“Isang Bagsak” translates to “one down, one fall”
The term symbolizes the importance of the power of the people.
Today was our first day joining our Teach for the Philippines Fellows in their classrooms! Every experience was different. This speaks of one story.
The term symbolizes the importance of the power of the people.
Today was our first day joining our Teach for the Philippines Fellows in their classrooms! Every experience was different. This speaks of one story.
“Large class sizes, small rooms, no air con, limited resources, lack of professional development” are just some items on the list of complaints I am guilty of making as a teacher in East Oakland, California. After today’s experience in a Philippine public elementary school, you won’t hear a single complaint from me, ever again. In my classroom in Marikina, there are 30-50 students in a room just large enough for desks, no air conditioning in 80-90 degree weather (with 100% humidity), and a white board the size of a binder. Despite all these problems, Philippine public school teachers are going to work every day without complaint. Talking to Teach for the Philippines Fellows (whose experience parallels Teach for America Corp Members) their passion and their honest concern for their students, their community and the work they do are the only things on their mind. I spent the entire day with Catherine Castanares, a grade 3 teacher at Sto. Nino Elementary School in Marikina. She teaches English (language, reading, grammar), Filipino (language, reading, grammar), music, art, PE, health, social studies and science from 6:00am-12:00pm. She also incorporates lessons on character development, responsibility, theater and expression. Our commonalities and passions align so much, it’s scary.
Teaming up with “Ate Castan” (“Ate” is the Filipino term for “older sister”) has allowed for an exchange of meaningful conversations that have given me a deeper understanding of public schools in Marikina and a deeper understanding of student life A few things to note about the specific school I am working in: Students carry school supplies but have no books in their backpacks or in the classrooms students spend their 10 minute recess inside their classroom, thus, both students and teachers get no break from the classroom.
Regardless of the difficulties with the school system, Ate Castan and her 39 third graders gave me a huge sense of hope that doesn’t always exist in public school education. Ate Castan and her fellow teachers go to work everyday to help improve the lives of their students. Despite the physical limitations of the school, Ate Castan doesn’t let the situation or the systems get in the way of her work to achieve student success
Teaming up with “Ate Castan” (“Ate” is the Filipino term for “older sister”) has allowed for an exchange of meaningful conversations that have given me a deeper understanding of public schools in Marikina and a deeper understanding of student life A few things to note about the specific school I am working in: Students carry school supplies but have no books in their backpacks or in the classrooms students spend their 10 minute recess inside their classroom, thus, both students and teachers get no break from the classroom.
Regardless of the difficulties with the school system, Ate Castan and her 39 third graders gave me a huge sense of hope that doesn’t always exist in public school education. Ate Castan and her fellow teachers go to work everyday to help improve the lives of their students. Despite the physical limitations of the school, Ate Castan doesn’t let the situation or the systems get in the way of her work to achieve student success
With this experience in Marikina in combination with my own in Oakland public schools, I’m reflecting on my strengths and weaknesses as a public school educator. How can I enter Ate Castan’s grade 3 classroom at St. Nino Elementary and leave these students and my fellow teachers with a greater understanding of their purposes? How can I continue to fight for equity and quality education for these Filipino students in partnership with my partner teacher? What can I do in this situation to gain the most possible for this community? |