MY FIRST word - this column endorses all mayoralty candidates.
Previously, I gave my email address to local candidates. That was for them, to share sentiments on how to make the life of both public and private school teachers better – in ten convincing sentences.
Former general Benjie Magalong promptly answered some, with high hope that he will make it as mayor of Baguio City. Among his scintillating answers are: integration of good manners and right conduct in the K to 12 curriculum by proper representation of the mayoralty office in the Department of Education (DepEd). His experience as former general of the Criminal Investigation Services of the Philippine National Police is no doubt an advantage. Perhaps, public and private school teachers will be brave to deal with misbehaving students in a positive way. Will harsh discipline be included, as last resort? Maybe or it should be?
For me, the answer is it must be, considering the current majority behavior of the young today – ill-mannered, ill-disposed and spoiled brats and notwithstanding DepEd’s reliance on the policy of limiting failing grades through “teacher’s remediation”. Have you known of any teacher foolish enough to give remediation to an overpopulated classroom? Curriculum thinkers at DepEd must be daydreaming. Candidate Benjie’s answers were cut when he sent his messages. Maybe I will continue to write about him if sent his complete answer.
For candidate Leandro Yangot, he wants to strengthen Baguio City as the educational center in Northern Philippines. In what specific way? Well, he needs to answer that. He said that after the 1990 earthquake, tourists stop coming to Baguio City but not the students. Better students conditions vis a vis help the teachers as well. But his most scintillating answer is his support of the urban gardening program through trainings and information disseminations. Public schools in the city have the “gulayan sa paaralan” programs.
Candidate Yangot is supporting “Gulayan sa Barangay” to curve inflations through sustainable source of vegetable products at home. Well this sounds like the green revolution program of former first lady Imelda Marcos resurrected in a better way.
What I can write about Antonio Tabora Jr. was that he was the operating consultant of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority and that recently there were about 80 computers distributed in the different schools of the city, except City high. He also said “If the children will face the challenges in life, they should be well equipped. In the battlefield, we need a weapon and that is education. That is why we are here today because we have to equip all of our children and all people who would like to be educated.”
Relevant to this, however, I wonder why the Baguio City National High School has not received even a single keyboard when in fact it is the largest school in the city. Personnel’s in the division office even know that the faculty rooms at city high school are not equipped when it comes to the Internet. Were there any funds allotted for this? Engineer Tabora perhaps can do something about it when he will make it to the city hall.
Scoffing at his Facebook account, I noticed that Engr. Tabora was so patient and diligent in answering majority of all queries and comments posted. To be continued...