Two are better than One

My class LS 306 is on the third week of mentoring the students of LS 305 in their Geometry subject. This is a service being done by my class as part of the Lasallian Education Assistance Program ( LEAP ) and the Cooperative Learning Activity initiated by Ms. Edith Africa, a Level 9 Math teacher.

It is nice to see my students faithfully doing their work to help fellow Lasallians understand the said subject. They sacrifice their time during lunch break for the ministry, and I observe that they are enjoying what they are doing in which they share their talents, skills, and time for the academically-challenged students of our school.

To motivate my class, I always remind them of the Lord’s message: ‘To whom much is given, much is also expected (Luke 12:48).” I hope they will continue to give their time for the two programs that aim to improve the academic performance of the academically-challenged students and to nurture good relationship among students in the level. I pray that other teachers would also join us in the fulfilling the Lasallian mission of teaching minds, touching hearts, and transforming lives of the students entrusted to our care through these programs.

It's CAREing TIME AGAIN

We've started our CAREing apostolate this school year and this time we have five public schools to take CARE of every week. The whole level 9 community is now part of this apostolate of teaching the youth of today. We welcome all the Level 9 students and coworkers in the Christian Living Department who have been actively responding to the call of accomplishing the Lasallian mission of teaching minds, touching hearts, and transforming lives of the pupils entrusted to our care.

Lenten: Call to repentance and good deeds

This morning we had our Ash Wednesday Mass to begin the season of Lent. Students and teachers gathered together to heed the call to repentance and conversion, fasting and abstinence, and the invitation to do good deeds especially to the marginalized members of the community.

For me the most effective and acceptable offering to God is to back up our prayers with actions, our faith expressed in good works. All our sacrifices, good intentions and fasting would render useless if no concrete action is taken up. As what the old proverb says: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.' Thus, as followers of Christ we should be more of actions rather than of words; we should walk the talk.

Student's Viewpoint

CORRUPTION: A shameful Truth!

To be honest, when CL class started today with a documentary about graft and corruption. I was still in doubt about it being our country’s number one problem. I was still standing up for my answer: poverty. I had a long list of reasons why, but I held my tongue and watched GMA’s Philippine Agenda episode on “Katiwalian”.

I couldn’t explain what I felt while watching the documentary. It was a mixture of anger, hopelessness and despair. I was deeply bothered by what I witnessed and I can really and surely say that it truly was an eye-opener. The documentary stated that one hundred million pesos is wasted on corruption everyday. One hundred million pesos! It’s preposterous. That’s an awfully large amount. Hearing this made me groan in great disgust. How selfish and egotistic can these people be? How can they stand seeing our country suffer and crush into ruins while they’re living in luxury, using someone else’s money.. someone who probably has barely enough. Filthy and insensitive thieves!

“Many corrupt acts are made in the name of the family”. This line is said to explain the reasons behind corruption in our country’s people. People are left with no choice but to lie cheat and steal.. according to them. But I believe that’s just nonsense. They’re just trying to justify their actions, and it’s a poor excuse. Everyone has a choice to do what is right or to do what is wrong. It’s unfair to let something innocent and right like a family be the reason for one’s personal mistakes and lapses. Besides, other people who are corrupt already have more than enough financially. Other people like our fraudulent government officials. They’re greedy insensitives who couldn’t care less as long as they get what they want. I can’t imagine what kind of conscience they have (if they do have one) to be able to stand a dying nation. How do they live with the fact that they’re the ones who brought this “death” to our nation? I simply couldn’t grasp the notion.

Right now, I don’t solely feel remorse. Instead, fiery rage also burns within me whenever the thought of us suffering in the hands of avaricious leaders enters my mind. Truthfully, a burden for my nation and country was planted deep in my heart. I had an impulse to declare myself as the president of the Philippines then “clean” our government positions, replacing them with non corrupt officials. I want and I will send to jail every corrupt person and improve the implementation of laws against corruption. Of course, I will practice what I preach. I wouldn’t be like our officials today who only run for candidacy because they desire the power the position brings. They only want it for themselves and not for the betterment of our country. I want to do all these right now! As silly and ridiculous as that sounds, I just deeply fear that it’s too late for our country.. that we can no longer turn this situation around.

Dana Benitez
LS 407

L.E.A.P. 4 Athletes

L.E.A.P. for Athletes


INTRODUCTION

I have been a teacher of several athletes for twelve years and I’ve noticed that majority of them were academically-challenged and had not performed well in academics. The advisory class I handled last year and the one I am handling right now have a high number of athletes, and the experience of being with them everyday gives me a significant information on how to address their situation. They have been in this situation not because of their inability to learn but because of their everyday training and regular competitions that sap their energy, take away their time and focus in studying and reviewing their lessons.

It is in this context that leads me to decide that the program I implemented in my class LS 305 last school year can also help them improve in their academic performance. I am proposing “L.E.A.P. for Athletes” which stands for Lasallian Education Assistance Program for Athletes. This simple program aims: (1) to provide academic assistance to academically-challenged athletes through tutoring, mentoring and coaching, (2) to improve the academic performance of the athletes, and (3) to inculcate the value of formal education in achieving their goal to succeed as an athlete.

