For our NSTP class, we were assigned to teach 4th grade students to read. The students that were assigned to us are very slow learners. I mean, at this stage, they should already know how to read. I taught 3 girls, named Angelu, Mariel and Kristee.
Mariel has problems recognizing some letters. She can read some words, but I think it’s only by recognition. She doesn’t really know how to read them. Just like a little kid who would see the sign of McDonald’s and would easily say McDonald’s, even if the little kid doesn’t know how to read.
It’s sad to know that there are a lot of kids who pass to go to another grade level but not really learning the basics. I learned to read with comprehension when I was 4 years old, both in Filipino and in English. My mom taught me my ABCs and my 123s before I even started school. I am very grateful for that.
What disappointed me today, was when I asked the 3 girls what they want to be when they grow up, their answers shocked me for a moment. Angelu wants to be a nurse, and changed her mind, and now wants to just go abroad and work (as what?). Mariel wants to be a Japayuki (are foreign prostitutes in Japan). Gasps! This girl Kristee wants to go to Japan, too. All of them mentioned that they want to help their parents. I told them that in order for them to help their parents, is to learn the basics. Learn to read!
The public educational system in the Philippines should be improved. I am lucky that I went to a private school. I wish the government does something about this. The three-hour tutorial that we spend with these kids each week is not enough to better their situation. The teachers must be strict in providing their students all the tools that they need to learn the basics. In my opinion, they must not pass a student just because they feel sorry for them. It’s not right.
I wish things will be better tomorrow.
Oh geez, I am not the one! I grew up with a girl named Ciara. She had everything she ever wanted and I asked her what her mom does… She was in Japan.. she wasn’t a prosti, she was a professional entertainer, and I mean, professional entertainer. Before I found out about it, I wanted to be a nun (heyyy! I was about 4 or 5 years old!! LOL) then kaboom, I wanted to go to Japan and be an entertainer. That dream lasted for about a year. Then I changed gears to be a doctor, then again I am not being a doctor. Anyway… about those kids… yeah, I really feel bad about them. I too went to a private school from pre-school till I left the homeland. Oh man, you guys should go to the public schools more often.. teach em. They def. need it.
Keep it up, Dre!
it’s sad. i even know someone who jumped from 1st year high school to 4th year kasi lagi nalang bumabagsak sa mga subjects specially speaking and writing filo and english. Tumanda nlang siya first year pa rin kaya ayun, dahil malakas yung parents sa isang gov’t official he jumped to fourth year agad. I mean,bakit ganun? ang edukasyon sa Pinas sobrang di binibigyan ng importansya ng gobyerno. Instead of helping these kids, tinuturuan pa nilang magcheat or something like that..oh well. anyway, you take care!
Oh, I definitely agree about that… It’s sad that Philippine public education is not that great. Considering how much Filipinos value education, you’d think the government would try to fix this. When my family was still living there, I went to a private school too and I think that paid off. I can’t imagine how hard the transition would have been like if I had gone to a public school there before moving here! I mean, there are some REALLY good public schools there… but there aren’t enough of those.
And about their ambitions… well, those could change. I remember asking my little cousin what she wanted to be when she grows up (she was 5 when I asked her) and she went, “I don’t want to work. I just want to stay at home.” But, now, she’s in the top of her class… And I’m hoping that by now she wants to be SOMETHING when she grows up. :D
It’s good that you get the chance to help out kids. I’d love to do that! I think its always fun to teach people about what you’ve learned. How often do you meet up with them?
it kinda disturbed you, didn’t it? i attended a public school for a year before (2nd grade) and it’s amazing what goes on in there. the teachers sit around and verbally abuse the children and they make them do personal errands even outside the school. i mean, if anything happened to the kid while outside the school, what would they do? would you believe that at some point, i gave up going to class? what i did was to go to class in the morning, leave my bag there, ask the teacher if i can go to the restroom (to which she grunts a “yes”), roam the school grounds, and then i come back when it’s time to go home. i only show up properly when there’s an exam. and i passed! i was even the third honor in our class. go figure.
Rica Mae or whatever the fuck her name is was such a bitch today. Lee made her cry. Haha, buti nga.
That’s sad that the kids didn’t know how to read. Maybe I can help with that once I become an elementary school teacher. Maybe I should go teach in a place like your school.
aww.. that’z bad.. nakakasad nga yun..
zame with my experience.. mei outreach program kame na ppuntah kame za public skuls den teach din kame.. kaxo nga.. da prob is.. dey have difficulty on comprehending some stuffs.. hirap 2loi..
yah… i really feeL luCky!,, ^_^
That absolutely sucks about the children at that school. It really is too bad that the government isn’t doing something to help them. Still, I think it’s cool that your class is doing something to help. Maybe the three hours a week isn’t enough to catch them up with where they should be, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.
I am happy that the school system here in Denmark has a very high standard. The ambitions of those girls was indeed terrifying! Why in the name of all things did she wanted to become a prostitute? – Where does the youngsters get those ideas now a days from anyway?!
omigod. that’s sad. ive never gone to a public school so i did not have any idea.
their parents should be blamed, too. tisk.
wow teacher dre! hmm i think youll be a good teacher if that is your profession.
ayun lang dre napadaan lang para mangumuta at makibalita narin.
take care :)
That’s so depressing that those girls don’t even know the basics. And what’s more shocking is what they wan tto do with their lives afterwards! Maybe you can set up a meeting with the school board or the government to help these kids. Or maybe try to set up something afterschool, like a study group. Keep it up and take care!
That’s is sad and very disturbing, a little girl aspiring to be a “Japayuki”?!
My Mom was an elementary teacher and taught me how to read English (not Filipino, strangely) and basic math before I went to school. I went to Roman Catholic private schools (8 years in the Philippines and many more years in Canada). I went to public school for my high school years.
I remember how much more advanced I was in comparison to my grade school classmates. I even skipped Grade 4. I owe it to my Mom, bless her. Of course, it all evened out in the end as anything my Mom had taught me… was all undone by the Canadian schooling system. Hahaha. That’s true.