the first semester

Made it through my first 4 months as a classroom instructor; the later part was breakneck as we had to compensate for lost meetings due to the consecutive typhoons that hit our place. In fact, in my Management class, we haven’t had enough time for the “Controlling” function but I’m glad we had completed “Leadership”– something the other sections haven’t. Not that we’re competing with them though.

Overall, it was a rewarding experience to know that I had been part of the education of these students or perhaps, touched their lives in a way or two if some consider it that way. I intend to be regarded as a strict teacher. I sense, and co-teachers affirm that even other students who weren’t in any of my classes have the same impression of me. My students themselves had amusingly associated with me the word “stress” throughout the term. They often say, “Sir, ka-stress naman!” (Sir, that’s stressful!). Oh c’mon! Are they expecting to study ABC’s?

Alright, I won’t deny being meticulous with their output especially homework. These kids belong to ‘Generation Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V’ as one of my former mentors put it and true enough, their papers were copied from the Web then pasted in Word often without even bothering to cite their sources. My frustration almost made me suggest to having the web page itself printed along with the ads and buttons which, in truth, would be better because the URL is printed as well – the least way of giving credit to the authors. Worse, they did not even bother reading the relevance of what they submitted to what was asked! Perhaps they thought there were too many of them and I am too busy to actually read what they submit. Somehow they were right; I just scan through their papers. But the purpose of scanning is to find key words which would either earn my approval or otherwise. To give them a hint of what I look for, I returned their first homework with some parts underlined and noted with remarks like “What are you talking about?”, or “Next time, read if relevant”, or “Summarize!” For the rest of the term, this was my index: 3 to 5 points deduction from their actual grade for those exceeding the prescribed two pages and the real hopeless ones get 10 points more than the equivalent of zero but which, still is 15 points below passing just for their expense on paper and printing.

Cheating is another major issue. As a part-time instructor, I am paid in an hourly basis and so I do not get to proctor my own exams because the school is maximizing the pay for full-time colleagues whose salaries are computed in monthly rates. Still, when I got the answer sheets, cheating was apparent. Guess what – both parties were punished. The “copiers” received a failing score whereas the accomplices’ answers for the cheated part were disregarded losing them at least 10 points. They were never confronted and no names were named but this disappointing revelation was announced in class to warn everyone. I may be tough but I don’t embarrass them. I want them to know that they were given a fresh start. The next exam therefore was given in multiple sets created similarly and labeled uniquely and included topics from prelim to finals. This would not give them enough time to decipher who got which questionnaire.

Even for computer subjects, some students abused the magic of computer shortcuts. The results were files with different names but the same errors, date and time created and modified, and author. To prevent recurrence during the finals, I surprised them with a written exam for laboratory to find out who really knows what. With computers shut off and pens in hand, they analyzed codes printed on paper. The results were an expected drop of grades from the previous grading period.

I did not expect my students to equal in one sitting, the knowledge I’d acquired in my years in college and in the industry. Neither do I intend to be the villain who would not wish them success and find amusement in their sufferings. One moment I’m mad about their negligence and noise, the next, I’m cracking jokes. I break monotony whenever possible. But I feel I had to be stringent to instill in them to always strive for excellence and not settle for mediocrity; to try their best before believing that it is all they could. So they may understand that they could cheat their exams in school but not the fact that they did not learn anything which would eventually manifest when they’re applying for decent jobs. Further, grades aren’t numbers that they must achieve by all means but rather are figures that measure how they really perform. I try to be as transparent with how their grades are computed and constantly remind them how much more they need to make the cut.

I believe this is generally a promising group if given sufficient motivation. Significant part of this motivation however could neither be imposed by me nor by somebody else – students ought to learn to draw it from themselves and for themselves.

One lad, I’ve learned, was taking Computer Fundamentals for the third time. His previous teacher had told me that he’s not dull and in fact a fast learner. He fails because we would miss class if doesn’t feel like attending. He would miss his exams not because he has problems settling his fees but simply because he intends to miss it. With me, he failed during prelim. He could have passed midterms but didn’t officially file for special exam until the filing period lapsed so he failed once more. He redeemed himself during pre-finals by earning a whopping 94% mark and I saw hope for him. I talked to him seriously and told him that we’re almost there and that I appreciate his renewed eagerness along with the encouragement to just keep it up for until the finals which would be in a month. He agreed and was cooperative and diligent for the rest of term. Ultimately, he passed the subject and is now eligible to enroll major ones come next semester.
The experience so far is indeed a combination of inspirations and frustrations; there are more to expect. I had heard some of their stories and they had heard mine. Classes resume in a couple of weeks and I’m handling a new group of students. But nothing beats the first time, they say.

Here are few memories of my students from our last two meetings. Sadly, not all of them passed. But I hope lessons were learned.

guilty

I admit. I was a neglectful blogger for the longest time so far. And that was until this post. But after this, I can’t assure yet whether or not the next hiatus will be as long. Aside from the packed-schedule-excuses you are tired of reading (and I myself am getting tired of believing), there had been another impediment. You see, I was supposed to share my account on our department out-of-town strategic planning this year; it was in June and collecting the photos wasn’t a problem. But then for some reason, I can’t upload it to my Photobucket. For weeks I was getting the “Upload error 404” which at first I thought was due to the filter policies configured recently in our servers at the office. But after 2 weeks of failed attempts, only then did I decide to bring the photos home to try uploading them using a different connection. I got the same problem. For a few times, it said that upload was successful. But then the photos cannot be found in my album no matter how many times I refresh the page.

