“No Homework Policy”

Teachers must consider the value of the homework they have to give on their students.
Some of the best types of homework assignments are those that help the students apply what
they are learning, or challenge them within the range of their actual abilities and resources.
A revisit to the executive order mandated by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on “No
Assignment Policy” maybe in order. A more comprehensive study including all levels and all
subjects may be done.
Offer students choices to engage their autonomy and individual learning preferences.
Adapt teaching strategies and activities which are proven helpful in planning the homework
or assignment that you will be giving to the students.
Taking a stand to implement a no homework policy should be based on the needs of the
students and not the opinions of fellow teachers or parents. My stand is that students should
be given homework during weekends for it has a positive impact on their performance.
 “Hazing in PMA“
The third and last word in the PMA’s motto is loyalty. It’s the mortar that holds the
military together, that turns a pile of bricks into a formidable wall.
In the tradition of prestigious, exclusive organizations like fraternities and military
academies, loyalty is forged through shared hardship upon entry into the group: initiation rites.
The overzealous take it further by inflicting physical harm to try the initiate: hazing.
In relation to the recent death of Cadet Dormitorio as a result of maltreatment, one of
several already in the history of PMA, I beg of you to make a strong, bold, and clear stand
against maltreatment in the Corps. Otherwise, this practice will continue to be perpetuated
inside the Academy because cadets look up to their upperclass, who have undergone such
hardships and have made it through.
If, for any reason, you we cannot send a strong message to the cadets that this practice
is outrightly wrong and unnecessary to their training, then may I suggest that it just be removed
from the regulations to stop the confusion arising from the duality of what is being taught to
them in principle and in practice. To those who have made a clear and bold stance against
maltreatment, thank you.
 “Neutral Desk”
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into a law a measure that would require schools to
provide neutral desks to all students in a bid to provide convenience to left-handed students.
Republic Act No. 11394, otherwise known as the “Mandatory Provision of Neutral Desks
in Educational Institutions Act,” was signed by Duterte on August 22 but was made known to
media on Wednesday.
“It shall be obligatory for all educational institutions, both public and private, that make
use of armchairs in the classroom to provide neutral desks to all students,” the new law states.
RA 11395 defines neutral desk as a table or an armchair that is suitable for both right-
handed and left-handed students.
Left-handed students have been waiting for this law for a long time already. Every day
they are faced with an additional challenge in school of having to deal with armchairs that do
not support their ‘uniqueness. Many of them end up suffering from back, neck and shoulder
pain when they force themselves to use the standard-issue desks. My statement on regards to
this is that it’s time that we share equal importance to everyone uniqueness and help it
improve.
 “No Gadgets in Class”
Since the 21st century Era, people has become attached to electronic devices. Even a
third world country like the Philippines has welcomed and embraced the digital culture. In fact
electronic devices tops on the list of imported goods in the Philippines. Consequently, a typical
student enjoys one or two gadgets within the reach of his or her pocket. But the thing is, most
schools prohibit bringing electronic devices – which I think needs a revamp..
Even if bringing these inside the campus is explicitly stipulated in the students’
handbook, they still would bring these in school whether for communication for their parents
(which ironically that parents themselves give to their kids knowing it is a prohibited device) or
simply for their personal entertainment. In its simplest sense – every student who has one
(hidden or in plain sight) is an offender, well the parents of course is an accessory to the
offense. These devices a.k.a “gadgets” could be a great tool in learning. It could simply replace a
simple dictionary, calculator, periodic table of elements , etc. It also can be used in Physics when
analyzing motion of objects, conversion of units, table of physical constants, perhaps recording
of one’s voice in an English class or music class, listening to audio books, something to be used
in copying lectures and notes then sharing it with the rest via social networking sites. There are
hundreds of e-books around while some schools has actually substituted tablets for their
textbooks. In my opinion, the rule itself against these gadget is the reason they have a violation
and we as an educational institution actually miss the opportunity to give an important, very
important lesson to our students. Clearly, we have not actually teach them how to responsibly
use their gadget or to let them enjoy these things without forgetting etiquette that one must
realize in owning one. Sure there are oceans of reasons why we do not allow them (like cheating
etc.) to but that is simply because we had not taught when or how to use it appropriately. If our
education is really a preparation for the real world, what is stopping us from letting them use
those things responsibly?
While some school that has adapted in this era in dealing with this issue (you might
want to check PSHS’ “fair use policy” ) , we just simply say “NO” to it. Time has changed, it
might also mean that some rules, rules that may not seem anymore logical may not apply and
therefore should change.