CLAIM MY CREDIT

My first post in this blog talked about how I became part of this growing school. Let me share again to you some of my thoughts regarding the ironic consequences in the triumphs the school got in some of its endeavors.

For the past seven years, my school was placed under closed campus. When I say close, the students were basically not allowed to do certain activities outside of its campus except when the endeavor was either initiated by the General Parent Teachers Organization (GPTO) of the school or, in rare circumstances, it was initiated by Local Government Units.

There have been several reasons surrounding this realm. As far as I can remember, the old administration was afraid that something bad would happen to the students like accidents. They were afraid of the repercussion it would bring to the image of the school notwithstanding the possible legal issues it will be thrown against the school.

A very specific learning-by-doing activity which I can remember that was first turned-down was the Educational Tour all over the region -- an idea which was presented beautifully by the Principal. The director then reasoned out her fears. Pessimistic as she sounded. However, a solution was presented by her. She asked the Principal to talk to the parents of the Basic Education Department to write and submit a proposal containing the planned Educational Tour. Thank God, the GPTO President agreed to the idea and this paved the way for the first ever Educational Tour. Now, every year, the GPTO would come up with a proposal and the administrator will approve.

Another example would be the participation of students in inter-school competitions like the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) and the Sorsogon Private Schools Athletic Association (SORPRISAA) meets. Before the students were allowed to compete, the students will have to go through the hurdle of securing the signatures of their respective parents to sign on the Waiver Form stating that the school will be absolved from any form of responsibility just in case any untoward incident will happen to their child/children. Usually, the student-players would emerge winners like first runner up or champion. Ironically, the school gets the credit and immediately initiates the putting up of congratulatory streamers.

In another occasion, the attention of a particular student was called because without securing the permission from the school, she joined a local pageant. The administrators believed that pageants not only degrade women, they also exploit them. Despite the "warning", the student still pushed through with the pageant. Ironically again, the administrator was the very first person to congratulate her and she even initiated the printing and putting of the congratulatory streamer when the student won the title and bagged almost all the other awards.

I also remember that time when the first junior-senior (JS) promenade was about to be done. In January of 2004, the Principal opened to the council the idea of staging a JS Prom, being one of the traditions in the life of a high school student. Unfortunately, the administrators backed-off. They feared that the parents of these students would complain again about the fees among others. To provide a solution to this seeming deadlock, the director again told the Principal to ask the Homeroom Parents of the Third Year and Fourth Year students to write and submit a proposal. Once again, the proposal was approved. In this way, the administrators were freed from the possible complaints of parents. Ironically again, at the end of the promenade, the same administrators were the first ones to articulate the beautiful impression they had about how the students bore themselves during the affair -- how classy they looked, elegant, etc. etc. etc. Bottom line here is: the administrators claimed credit for such beautiful behavior of students; that it is because of the right training the school has been giving its students.

During one of the thesis defenses of my students, the director came forth knocking down a particular student as she commented on the attitude and facial expression of the concerned student. The other panelists frankly speaking were all amazed by how good the presentation and the project itself were. Records will show the similarity in the ratings of the two other members countering the rating of the director. A year after the student graduated, she was immediately promoted as a Department Head of the company she got employed after graduation. When this news was broken to the administrators, they had one common statement: the school was on the right track in properly training the students that without such this particular student would not have reached her position easily.

I still have so many things to enumerate and share to you but it would consume the rest of my day. Again, bottom line here is: that is the old administration's way. Hey, we are now under the new administration. AND THAT I AM HAPPY AND FEELING FULFILLED AS A TEACHER KNOWING THAT MY STUDENTS ARE SOARING HIGH AND REAPING AWARDS. :-)

In my next blog, i will tell you the triumphs our school has been reaping since its new era begun. Watch out...