TRIAL AND ANSWERS

Since time immemorial, it has been a tradition to write down your answers on a piece of paper when taking a test or something to that effect. Gone were the days, because it has been changed to a more advanced answer sheet for taking a periodical test every quarter. It was said that it makes checking and item analysis accurate, easy and convenient for teachers. But does this new answer sheet really has an advantage? Is it way far better than writing down letters on a piece of paper?

As someone who constantly changes answers or is unsure of her own comprehension, who makes too many erasures here and there. I have always had trouble looking at tiny things; the new answer sheet that we are currently using for the periodic exams sure puts me at a disadvantage. As for these new and advanced answer sheets, though you are given the chance to correct your errors you will have a second thought, since if you tried to do so, a mark of erasure would be left and your answer would already be considered wrong even though it was right.

These tiny little circles for choices manage to confuse and make students dizzy every time they look at them. This make it harder for students to look for numbers they have skipped that could be one of the causes of losing a point or more. An hour is the time limit for taking the periodic exams, and the new answer sheet or the process of shading each of a student’s answers is much more time-consuming as the shading of answers needs to be done precisely within the circle. Instead of simply writing down the letter of the answer, which is what we are used to, students were hindered from maximizing or making use of their time more efficiently to focus on the exam questions since they needed to allocate some of their time for the shading part.

Furthermore, the fact that the school and the division office was still trying out the new answer sheets effectiveness already shows that they were not yet ready or fully functional to put into use. Letting the students use it as is before further research or tests was already so unfair for us. As this new answer sheet prevents us from reaching the score goal we have set for ourselves or from at least passing the exam. Since it limits the students ability to correct our mistakes once we have found something wrong with our answers or could not see what number we have missed when taking the exam.

The new answer sheets truly do make the teachers’ work a lot easier, but we can not just turn a blind eye to the much bigger dilemma it causes for students. Making it harder for us due to a silly little mistake of missing a number because the choices or the mini-circles to be shaded are a little confusing. Thus, robbed us of the opportunity to have a point or to get a score higher than what the scan result has shown.

Periodic exams have a huge impact on students grade, if the answer sheet is one of the causes or reasons why a student would fail an exam or the quarter, just how could we say that the new answer sheets are really that convenient compared to what we were used to when it was actually one of the reasons for a student’s failing grade?

Does this actually help the students perform better and get good scores?

Those who are sitting on the chairs of the school government should listen to the students’ woes,so that the students’ potential would not be wasted just because of a piece of paper. It is high time to listen to the plea of the students, no to trial and answer.

We are taught what is right and wrong, yet only a few live up to it throughout their lives. That is why, we still see students who vandalize public areas and they must be stopped. Students should see the value of public properties, especially in school as it has consequences they have to face if they are caught red handed.

Vandalism has become one of today’s most serious issues among youngsters, commonly, teenagers who are the generation that one day might bring fundamental changes in our society. But how can we expect them to bring changes if they do not apply the morals we were taught?.

“Ang Bagong Silangan High School ay masasabi na isang malinis na paaralan kahit nung dumating pa si Dr. Ruth Yap, ang ating PSDS (Public School District Supervisor), napansin niya ang kalinisan, kaya nga lang may mga ilang talagang pader na... yung sa hallway natin na talagang mismong blackboard ay sinusulatan ng mga estudyante”. Mrs. Mary Jane Talag, Head Teacher of Grade 10 said. She also encountered some students who were painting in the corridors, some obscene paintings.

“Bagong Silangan High School is also known as a clean school even when Dr. Ruth Yap, our PSDS, noticed the cleanliness, that’s why there are actually some walls that... the one in our hallway that is actually a blackboard was actually vandalized by students.”

The most serious consequence a student has to face in vandalism includes restitution, suspension, expulsion, and exclusion from school. Schools are against vandalism, as it ruins an honorable place where we learn moralities. In addition, students of Bagong Silangan High School play a vital role in understanding how consequential vandalism can be. The school should provide advice and guidance to students about the importance of respecting public property.

Students play an integral part in keeping the school’s environment clean and tidy. Vandalism is still and will always be a growing issue unless we take action. We must be an advocate for our fellow students and teach them how unethical vandalism is. Everyone needs to value everything, even if it’s a small thing. As simple as writing or painting on public property, we also put paint over morals.

Nowadays, mental health is still seen as an invalid excuse for students suffering from a certain problem, point in case, the impact on their academic achievement. The association between depression and lower general average has been pretty well established. Are students going to be left hanging by a thread in their mental health?

“Try to take a break, and just get back to it,” is the motto of most students whenever things don’t go in their favor, as so much is given to them without knowing they have already reached their breaking point. A typical scenario for every student is that they just want to do their best to achieve their desired academic achievement.

It is undeniable that having great mental health is an advantage in terms of learning, as students can focus and accomplish more compared to those who have mental health issue, as they tend to be stressed, out of focus, and can’t concentrate on things they need to accomplish.

Additionally, students tend to hide things about their mental health with fear of being judged and not being heard by someone they really trust, a stigma that is highly observable not just at schools but also at their homes.

“Mental health matters”, it may mean a lot but was only left in words as no actions had been taken to address the issue. Without any proper care, students’ mental health would still and always be left hanging by a thread.

Allocating funds for the need of students in terms of mental health, such as counseling and wellness program would mean a lot to students, as they would somehow feel that the school care for them.