Wednesday, August 31, 2005

alternative classes

maybe it's just because i have four major papers lined up for this sem, plus other talks, seminars, workshops, and many other small and big tasks to do here in my house that i have from time to time entertained the thought of the "no classes" scenario. how about going back to the old spirit behind the ACP (alternative class program) in Ateneo? it started in 1986 where students' classes were held in the streets, in EDSA 1. they may have missed attending formal classes, but i bet some other important things were inculcated in their minds, like the importance of nation and being involved.

presently, many of the college students are in fact in the dark about what's happening right now. it's not surprising to hear students who would ask, even at this stage of our country's crisis, the following questions: "bro, bakit po nag-sorry si GMA?" "sir, what's a rally?" "ma'am, sino po si lozano?"

in fairness to these students, they have lots of projects to submit too, and exams to prepare for (i don't know, maybe some professors think that their class is the single most important thing in the world) . add to that their responsibilities to their respective orgs. plus of course, being young, they have to spend a significant amount of time in waste. that's what being young is really all about. but normal students can only waste so much, and the time left for productivity is already filled up by what i said above.

doing all these intellectual stuff will surely educate them, will nourish their spirits. but why not take this current crisis, and turn it into opportunity for these students to nourish their spirits with other noble ideas and emotions too. crises as big as what we're having right now doesn't come too often (at least not as complicated as this one, maybe it's black and white to many who have access to a lot of info, but to these students, i doubt it). maybe Ateneo should seize the moment, turn it as venue for a different kind of learning.

and who knows, maybe it's time that some of the professors get a different kind of education on what education is also about.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pitiful students. What kind of education are they receiving?

Chinky Ü said...

When I left a message in your previous post asking you about how the march to congress went, I was actually at the library at that time, burning my brain cells for my exam the following day. I felt frustrated, firstly, because I wasn't able to join the group that went to congress that morning because I had to attend class; and secondly, because I have to bury myself in the piled up requirements I have to finish & as a result, I sacrifice my time for being informed about the many pertinent issues concerning our government. I find myself skimming through articles on the web on the current events but not really understanding & giving myself time to reflect on the many issues our society is facing from day to day. Because of the amount of stress that accumulates everyday from being a student, I can't help but focus on my personal concerns, which in turn further pulls me away from giving effort in being concerned with national issues. Nakaka-frustrate dahil gusto mo'ng maging malay, gusto mo'ng makisali, gusto mo'ng makialam, pero mismong ang pamantasan na umaadhika na kumilos ay siya mismong pumipigil sa mga estudyante nito. This may not be applicable to all, but I'm just saying this from where I'm coming from. And yes, I'm at lib again right now. STRESS. hahaha (Sorry Bro, dito ko nilabas. hehehe) Hope you're doing ok.Ü

three stars and a sun said...

hi chinky...hehe, you can always use this as venue for your rants. many people read this too so maybe i hope that some of the teachers might chance to hear us out...

Nan Santamaria said...

wow, tatlo na kaminga avid readers mo, ah. kami tatlong tala incarnated! haha.

on a serious tone, i feel the same as chinky ngayong panahon para matuto sa labas. gusto ko ng totoong classroom para sa mga atenista--kung saan pinag-uusapan ang mga gustong pag-usapan, ang mga dapat pag-usapan. parang gusto kong sumbatan ang mga teachers ko na puro klase lang nila ang laman ng utak. sila ang dahilan kung bakit pwersado ang mga estudyante na manatili na lang sa loob ng klase kahit nagkakaletse-letse na sa labas.

even more seriously, may effort bang gawin ang acp ngayon na? willing akong tumulong sa pag-organise.

three stars and a sun said...

hehe, we will have to lobby pa. i'll tell you more if this will even be considered, as of now, it's just an idea floating, hoping that it'll fall on the right people...