This an argument for a few who would not finish their MA or worse, not take their MA. I understand this refers to some high school subjects like history and the like where the MA taker ends up not knowing anything.
We all know that taking MA units is mainly an exercise in wasting time. The genuine teacher would waste his time studying his lessons, checking test papers and doing other things associated with a teacher. If still a mother, she has to take care of little children. The last thing she will do is take her MA if she has that choice.
But taking his MA is a required option. A teacher in high school is required to do so. One who takes so few units is in grave danger of being low in his rating as a teacher. Thus, he foregoes other things for his MA. As if that is the number one requirement in this world.
Taking one’s MA sometimes demand a major area that is not in anyway related to one’s line. For instance, it is common to see someone taking a course, in the hope that he gets a non-teaching but well-paying job later on. She later becomes a principal and may find it practical to major in something. When this is the case. His original major becomes close to becoming worthless but the eventual need to change his MA major seems to be needed. Of course, the taking of a different major does the same thing.
The main example here is a man I truly know. He was from UP, a former no-performer there. He used to be a former National Science Development Board (NSDB) national scholar then. He was with the first batch of the Philippine Science High School, a batch for the entire country. Later he realizes that there was nothing in the offered courses that hat likes. Thus, the sure way was for him to junk his scholarship to find a better course. He missed chemistry for a semester.
He was a good student before doing away with chemistry and he was one of only six of more than 50 who passed. I am referring to Chemistry 18, which he took as a freshman. Bu the third chemistry, which he took as a sophomore was the one he intentionally failed and wanted to fail. He did and he did not attend ALL class meetings. He failed.
He was the valedictorian of his batch and it was not a part of his plan to make failing his classes the norm. But those were turbulent days partly because of activism. And the planned seriousness in his studies hardly took place. He was always busy with what he was reading. But he was almost not busy with his studies.
Almost surely, he wanted SOCIAL SCIENCES. But he felt he was unequal to the task because his training in that area was not equal to his heart’s desire. He needed at least 2 more years for that line. But his parents are both dead. And his brother, who did well and was at least two years older than he, also lost his scholarship. Their siblings would now send to school two younger brothers. After spending a few more years at UP, both brothers decided to call it quits after spending some time in UP, without finishing their courses.
Had he been rich, he would finish social sciences no matter how long that will take him.
His older brother found a job and it took his boss a little time dissecting his talent. While still a good student also at UP, he did better than his younger brother. He said to himself: my younger brod deserves a second crack at UP. Thus, the older brother finished his own studies and soon after sent his younger brother back to school. Enrolled as a journalism student, journalism, almost doubled as a social science. It was practically a breeze, finishing what remained as academic requirement in no time at all.
There was the obvious choice of teaching after graduation. He tried high school but he was beaten to Philippine history by someone else. So he was tried in English which he did not like. He left after some months and was replaced by an English major.
Most students persuaded, through a petition, the provincial education officials to send him back but to no avail. He permanently left the school and there was nothing left for him there.
He joined the Bataan Colleges, made to teach mainly English again. Later, a little math was brought into the mix. Though math was his best subject in college, it was just right for him. Then, the sociology department assigned some social sciences and what he liked finally brighten his eyes. By that time, English became his cup of tea. But the school boss disliked him. And he did not become happy. He finally decided to major in social science which he took in Manila.
In 1992 a brother died and during the wake two officials of another college in Bataan saw him and offered a teaching job. His relationship with his former school not going anywhere, he gladly accepted the job. When his schedule of classes was shown him, he was beside with joy. Most of his subjects were HISTORY, his heart’s desire many years ago. Soon he enrolled in Manila for the remainder of his MA.
The school did not wait for him to finish his MA. Without him finishing it, he was made a permanent instructor. He finally became what he wished when he was 18.
Everything turned out well till the school aimed at accreditation. The accreditors wanted all teachers to have their MA but the rules were not so. In another school, they had to go to court for wanting those without an MA out of the school. They lost. Significantly, an old teacher also wanted all to be MA degree holders. She has her MA but she was far off our male instructor’s talent. But she was working for accreditation and she probably hated his talent. She removed him from education, for a while, said she. But teaching in education is close for him to teaching. His reason was simple: the more education students he taught, the more future students would benefit from him.
And by virtue of the old female’s desire, he became worthless. He soon was hit by a stroke, and another one. He retired from work but received a final amount: his benefits turned out sufficient. He was happy at the end of his career.
Incidentally, the special man is my husband.
By: Teresa Canare | Bataan National Highschool | Balanga, Bataam
