On the supposed changes in Pisay

I’ve seen the posts going around in Tumblr and Facebook about the supposed changes this coming school year. I also noticed that the reaction — particularly in Tumblr — is of stunned surprise mixed with disappointment over the ‘elementary school’ type of changes that are about to happen.

Allow me to quote one Tumblr post I saw.

We won’t have to go from one room to the next. We’ll have a permanent classroom, and it’s the teachers who will go from room to room. (Just like elementary)

Lockers will be inside the classroom.

We will have two breaks. Sometime before lunch, and lunch break itself.

We will have a “study period” where we should be in the classroom/library doing assignments.(So less work pag uwi daw)

Flag Ceremony will start at 7:30 (it was 7:10 before right?)

We will have one day every week where will have early dismissal.

Here’s what I have to say.

1. I cannot confirm the schedule changes yet because there are possible last minute revisions to be made. The unit heads will be meeting with the academic chief on May 30 to go through the schedules one more time so nothing is set in stone as of yet.

2. I think the posts are mostly overreacting, but I understand that this is mostly a function of not knowing. I’ve seen the schedules. I’ve seen the changes and additions being made. It really isn’t that big a change, but there is a conscious effort to make things easier and lighter for the students. But sure, I’ll confirm this: you have short breaks from 9:10 to 9:30 and 2:30 to 2:50 every day (except on Monday; FlagCem takes the place of the 9:10 break). The reason? So you guys (and us teachers too) can breathe, take a quick snack if you need to, and pull things together in between classes. Here’s a newsflash: We know we put our students through a lot of stress, so we’re finding ways to make it a little easier.

3. The admin is actively finding ways to give you guys more time for outreach, field trips, intrams, and extracurricular activities. See which ‘rumor’ this may be compatible with.

4. Yes, Flag Cem is at 7:30 now but I’ll be assembling everyone a good 10 minutes before that. I’ll be coordinating with the SA and CAT soon so that we can begin the spot check around late June or first week of July. I’ll give you guys enough time to get yourselves ready and acclimated to some of my new rules which I will debut during your orientations.

5. There will be study periods throughout the week where each section gets to have exclusive library, lab, or even auditorium time depending on their need. I find this beneficial, given the amount of research, discussions, and rehearsals you guys have to do. If before you had to scrap together loose minutes to practice for, say, Ramayana (3rd years), well you won’t have to do that now.

6. And last, about the stationary classrooms. Truth be told, this has always been the idea especially for the 1st and 2nd years. There will still be movement when you go from your ‘home room’ to a lab or lecture room. Moreover, we teachers have always been the ones moving from classroom to classroom ever since. This year, there has been a conscious effort to avoid excessive movement. I’ve had a section last year who had a class at SHB-317 then went to third floor ASTB for the next period and then back to SHB-317 for my class. The schedulers have done their best to minimize and avoid that kind of arrangement, hence the image of ‘stationary classrooms’. But let’s be realistic. It’s not like you’ll be doing lab experiments or using computers in the third floor SHB so don’t sweat it.

A NOTE ON CHANGE

Guys, all I have to say is that Pisay is in a period of transition. You’re lucky to be in the middle of it all. In the past years, we’ve taken a good hard look at ourselves and are now changing what we can in the most practical and feasible way. We have a mandate to meet, and that is to form and educate the most excellent scholars possible. We are committed to finding the best ways to do that.

I hope you understand if I can’t say a clear ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ to each piece of information floating around. I’d say that we’re about 95% to the finish line, but I would want those making the big decisions to have the final say as to what the remaining 5% will be. Who knows? Someone might hit a big idea and things change drastically. I wouldn’t want to say one thing now, and say another thing later. Let the new things come at the start of the new school year.

All I can assure you now is that none of these changes are random. They’re all well-thought out and have their own reasons and justifications. What I promise to do, once we hit 100%, is to communicate this as clearly and as effectively to every single one of you. And if ever you feel that things can still be done better, we will listen to you. Just promise me to give things a shot. Many times before the school has been accused of being stuck in the past. Well, we’re moving forward now. Make sure you keep up.

Enjoy your last few vacation days! You’ll hear what’s new with the DO very, very soon.

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