Sara: It’s final, leave classroom walls bare

[Lee]

Seems to be some discrepancy of what her order actually means. Local news just reported that the order only pertained to grades 1-3.

Quote

 

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte is standing by her order to keep classroom walls free from any decoration, including traditional visual learning aids.

“The order is what it is. Take out everything on the wall and let learners focus on their studies. Classrooms and schools should be clean, orderly and functional,” Duterte said in a statement, read by Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary and spokesman Michael Poa in an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo yesterday.

Duterte issued the statement as several teachers’ groups sought clarification on DepEd Order No. 21, series of 2023 or the implementing guidelines for Brigada Eskwela, which stated that all schools must ensure that “school grounds, classrooms and all their walls and other school facilities are clean and free from unnecessary artwork, decorations, tarpaulin and posters at all times.”

Classroom walls shall remain bare and devoid of posters, decorations or other posted materials. Classrooms should not be used to stockpile materials and should be clear of other unused items or items for disposal,” the DO No. 21 read.

Over the weekend, the Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) advised school heads and teachers “not to take too literally” the DepEd order, adding that the directive may only pertain to “unnecessary posters.”

“We have to understand posters and educational materials really aid in the learning. Studies showed that visual aids really help in the understanding or learning of children,” TDC chairman Benjo Basas said in Filipino.

Poa, however, maintained that all materials on classroom walls must be removed, including visual learning aids, photos of national heroes and past presidents, as well as the artworks of students.

“The directive of our Vice President is ... she really wants all the walls bare. She wants classrooms to be clean, orderly and functional,” he said in English and Filipino in his radio interview.

He added that visual aids might still be used by teachers, but only during their respective classes, pointing out that several subjects are taught inside a single classroom in a day.

Even Duterte, during her participation in the Brigada Eskwela activity in Bansalan, Davao del Sur last Thursday, removed decorations in one classroom, including a printed version of her official portrait, according to Poa.

Duterte was also seen removing materials posted on a bulletin board.

Poa said the DepEd order shall also apply to photos of past presidents and national heroes.

“I know that President Marcos and all other former presidents and all heroes past and present will not at all be bothered if learners focus on their teachers, lessons, projects and assignments,” Duterte said in her statement, as read by Poa during the radio interview.

Asked if crucifixes in classroom walls shall also be removed, the DepEd official did not answer categorically, but stressed that public schools should be “non-sectarian.”

Prayers in classroom must also be non-sectarian for public schools, according to Poa.

“We pray, but what we want is for the prayer to be for all religions, not just for Catholics,” he said in Filipino.

Meanwhile, in an interview aired over ANC, Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro called the DepEd’s order unnecessary and not backed by any study.

“I think the (DepEd) memo is unnecessary. Since the teachers know how to make visuals, especially for learners who really want visuals inside the classrooms ... these are visual aids that help teachers and students in their teaching and learning process. These do not result in distractions or lack of focus, as what the DepEd secretary is saying,” Castro said.

She added that what really distract students from learning is the overcrowding of classrooms due to classroom shortage.

“What really needs to be addressed by the DepEd is the class sizes and the heavy workloads of teachers. The DepEd must also provide learning visuals for our students,” Castro said in Filipino.

“They did not even provide any study (before issuing the order). During the Brigada Eskwela, teachers, students and parents had already prepared the classrooms, including some visual aids. There were no consultations with teachers as to what to do with these visual aids, if these are really needed or not. I think many of our teachers disagree with this memo, as these visual aids really help in the learning process, especially of elementary pupils,” she added.

Sara: It’s final, leave classroom walls bare (msn.com)

 

 

[Dave Hounddriver]

17 minutes ago, Lee said:

“school grounds, classrooms and all their walls and other school facilities are clean and free from unnecessary artwork, decorations, tarpaulin and posters at all times.”

A large part of learning is when the kids make some kind of artwork and it gets posted on the wall.  This rule is too Orwellian.

[Lee]

4 minutes ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

A large part of learning is when the kids make some kind of artwork and it gets posted on the wall.  This rule is too Orwellian.

The Philippine education system has a lot of problems but artwork, posters about numbers ,the alphabet, and the Philippine flag, etc certainly aren't one of them.

[Freebie]

perhaps it was the famous epal.... where some politico has his pic posted along with " these crayons were donated by Congressman/Mayor etc etc.

[Possum]

1 hour ago, Freebie said:

perhaps it was the famous epal.... where some politico has his pic posted along with " these crayons were donated by Congressman/Mayor etc etc.

Every time I see things like that I laugh. It is not like the politico reached in his own pocket to pay for these donations.

Edited August 22, 2023 by Possum

[hk blues]

Has there been any confirmation of the thought process behind this? She must have given some reason why it's so important.

[Lee]

1 hour ago, hk blues said:

Has there been any confirmation of the thought process behind this? She must have given some reason why it's so important.

The second paragraph of the story offers up the only reason for doing this that I have seen. Probably more to follow I would guess.

Quote

The order is what it is. Take out everything on the wall and let learners focus on their studies. Classrooms and schools should be clean, orderly and functional,” Duterte said in a statement

 

[manofthecoldland]

20 hours ago, Lee said:

“The order is what it is. Take out everything on the wall and let learners focus on their studies. Classrooms and schools should be clean, orderly and functional,”

Strange policy it seems, seeing that we already know that most of the citizens have already culturally learned to pretty much take little notice and often pay no heed to things on walls..... e.g. ,  the profusion of colorful political posters, many of the traffic signs, religious admonishments, "Bawal Umihi Ditto", posted prices (always ask for their discount..lol ) .

Clean ? There is a case for that, but it is seldom the schools, houses or property that needs more brooming, only the general or public areas.

Functional ?  Guess that most public agencies and institutions could use a 'redo', but its the adults you'd have to educate, not the smallest of children.

Oh well, you know how it is here..... always expect to see maraming flip-flops of many types and in many matters.

I have little doubt, that this too shall pass.

[Lee]

[hk blues]

I just can't help but think why are folks spending time on such a policy - is it really such a big deal and is there really a payback?