“ASDS” is truncate which may blare out the familiarity of some words in the teaching profession. Surely, it doesn’t refer only to that assistant of the Schools Division Superintendent. But my friend “JD” (not Jun Dalog) naughtily hit it off to: “Adda Secreto Danga Sugal” (they have gambling secrets). So many insinuations to link it on, but one may have reasons to nervously laugh, if it points to “arak, sugal, dakabit, sigarilyo” (wine, gambling, adultery, cigarette).
So they say, whether or not someone is linked to one or all of these, never attempt to badmouth the elders is a must, to be observed. Else, the act will be frowned upon, being against decency and custom. So again a boss treats the subordinates like a tool being yelled in the television show. This day such acts might be sensible in social media. However never forget that laughter, of which it certainly spices the “ASDS” vices.
Not so interesting is the question: In what manner then, does a boss or a leader chew over the headline “Seventy thousand learners in Bicol cannot read.” And what would be the result in the Cordillera or other regions? But beforehand, the most alarming in terms of reading comprehension and Mathematics is the Program for International Assessment (Pisa) result, ranking the Philippines at the bottom of 79 countries. Are there any cogent explanations to mull it over and over, thinking that other economically poor countries fared better like the war thorn kingdom of Kosovo and the football adept Dominican Republic?
Education Secretary Leonor Briones reacts quickly by explaining that the pupils can read formally but they do not comprehend what they’re reading; besides, the data are raw and should be validated. Now it seems that the mafia bosses in the central office were not satisfied with the Pisa test results so that the conduct of another several comprehension and mathematical tests is necessary.
As usual, it only sharpens the claim: Today’s learners are not getting better and better but are doomed to fail. Right now, Jose Rizal is turning in his grave doing his best to write the continuation of his maxim: oh youth, oh youth, where were you when the fatherland cries for hope?
But do you know what could have instigated Jose Rizal to write the injustices or oppression and how he became one of the most brilliant Atenean during his time? Stories were told that when he was in elementary, his Jesuit teachers were strict disciplinarians. But as they say, boys are boys, so that he never has “spared that rod” one day when he entered the classroom late, after some wayward adventure with his two friends.
The Jesuit teacher grounded them and he yelled: “You will write your name in ten pages of this Manila paper and you will be whipped according to the letters of your name, that’s the school rule.”
Rizal objected and yelled back: “It’s unfair.”
The Jesuit asked what is unfair. Confidently Rizal replied: My name is Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda, while for them is just “Roy Tan and Jin Sy.” Realizing the logic of Rizal and to intentionally confuse the three, the Jesuit spoke in Latin with a louder voice: Dura lex sed lex (it is harsh but it’s the law).
To be continued...