The said program would also give the academic community the opportunity to share their time, effort, and energy with the academically-challenged athletes in the Integrated school; and at the same time addressing the clamor of some parents to have a clear academic program for the athletes in Senior Learning Community.

I believe that having this kind of program, we would be able to provide a holistic formation of our athletes following the popular Latin maxim: “Mens sana in corpore sano”—which means “ A sound mind in a sound body.” It is also imperative to all of us to respond to the need of these young Lasallian athletes who continually give their very best performance during sports competition.

Process of Implementation

1. The author submits and proposes the program to the Vice-Chancellor for Mission, Sports Director, Principal, and Assistant Principal for deliberation and approval, and to the PENCIL, Inc. for whatever assistance it can give to the program.
2. The I.S. academic council will articulate on the details of the program and come up with various ways of providing academic mentors, tutors, and coaches for the athletes.
3. If possible, the Academic Council will appoint one academic adviser for the athletes whose function is to monitor the grades of the athletes, and provide necessary information to the Council for a needed intervention. S/he informs the athletes to regularly attend the sessions.
4. Budget for the program is needed for paying tutors and the teachers who will conduct remedial sessions for the academically-challenged athletes.

5. The program will follow the schedule below:

A. The academic adviser informs the athletes to attend tutoring or remedial sessions.
B. There should be at least 3 sessions a week to be held in a designated room.
C. The subjects to be reviewed for the day will be determined by the academic adviser based on the students’ academic performance.
D. A minimum of 30 minutes will be allotted for each session that starts at 12:10 to 12:40.
E. The assigned teacher/s in a particular subject area will facilitate the remedial, review, mentoring sessions for the athletes.
F. The Academic Adviser will inform subject teachers about the program so that they could be of help in providing feedbacks on the students’ performance in their subject area.

Prepared by:

Raul Paras
CL Teacher
PENCIL, Inc. Representative-Level 9

January 18, 2010

Issue # 1 : Graft and Corruption

Since last week I have been discussing the various issues that our country is facing today, and in order to know the opinion of my students about the topic I asked them to participate in the survey by voting and expressing their thoughts about the top problem that should be addressed first by the government. After the poll's closing time, graft and corruption got the highest votes and the students believed that the said problem is the root cause of all other problems in the Philippine society. The opinions of my students on graft and corruption reflect the stand of the Church about the issue by saying that: “Graft and corruption is our country’s biggest problem right now”. To give support to this issue, I am posting in full an article written by Msgr. Socrates Villegas, former Bishop of Balanga, to invite us to do something and find a solution to the issue of graft and corruption in the government.

“To steal is wrong. It is a crime. It is a sin. When stealing is done by those high up in power and authority, it carries a greater culpability. The corruption of the best is the worst. The social problem of graft and corruption in public life in our country has reached abominable and embarrassing proportions. How shall we describe graft and corruption in our country? It is systemic. It is rewarding. It hurts the poor the most.
Graft and corruption is systemic and structural. It is not only individual or isolated persons who corrupt and get corrupted. The present system—the elected and the electors, the employers and the employees, the appointed and the appointing powers—has become so corrupt that what we do need is a radical, systemic, interior change. Changing personages through the electoral process or even through legal processes like impeachment and court suits will not necessarily result in reform unless there is a willingness to change from the heart and soul. Pinning our hopes on legal processes unaccompanied by conversion from within will lead us to nowhere but deeper frustrations. We can hear the protest “Tama na. Sobra na. Alis na.. Kami naman!”. It is important that those who investigate or prosecute corrupt officials will not gain political or financial benefits from convicting or absolving the accused.
Graft and corruption is rewarding and rewarded. It is hardly punished. The politicization of the judiciary and the perennial rumors about rogues in robes are problems we need to address urgently. Vigilance is lacking... Political will is weak. Prosecution plays favorites. The penal system is flawed. Pardon and clemency is cheap. Among our people, there is an increasing level of tolerance for corrupt officials. Corruption does not seem to anger many of us anymore. We are not outraged enough by graft and corruption... Widespread graft has sadly numbed our morals.
The public money that goes to graft is money stolen from the poor. Because of graft and corruption, schools buildings cannot be constructed and teachers are not paid; public hospitals cannot protect us from untimely death; soldiers are deprived of their just wages.
Our biggest problem in our country is graft and corruption. This problem must be faced courageously now. We are risking the life of our nation if we continue to ignore it. I appeal to the consciences of our countrymen. Do not leave the solution of graft and corruption to corrupt officials. Our problem cannot be our solution. Let us come together as Catholic faithful to fight the sin of graft and corruption. We cannot profess faith in God and not get angry at widespread graft and corruption. Faith in God and outrage at sin go together. Outrage is not enough; it must lead to action. If we are not outraged by the sin of stealing happening all over our once beautiful land, could it be that our faith has turned cold and uncaring? If your faith has turned cold and uncaring, how can you be saved? Fight corruption or lose your soul!
I place this appeal at the feet of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.”
From the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Balanga City, November 27, 2008
+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
Bishop of Balanga