. Never, ever become a common person because just like Lindsay Lohan, your community follows your every move.

                In my case, I do not show myself often in our community. I am inside the house most of the time (good thing I am a home buddy). My pupils who are my neighbors asked me once, “Why weren’t you there when we passed by your house last Saturday, ma’am?” When I told them I was inside the house, they asked me why don’t I go outside and I answered them if what I am going to do outside the house. They said that I could talk to the neighbors. I answered, “I don’t go out of the house to just talk. That’s a dangerous thing to do.”

                Why do I think talking with the neighbors was dangerous? Well, it affects a teacher’s response when she makes the grades of the pupils especially if the parent is somebody close; the neighbor who you share secrets with. I am not saying that I don’t talk to my neighbors, but I only talk to them when it is necessary so that I won’t be able to let slip some important and confidential things which may happen if I get too comfortable with them. This is not also saying that this is the right thing to do for all teachers to follow. This is the way I think is good for me.

Teachers have many things to care about so they have to keep their personality in check with the standards.

Tread carefully, fellows. Teaching is like Hollywood; you can never get past and hide from the paparazzi.

References

http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno7836.htm#.Ufe1z9I3CDM. 7/30/2013. 9:01 PM

 http://www.slideshare.net/marcomed/module-3-responsibility-and-accountability-of-a-filipino-teacher. 7/30/2013.7:56 PM

https://www.google.com.ph/?gws_rd=cr#sclient=psy-ab&q=definition+of+profession&oq=definition+of+profession&gs_l=hp.3..0l4.1146.11872.0.12536.42.22.5.13.13.6.2228.13898.0j8j3j0j2j1j1j1j2j2.20.0....0.0..1c.1.20.psy-ab.FYyart7srfs&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.49967636%2Cd.dGI%2Cpv.xjs.s.en_US.jOYpRJj4zMA.O&fp=73c47045e31d2107&biw=1024&bih=657 7/30/2013.9:04 PM

https://www.google.com.ph/?gws_rd=cr#gs_rn=20&gs_ri=psy-ab&tok=urdWpIVoMSz30vMnvbjuYg&pq=definition%20of%20profession&cp=25&gs_id=4o&xhr=t&q=definition+of+professional&es_nrs=true&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=definition+of+professiona&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.49967636,d.dGI&fp=73c47045e31d2107&biw=1024&bih=657. 7/30/2013.9:06 PM

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/unprofessionalism.7/30/2013.9:08 PM

Education Towads to a Brighter Life

Manila : Philippines | Jul 24, 2013 at 5:46 PM PDT

BY leahmanlulu 

10

VIEWS: 9

Education is the foundation to success. Despite of all things, some people want to enter in college even though they are suffering different financial problems. Others are doing part time jobs for them to pay their tuition in their schools or universities.

Good thing to know is that there are still people who are willing to help to less fortunate people.

Some, they will stop studying for few years, then they will start to find a full time job to earn money and save it then that will be the time that they will enroll again in some universities in order to follow their dreams.

In lieu with this, there are institutions or foundation that offers free education. in some countries they called the as state universities. This only proves that some governments are working to serve for the people in their country.

There are also vocational courses which are also practicable for many people who wants to enter in college. There are also baccalaurate degree that they can enrolled into.

For me, no matter what course you had finished, your future still lies in you. of course, we shoulld not lose hope for every thingin our life. It's not too late for everyone to reach for their dreams.

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/15058360-education-towads-to-a-brighter-life

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leahmanlulu is based in Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines, and is a Stringer for Allvoices.

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Muslim teachers instructed not to wear veils during classes

By Dona Z. Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer

9:47 am | Tuesday, July 23rd, 2013

 30 2099 1928

Education Secretary Armin Luistro: No face veils in the classrooms. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Education (DepEd) has asked teachers of subjects in Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) in public schools not to wear face veils in the classroom as this would get in the way of effective teaching.

“Once the ustadja (teacher) is in the classroom, she is requested to remove the veil,” said Education Secretary Armin Luistro in an order dated July 16.

Luistro said wearing a veil would keep students from seeing the teacher’s face in class.

“In support of effective language teaching, recognition and discrimination of letters and their sounds are enhanced. Lip formation significantly helps in the correct production of the letter sounds,” Luistro said.

Seeing the teacher’s face without the veil would be necessary “for proper identification of the teachers by the pupils, thus promoting better teacher-pupil relationship,” he added.

Luistro made the request even as he reiterated DepEd’s standing policy of protecting the religious rights of students in school.

“While the Department supports and promotes the right of Muslim Filipino women to wear hijab/veil (or headdress), it does not compel Muslim Filipino women to wear it,” he said.

During their Physical Education subject, Muslim school girls are allowed to wear “appropriate clothing in accordance with their religious beliefs.”

Muslim students are also not required to participate in non-Muslim religious rites.

DepEd has begun to professionalize asatidz (Muslim teachers) who teach in madaris (Muslim schools) by hiring them as permanent teachers to teach ALIVE subjects in public elementary schools in Muslim-dominated areas.

DepEd introduced a standard curriculum for private madaris and select public schools that incorporates ALIVE subjects with regular subjects in order to integrate madrasah education graduates into mainstream education.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/450945/muslim-teachers-instructed-not-to-wear-veils-during-classes#ixzz2aLLT0niW
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