Yeah, it took me that long before I finally decided to resort to Picasa Web. Just yesterday actually…

Oh well, it’s too late to tell about the trip now. In brief, after 2 consecutive years going up north, our group decided to go southbound this time. The first destination was a private resort in Laguna, made exclusive for us. Laguna is a place famous for hot springs. And the next day, we ascended Tagaytay which, as far as we have explored, the only interesting attraction is the view of the renowned Taal volcano submerged in a lake.

Let the pictures do the talking

unfortunate sunday

It started with the family’s abrupt decision to go shopping. And so we rode a bus to the mall after church service. A day in the mall wasn’t very eventful but still for someone like us whose daily lives just switch between home and work recently it may be considered a good break. We got out of the mall by 7PM and learned that all vans bound back to our city had already left and none other will arrive. This is an unpleasant surprise because the last time I went with a colleague, transport was available until 9PM. So we waited for a bus in front of the mall for half an hour but to no avail. Cutting the story short, we were able to get a ride past 9 o’clock and boy was it inconvenient! Imagine there were 6 of us squeezed in the back of the AUV which would only be comfortable for four but since all the passengers are just as eager to get home, we all endured the inconvenience.

From the cab’s unloading area, we rode a tricycle. Feeling giddy from the uncomfortable travel, I started getting ready for bed and as I changed my clothes I found out that my cell phone’s missing. I tried ringing it using my sister’s handset hoping that the rider would hear it and pick it up. But it just rang on until it went dead because the call is not answered. I’m certain that it slipped from my pocket in the tricycle because it was still in my left pocket when we got off the AUV.

I immediately gave up my hopes of retrieving it because foremost, tricycles roam around the city and pick passengers in succession. Second its battery is not fully charged thus would be drained soon. The only consolation was that both the phone and the SIM card is secured with a PIN so whoever finds it would have no use for it unless he’s quite techie to know how to deactivate the locks

I am saddened by the loss of my phone which I bought on credit and paid for several months and which had been a big help in my
studies since I used it for Internet connection at home. It had even been a handy camera for several photos for this blog. Now, gone with it were the dates and messages which mean much to me.

Fitted (A sequel to ‘A Teacher’s Uniform’)

This blog debuted with a post that tells about how I was often mistaken for a teacher when I was just a student myself. Now two years later, I really am.

My mind was flooded with post-graduation plans since my hasty finish from college. Teaching was considered though it wasn’t a priority then because my prolonged stay in college made me feel satiated with the classroom environment. But with the insistence of my former mentors and the tempting yearning of my pocket for extra cash as well as the pitiful state of my savings, I gave in.

A month of anxious waiting since the teaching demo and I was hired. Since last week, I teach from 6-9PM after my old fulltime office job and so far, I am still getting the feel of being in front and managing a class of no less than 30 students whose ages range from 15 to 28 years old for the four courses loaded to me. Honestly, teaching was more difficult than I thought it is.

It is indeed starving exhausting challenging especially that my former teachers are now my colleagues. I hope to be good at this. So help me God.

Sure I’ll miss my free Saturday nights too *sob*

Farewell to a teacher, fighter and mother

I left for Baguio last week to pay respect for Dennis’ mom who succumbed to complications of breast cancer. I haven’t had the chance to meet the woman before since she was hospitalized during my last trip to Baguio .

The trip was decided abruptly. It’s good that I have gained few leave credits again since I came back to work last month and that Lalaine had kept in touch again after a long time. I insisted to myself that this is for the bereaved family and I wouldn’t want Dennis to be the least worried about attending to my needs during my stay and so I conspired with Lalaine to keep my plans secret. Lalaine and her family were dutiful hosts as before and I just can’t thank them enough for accommodating me.

It was a sad reunion but it’s rewarding to see how my friend reacted when he saw me the first night I attended the funeral. He just can’t seem to believe I was really there.

“She was a teacher, a fighter and a mother”, described Dennis as eulogy. His mom was a high school teacher by profession – perhaps one factor why Dennis and his two siblings pursued Education for their college degrees. He spoke how his mom trained them to promptly accomplish tasks given to them. The more touching tale was how with unswerving faith, his mother ‘fought all the way’ despite that her chances solely relied on miracle thus a ‘fighter’.

I believe that more than anybody else in their family, Den had prepared himself for their mother’s departure. But when we we’re having coffee together a night after the interment, he confessed how “It still feels different. It’s so easy to say ‘at least it’s over, she’s finally at peace… move on…’ but then it still feels different especially when it’s your mother [you lost]” I feel sorry for him. Yet I admire how he tries to amuse himself and live each day after. Truly he’s one of his mom’s greatest fulfillments.


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Here are studio shots we have had taken the day before I returned home; a remembrance how we stuck together when one just needs somebody during life’s tough time.