Back in the 70’s and 80’s, school atmosphere was totally different. School children were more studious that though they were not told, they had the initiative to study on their own and study habits were strongly instilled, that before they went out to play after school, they would definitely finish their homework for the next day and whatever school task they were assigned to do.

I could remember how I would do my homework for Monday on a Friday so that I would not forget everything during the weekend.

Pupils were more disciplined that though teachers may be out for other school work, the whole class would be able to finish their seatwork and what have you –  quietly, with only peer-teachers around to supervise them.

Pupils could easily recognize eye contact and sign language that keeping the class quiet would only be a matter of “SShhh.” and “ PPsst!”

Pupils once caught doing something wrong and once scolded by the teacher would politely say “I’m sorry” to Ma’am when everyone else had gone out of the classroom.

School pupils would not show up outside if they unavoidably get absent for fear that classmates and the teacher might see him and think that he was only making excuses for his absence.

But now, things have greatly changed.

You ask a pupil why he didn’t do his homework and he would plainly say, “I forgot.” And that’s it.

You ask him questions from yesterday’s lesson and he would not be able to answer quickly and correctly unless he opens his book and reads his notes. And who learned? The notebook!

You ask him why he was absent and he would easily say, “Tinamad po ako.” or “Wala lang po.” Not even thinking of giving even the lousiest excuse in order to justify his absence.

And you tell the class to keep quiet and you may already be shouting to the top of your voice and only a few would dare listen – just those who care much about their grades.

Is this how the setting has changed? And is this the track that public education is leading to?

With this kind of generation of school children, we would definitely need to find a place where to buy extra and hopefully unlimited patience.

Patience to deal with the most annoying pupils who even have the guts to bully the teacher saying: “Taba naman ni Ma’am?” or “Dami nyo ng puti Ma’am?”

Patience to handle a class where everyone seems to be wanting to talk and nobody wishes to listen, but ask them a question and give them the chance to recite, and they would not be able to do so, and if ever they did, they would hesitantly give the answer – after all the scratching of head and rubbing of the face.

Patience to teach pupils whom you teach today and who forget a few minutes after; whom after telling them what to do, would still ask what to do – “Get a half sheet of paper.” And one would immediately ask: “Ma’am, one half po?”

Patience to tolerate pupils who do not seem to use common sense at all: You tell them that some trash is on the floor and ask them to get the broom, and the one who gets the broom would still ask: “Ma’am aanhin po ito?”

Let us all hope that someday, we could find a way to increase our patience and to keep cool when you most feel hot; to feel relaxed when you are greatly stressed and to be patient when you terribly become impatient.

Where can we buy patience? Answers? Anyone?

 

 

 

By: Gemmaruth G. Castro | Jose V. Abejar Memorial Elementary School | Abucay, Bataan