Awards and recognitions are often signs of merits for deserving teachers and pupils. Nobody can deny that it adds prestige to the school as well as administrations to the pupils and trainors. But what matters most is that contests consume time which is supposed to be used in teaching for the teachers and learning for the pupil-contestant inside their classrooms.

                One day means so much to cater knowledge to the school children. How much more will be lost for two or more days in giving importance to the contest aside form the time consumed in training them. What good can it offer if only few will gain but more empty heads await for the new insights they must learn each day?

                Yes, there are other teachers left in the school who will take charge while the adviser-trainor or subject teacher is away. But can they do the job willingly and offer the best? I think there are some who are still concerned and will do their part willingly, but only a few.

                It is not bad to join contests for it can develop children’s personality and abilities. How about doing it during summer vacation instead of the usual schooldays? By that proposal, everybody will gain from it.

By: Joel S. Danque | Teacher I | Wakas Elementary School | Pilar, Bataan