In connection to the celebration of MNHS-Cabcaben on its 50 years of continuous journey to excellence,an outreach program was spearheaded by the Values Education Department. As one of the faculty officers I had the chance of visiting the inmates of Bataan Provincial Jail, particulary those who came from our barangay. This outreach program was spearheaded by our Values teacher coordinator in connection with the 50 years celebration of our Alma mater.
Honestly, it is not pleasing to know that out of 100 inmates whom we met, 71 of those graduated from our school. I felt sad for them because they have to undergo this stage of their life to realize their faults. But as what most people often say ”Nasa huli ang pagsisisi”.I felt their sincerity when they had a chance to talk and share how they felt the mercy and compassion of our God despite their situation. Most of their cases are on drugs.
As a teacher, I came to realize many things as I listen to the sharing of inmates .I felt the big responsibility given to us as teacher. Somehow I felt guilty for what they become, I asked myself : Am I not that good enough to become a teacher to see our previous students on these kind of place? What are my faults as a teacher that these persons become weak with this temptations? What kind of community we are building if we had this kind of persons in it? What can I do or How can I help our community to lessen these kind of people? What improvements shall I take on my teachings to help my students to become a better individual? And so on.
We cannot really totally blame them for what they become .We cannot change what they had gone through, we cannot turn back the time but as a teacher we have our chance to be with our future generation, our future leaders, our future community. It is in our hands to mold our youngs, to develop the totality of their personality. We have our chance to bring out the best in them and to develop their weaknesses, it is in our hands as teacher to help them to become stronger in the challenges of life, to build their confidence to develop their personality. Our job is not only confined within the four corners of our classroom. Part of our job is to ensure that they will become a good person when they finish school, it is a part of our responsibility that they will not be a burden in community but as assets. Surely what we are showing to them as a teacher will remain on their minds and hearts. They may forget the lessons or competencies that they studied in school but the values that we are showing and how we treat them as a student will surely remain. It is our job not only to mold their minds but most specially their hearts.
By: Mary Charlotte R. Bonus | T-III | Mariveles National High School-Cabcaben
