MANY reactions have arisen since schools opened last month in our country. There’s been debate about the quality of education needed to elevate the skill levels of Filipinos. While some favor the current educational setup, others are irked by the adoption of the K-12 educational system, feeling it doesn’t offer students a clearer path to greater achievements.
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For grandparents now in their senior years, the schooling from four decades ago seems drastically different from todayâs educational practices.
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During a coffee chat, a lawyer, a retired teacher, and a retired salesman shared varied reactions. âEducation today is distinctly different from our time. With technology, like laptops and cellphones, assignments involving drawings, calculations, and research have become simpler. Libraries seem archaic; now, most research is done on Google,” said the retired teacher.
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âBut I’m curious,â interjected the lawyer, âwhy are teachers only considered qualified if they pass board exams and meet other government requirements? While it’s good in some respects, it can be a disadvantage. A teacher who passes the board exam isn’t necessarily better than one who doesnât. Teaching is a skill.â
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âExactly! Just because someone recently passed the board doesnât mean they’re more qualified to teach Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) than experienced parents or grandparents. Real-life experiences often teach more effectively than books alone,â added the salesman.
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âI agree,â said the lawyer. âHow can a board-passing teacher be more adept at, say, Hospitality Management and Tourism than someone who’s been a hotel manager or a marketing head? Some teachers might not even have traveled our country extensively, yet they teach tourism or hotel management,â noted the salesman.
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âI often feel the same way,â confessed the retired teacher. âWhen I taught, we relied on books and research. Passing the board exam wasnât a requirement then. Schools decided whom to hire, and experience and teaching ability were often the primary considerations. Students back then were just as intelligent without the K-12 system.”
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âI’d advocate removing subjects that seem irrelevant today. Why teach grade school students complex math formulas that few excel at? Some schools prioritize foreign histories over our own,â the lawyer remarked.
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âExactly. Schools should emphasize GMRC, family values, and sports like swimming and athletics, rather than activities like Zumba. Students should also learn basic safety, like not crossing streets at green lights,â opined the teacher.
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âIndeed. Students should be taught community awareness, like not littering, and focus on community involvement,â added the salesman.
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âWith today’s challenges, instilling good character, moral values, and respect for parents is crucial. The direction of our nation depends on it. When will we realize this? It’s up to our leaders to prioritize societal progress over personal gains,â the lawyer concluded, finishing his black coffee./PN
