BY EDISON MARTE SICAD
“It is time indeed that the State took decisive steps to regulate and enrich our system of education by directing the student to the course for which he is best suited as determined by initial tests and evaluations. Otherwise, we may be ‘swamped with mediocrity,’ in the words of Justice Holmes, not because we are lacking in intelligence but because we are a nation of misfits.” – (DECS and Dir. of Center for Educational Measurement vs. San Diego and Judge Dizon-Capulong, G.R. No. 89572, December 21, 1989)
THE ISSUE in the above-cited Supreme Court decision was about an examinee who has thrice failed a licensure exam and would want to take it again but was disqualified to do so. The examinee, based on his repeated failures, was considered a misfit, not suited to the profession he aimed to be part of.
Our competence is judged not only by our personal opinion or deep-seated beliefs, no matter how heartfelt. Society will judge us based on our results as evaluated by government standards and measured by social significance.
In this column, I will share my insights about a Sociological Theory, specifically the Conflict Theory. And to put matters in perspective, here is Conflict Theory in a nutshell—as summarized by every student’s best friend, AI:
The Conflict Perspective is a sociological theory that views society as a place where individuals and groups compete for power, resources, and interests:
Focus: The Conflict Perspective examines how groups with power and status maintain control over resources and how this leads to inequality.
Theory: It is based on the idea that groups compete for limited resources and control, which can lead to inequalities in those groups.
Application: It can be applied to many areas of society, including the workplace, education, and social issues.
The (unfortunate) truth of the matter is that, in an environment of abundance and scarcity, there will always be inequalities. To contextualize, I am referring here to the abundance of lazy people and the scarcity of hardworking individuals; the abundance of overly sensitive, self-entitled netizens and the scarcity of proactive ones; the abundance of misfits and the scarcity of competent citizens.
Whether we like it or not, competition is the name of the game. There are those who are willing to compete and are aiming to get a bigger — or the biggest — size of the pie. And in life, it is not just about how we count our winnings, it is also about how we deal with our loses. In any chosen field of profession, competence is tested and rewarded. And mediocrity is severely punished. Inequalities will always separate the haves and the have-nots, the have-mores and the have-most.
And when an individual eventually gets fed up with the unfairness and unreasonableness of the laws and regulations, complaining will not matter that much.
Retaliate with dignity. Fight for excellence. Dominate through results. Weaponize your ideals and work ethic.
As the saying goes, “Massive success is the ultimate revenge.”
Misfit voters and corrupt politicians
I dare say that a citizen’s freedom to vote is the most taken for granted civic duty and the most wasted opportunity in a democratic society. We almost don’t deserve it. We are being preyed and played upon by the high and mighty con men (and con women). But that’s reality. “Walang manloloko kung walang nagpapaloko.”
Misfit students and bigheaded educators
Generally, education is the key that can open the doors to a better life. Many scholars have proven this. But money — or connections — is another interesting element of education. This is where knowledge can really become a power.
While incompetence is being continuously cultivated by the majority in our system of education, the remaining few continue to enjoy the reward of hard work and authentic learning.
Misfit employees and overpaid “bosses”
This is a very difficult statement to verify and quantify. On one hand, bureaucracy is needed to organize the ramifications of public services. On the other hand, it can also stultify professional growth.
There are those who don’t work that much because they are not paid that well, fair enough. But these employees will surely be left behind by those who are willing to work more than what they are paid for.
Because in life, the test comes first before the lesson. Competence precedes promotion. And all things considered, an employee who treats his or her work as an opportunity for personal and professional growth will certainly become successful. For when it comes to learning, the office is the biggest room for improvement.
It is just a matter of appreciating this perspective — this Conflict Perspective — that will give an employee the will and the strength to take charge in increasing his or her salary grade.
‘Stupid is forever’
The former senator, the late Miriam Defensor Santiago, made this as a fitting title to her comedy book. In a lighthearted manner, the author has accepted the fact that some Filipinos are worth laughing for. But there is no need to buy this book to get a well-deserved Filipino laugh. We can readily access the social media to happily intoxicate ourselves with the patriotic spirit of our government officials. With the trending series of investigations in aid of legislation, the Filipinos continuously satiate their appetite for sensationalism. We are actually being amused to death — literally./PN
