REVERIE SONOROUS SUBTLETIES Samantha Chedrick Wallis
Looking at the face of the latest topnotcher, you made yourself believe that the next one to be on that tarpaulin would be you. Or at least you’d be one of. But as you looked at your review score, your heart sank. Ten years of a student’s life is spent on general education. College is for specialization. Quality education, wellequipped students, being globally-competetive, that’s what we dream of. That’s what you enrolled for…right? Now,
why don’t we ‘review’ some of our classes?
A 10-page hand out is given. Everyone reads. The teacher asks what is written. That is the lesson.
EMPTY SEATS
Class #1: The Art of Doing Nothing The class has been in for five minutes and the teacher hasn’t arrived. Another ten minutes, and still, the teacher doesn’t show up. The class merrily leaves the classroom grateful for escaping the boredom of another lesson.
implications of the lesson. So, most are left to guess what the basic facts are.
Class #2: Class Clown Eagerly, the class waits for the teacher. It’s another period of laugh out loud moments. The class gets the teacher to crack jokes while the lesson rots in the background.
Class #5: Scientific Method You can’t understand the procedure of the activity. You ask the teacher how to do it. You are told to ‘read the procedure.’ Your eloquent classmate answers your question as the teacher readily approves. When you looked in the library for cross-reference, the procedure was wrong. So, would the topnotch spot remain a reverie? M
Class #3: Induction The teacher assumes that you have read the prescribed book, which the library has but three copies. In class, you leave out the basic facts and discuss on the
OBSOLETE FREEDOM
SCC ONLINE Erwin Keith Alipio
DOMINO EFFECT Reynaly Mannag
For in absence we come to realize what really exists. Everyday we go to school where we believe we acquire our education—equipped with the armor of knowledge that will be indispensable in our chosen career and future profession. We positioned ourselves as receivers of wisdom—a set-up that we must all be thankful for. Keeping all these in mind allows us to remain stuck on our seat inside the four-cornered structure in order to imbibe all the lessons being taught and forever be grateful for without the proper direction of this learning institution, we are lost and bound to be nothing. But what if we change route? What if, just what if, every student refuses to come to his or her classes? Just how important a student is in an institution can be likened to the priceless contribution of a worker in a factory. If the laborers cease the working process, then there would be stoppage of production. Every factory closes and there will be no goods to produce and sell in the market where the economy is largely dependent. Also there is no tax to be extracted from purchases and sales and this will weaken the lifeblood of the government. The nation would be in chaos. Make it all real and the public’s attention will be drawn to how important an ordinary laborer is. Similarly, the students are the wheels of the learning institution. By their mere presence, they make possible the transactions of acquiring knowledge, upholding excellence and sooner, holding the banner as the end product of this land. But their absence defines the need to be heard when they speak what they believe is right, just and fair. For without them, the school operations would be paralyzed, leaving behind an institution with a deformed vision and mission. For when the route is changed, it doesn’t mean delinquency to follow the directions stated. It just means we have to take a pause and consider the possibilities of a new reality—a reality that without the students who are actually the societal change of this nation, an institution is as good as an empty seat denied of the privilege to serve its purpose. M
Class #4: (Un)alysis A 10-page hand out is given. Everyone reads. The teacher asks what is written. That is the lesson.
In this world, there is no such thing as absolute freedom. Wherever a person may go, he or she is limited by laws, policies and regulations. Inside the school, students are laid out with policies which they need to abide; however, there are still some who find it difficult to follow such rules. In the student handbook, it is clearly stated that vandalism is a big ‘NO’ inside the campus and it is such a sad thing to say that some break such simple rules. Some students are even confused with the mentality of others who find joy in writing names and obscene sketches or drawings on walls. Whatever kind of joy they are currently feeling, they must really feel proud and happy. I feel sorry for those who own the names written on the walls of every building and comfort rooms in the university. The comfort room is the last place on earth I want my name to be found. Another issue is that some students hate being corrected, even though they know that they are wrong. If you know you are wrong, admit that you are, and if you are right, talk in a calm voice. Keep in mind that a dignified person does not raise his or her voice but improves his or her arguments. Strict is a word that defines our
instructors, deans, administrators and, of course, security officials. And as students, we should know why they are so-called strict. It is because rules are useless if not paired with strict implementation
If you know you are wrong, admit that you are... and monitoring. Students have rights, but let us not forget that we also have responsibilities. Once we enrolled in the institution, we were automatically given rights as students and as people, and the cost of such rights is the responsibility to abide with the rules set, not to lower our dignity as students, but
continued on page 14 September 2012 The MARIAN
13