Overwhelmisms

I was going over my notes in preparation for the final exams, and I was asking myself which philosophy would I lean more on. The different -isms each present advantages and disadvantages in education. For instance, a fully existentialist school would not be so much advantageous, just like the story that Ma'am told us in class.

A group of children were told to explore the field, and go as far as they want. Unexpectedly, they played closer to their guardian. When told to play only up to this area, and were asked not to go beyond, they children were able to run around in wider distances.

So as far as existentialism is concerned, restrictions, ironically, creates a wider opportunity for children to explore. Setting limits and expectations gives the child a sense of how far he can go, in terms of exploring.

I realized that you cannot really commit to just one -ism. I think that when thinking about education, we should consider looking into different points of view, looking into the different -isms. It's always going to be a combination; what's really important is to find the most effective "combo" (and mind you, there is also no perfect "combo", it really still depends on many factors like the individual, the culture, the time, the place, etc) to improve learning behavior and thinking skills.

So looking back at my question at the middle of the semester: Why do we need to go to school?

I really don't have a definite answer now, maybe I do, but there's just so much I can say. I can speak from an idealist's point of view, or from the perrenialist's perspective, or argue that the progressivism goals for education is the answer to my question. But all these will only resort to me contradicting and arguing myself altogether. :)) I'm sure there's more to learn in the years to come as I finish my degree, and (hopefully) proceed to my doctoral studies. I am hopeful that someday, I'll definitely know for sure why we need to go to school.

Perhaps, what I've appreciated most in creating these blog entries, was the opportunity to think philosophically about education.

WILLIAM

If you're wondering why I have a huge photo of myself up there as a teacher, it's from PETA's hit rap musical WILLIAM. :)

(here comes the shameless plug)

After dominating the recent Philstage Gawad Buhay awards, the Philippine Education Theater Association (PETA) is bringing back the award-winning Shakespeare rap musical “William” for a special show at the Cultural Center of the Philippines this September 28.

“William”, about teenagers who develop a love for the Bard while preparing monologues from William Shakespeare for a class project, took home seven trophies, including Outstanding Play, Outstanding Direction for Maribel Legarda, Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Play and Outstanding Original Script for playwright Ron Capinding.

The play also bagged most of the acting awards, namely Outstanding Male Lead Performance for Ian Segarra, Outstanding Female Featured Performance for Meann Espinosa, and Outstanding Male Featured Performance for Jojo Atienza.

“William” first opened Peta’s Shakespeare Season as a primer for high school students who may fear Shakespeare or may not know the Bard at all. During its short run last year, “William” successfully engaged students and captured the interest of local theatergoers as well as several international news organizations.

A video report by Marek Pruszewics of BBC News described the play as a “modern twist on Shakespeare”.

Director Maribel Legarda shared that the play’s concept came from FlipTop, a Pinoy rap battle league known across the country. “In many ways,” Legarda said, “rap is poetry.”

“I brought in rap and hip-hop as the contemporary voice and language of young people today. I hope that Shakespeare’s poetry and today’s rap find a point of conversation and evolve into engaging dialogue and drama,” Legarda explained.

The cast of “William” trained under a true Tondo rapper Shielbert Manuel, a.k.a “O.G. Sacred”, who has appeared in the 2007 Cinemalaya Best Picture, “Tribu,” an indie film by Jim Libiran.

The rap performances, choreographed by John Tan of the Urban Dance Crew, are topped with hip-hop moves like crumping and breakdance, while also adding ballroom and jazz hip-hop. “William” features 10 original rap songs composed by Jeff Hernandez. The titles include “Nosebleed” “O Shakespeare” and “What’s in a name.”

Through “William,” PETA aims to help audiences overcome their fear of the English playwright and poet. The goal is to make Shakespeare a familiar friend rather than someone to fear, thus replacing “Shakes-fear” into “Shakes-peer.”

I'll be playing the role of the teacher, Ms. Martinez, on Oct 16, and 19 at 2:30 pm at the PETA Theater Center.It's a special show for Ateneo students so come! :) Please watch if you have time. I think you'll learn a lot, not only about Shakespeare, but also about teaching. I've learned a lot playing the role, see for yourself! It's a rap musical so it's going to be fun, I promise!! Tell me if you're watching! :)

What Teachers Make

Happy Teachers Day to everyone! Please take time to watch this, it's really beautiful. :)

FINALS WEEK: GRADES ARE NOT EVERYTHING!!

To be honest, I've been frustrated with everything I had to do for my grad classes. There are just too many, I began asking "Why did I do this to myself, why did I have to go for an MA degree!" I was cramming everything, and I still had a lot of pending jobs to do for work.

