There is no substitute for face to face learning
If I were a parent today, with children of schooling age, I would not mind waiting for the next school year for them to go to formal school.
I don’t understand why mothers and teachers would risk exposing the children to Covid when up to this time the curve has not yet flattened? Besides indications are clear that the Department of Education is not really prepared for any kind of alternative learning
Why am I saying that the department is not really prepared? Teachers and parents are looking for means for bond paper solicitation for the reproduction of their modules. Many are willing to give, but why? DepEd i think has the 2nd highest budget next to the armed forces, and yet they are wanting of materials to print for the modules. Are teachers prepared? Are parents and children prepared? And what’s more? Tanan mga mo eskwela maka pasar.
If I were the parent, I will teach my children to participate in the home chores instead of the distance learning activities. Many parents are complaining about their children. Ga sige na lang kuno ug text, fb, ug duwa sa phone games. Dli na kono masugo ug hapit na dli mokaon ug mogawas sa ilang kwarto. I think I agree with the parents and their disappointments. I have observed this among my grandchildren, too. Ang matag usa nila gahawid na ug cellphone – bisan ang 3 ka tuig anpanuigon. But before the Covid, when they would come to our Blue Apartelle during holidays and vacation, I would never allow them to bring the gadget on the dining table. I can only do this in my home. It’s the law of the house. But it’s something I cannot do in their own homes. But I can tell my children; not their spouses. to their spouses.
I have always emphasized to my children that they must know the home chores and teach the children to share with the home chores. I always tell my children that wherever one goes, the number of degrees he/she carries on her head will still lead him/her to the kitchen. Ang tugpahanan gyud sa usa ka tawo mao ang kusina. Even if a person has much money in the bank, the person will look for the kitchen three (3) times, at least, a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hinumdumi gyud na ninyo bisan pa ug maminyo mo ug kwartahan. Mangita gyud ug kusina.
My greatest influence for home chores was my Oyang Tiva. Kinahanglan makamao ka lie ug pangusina. This was aside from the all the other things about cleanliness and godliness. Kay partner man gyud n duha. .
Why am I saying that there’s no substitute to face to face learning. Up to now, I remember so well my teachers who really planted indelible imprints in my mind because of their teaching strategies and methodologies. This is just like how I remember my BFF and editor, Ms. Ardy, when she recited the poem: “The Arrow and the Song” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. BFF Ardy was still in her elementary grades, then, when she did her performance in front of all the students of St. Joseph College during one Monday program. That performance of hers left a mark in my heart. Years later, I asked her to lecture on communications, specifically on personality development for the Infants Du Mekong scholars and Bahandi members. Experiencing her face to face, during her lectures, would give you the impact of animation and presentation where the participants profit from in-depth feedback and sharing levels to gain insights on a subject matter. And this is true to all other teachers who are able to speak professionally in order to train others in the discussion of their fields of expertise. All these are done on a face to face teaching and learning experience.
What we had then during our time was only face to face learning. Presence in the classroom was absolute. And for me, school has become a venue for long lasting friendship with our teachers becoming our role model..
In my elementary days, my love for literature and for the arts was from my mother; History from Mr. Vicente Real, Home Economics from Inse Danday (Alejandra Gatal Ayaay) and later Nang Amad (Amada Calope). My first year high school was at Holy Name University. Mrs. Silvina Masamayor, the English teacher, taught us the poem,
i took a piece of plastic clay and molded it one day. The message then and it holds true up to now that the young will have to be molded young to become upright citizens of the world. And besides they were a loving couple with her husband who was the high school principal. A role model to the young mind when our song then was Que Sera Sera.
At sr. Joseph college now holy spirit school, we have our teachers: Ms. Candida Vale in literature and history. I will never forget Hemmingway because of her. Ms. Luz Ibaya in English literature mostly in the Victorian era, and chivalry, Ms. Amelia Trabajo in mathematics but mostly the beautiful legs in her high hills and wishing I could have beautiful legs like her, Ms. Cory Pernia in physics but admired her most because she looks like Debbie Reynolds and so fashionable. Sir George Visarra in history, and we girls would hope he will come to class late so we can have more time to sat sat. That was our last class in the morning and Sir George would come in his bike from holy name. He was loaned to us when our history teacher Mrs. Reyes left before the middle of the year. The last but not the least, Mrs. Edmila Borja. She could not be forgotten because of her narrative of the Christmas carol: the ghost of Christmas past, present and future.
Nothing can substitute face to face learning. I would not have long lasting friendship, beautiful memories and role models in our journey thru life.