It was also perfect timing that my mentor in theater, (our moderator in Ateneo-Entablado, which I am an alumna of) also a professor in the Filipino department posted this on his wall:


Jethro Tenorio wrote:

para sa mga kukuha ng pangwakas na pagsusulit sa susunod na linggo:

bagaman totoo ang sinasabing hindi sukatan ng karunungan ang marka, tinatangka namang sukatin ng marka ang tiyaga, sigasig at pagsasakripisyo na kaya mong ibigay para sa karunungan. sa madaling sabi, ang marka ay pagtatasa ng karakter, hindi panghuhusga sa kakayahang mag-isip"

kaya mag-aral mabuti. good luck sa lahat! :)


GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!!

A Little Boy

During our report on Existentialism, we included in our handout a story written by Helen Buckley entitled "The Little Boy". Unfortunately, we did not have time to read it with the class; it was a beautiful story. It was a LONG Story actually, but I found this very cute animation of the story, and I think everyone will appreciate this more. :)

Progressivism is much like existentialism; both highly value the individual, his freedom and the choices that he makes. But I also liked the story that Ma'am told us in class. 

There was this group of children with their guardian, and they were told that they can play in the field and go as far as they want. You would assume that the kids WOULD really go far and do whatever they want, but it was the opposite; the kids played in closer proximity to the guardian. When these children were told to play only in a certain area, and that they were not allowed to go beyond the fences, the kids played further, even far from the guardian, but still within the limits. 

I was thinking about this, and there really is truth to this. But I was also thinking that maybe, if children used this freedom to extremely explore to the farthest corners of the field, they would understand the consequences that came with their choice to do so. If the kids chose to, say, run away from the guardian, and later on get lost, wasn't it a learning experience? To know that because they went too far and out of sight from the guardian, they would get lost? :)) but of course, this would be very unethical if we were to experiment this on our children. haha! They are our responsibility in school after all. And after the teachers go looking for their lost students, the children would finally then learn what would happen if they went that far, and that the next time they're told to go explore, they would not go as far anymore. 

This would then instill fear, wouldn't it? HAHA. I am totally contradicting my thoughts. I really don't know. I'd really like to point out that this freedom to act however they wish to act, came with learning the consequences of their actions, and that they are able to learn on their own the limitations of this freedom (oh, the irony!!)

And I was also thinking, if we completely become existentialists, what about our roles in the society? I know in my previous entry, I was scowling at how rigid and "un-self-centered" pragmatism is, again, I AM CONTRADICTING MY THOUGHTS! HAHA I am confused! :)

I would like to see and experience a fully existentialist school. 

KAYO ANG BOSS KO.

That's a popular line from PNOY's speeches. I was thinking about Pragmatism and how it emphasizes that people go school to be useful to the society. Basically, that's it. We study, we learn, we improve ourselves and our intellect, so that we can contribute to the society.

Why did I use Pnoy's quote? Because it's what Pragmatism is asking us to do! I'm not totally against it, there's nothing wrong with becoming a good person for the society. In fact, we need more of those people nowadays in our country! But in general per se, what happens to us? To our individualism? Can't we WANT to be what we want to be, just for ourselves? I want to become a rock star because I know it will improve my confidence and self-esteem, get wealthier and live a comfortable life. But from a pragmatist's point of view, I will become a movie star so that I can help the economy of the Philippines by producing movies that people will buy tickets to, and I want to be a movie star so that I can run for office in the senate and be a public "servant".

Again, I am not totally against the idea of people wanting to be a "man for others". But one must also not forget the self. We have to think of ourselves in the things that we do; be careful that our aspirations and dreams do not get in the way with our self actualization. That while we strive to achieve our goals and find a place in the society, we should not forget that we should also be striving to become better persons.

Sandali lang!

This happened in my class a few weeks ago, I just had to share it! Z was able to finish his food ahead of his classmates, so he heads over to the reading area to read while waiting. 

Teacher: Z, why don't you practice writing your name on the board?

Z: Teka sandali lang nagbabasa pa ako eh!

We just laughed. Oo nga naman. We were just astonished with how our student responded, but of course, we told him to repeat what he said, in a proper manner. I guess my point for this blog really was my realization that the kids deserve to choose what they want to learn in school. After all, it IS their skills and capacities that are utilized in school. Teachers must align the curriculum with the child’s pace and capabilities. There is even this quote that I read somewhere, it goes something like this: “your child designs his own curriculum” I liked the way the school put it, and it is exactly why I am a strong believer of progressive education. It may not be fully feasible to be able to design a curriculum for each individual child, but to be able to work WITH the child, and not ask the child to work for the grades or anything else. To facilitate learning, and not to direct everything; for cooperative learning, and not a one-sided classroom.