Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

Introduction

Rationale

Bohol Wisdom School is non-sectarian academic-oriented

institution. It is known to train students in their

preparation for life and service and it continues to aspire

to be good, if not better, as it has always been for the

past 88 years. Students are also known to excel in different

learning area including academic and extra-curricular

activities.

However, amidst the success students are achieving,

people actually think that getting to where they are now has

been an easy journey, but in fact, students have exerted

much effort and received Over time, the amount of school

works have intensified thus, students are getting less sleep

during school nights and higher level of stress has been

achieved. The very mention of the word ‘stress’ brings

thoughts such as increased rate of depression, anxiety,

cardiovascular disease, and other potentially life-

threatening issues to one’s mind. The fact is

indisputable that, giving too much school works, in reality,

will certainly make a student be tensed up and eventually

lead to unfavorable impacts mentally and physically. Busy

schedules crammed with studies, and extracurricular

activities can take a toll on student’s overall health,

especially if one is not eating or sleeping properly.

It is also worth noting that stress in an inevitable

part of student-life as it takes a toll on one’s physical

health, emotional well-being, and academic performance. A

publication on stress by the University of New York supports

the notion that, extreme levels of stress can hinder

effectiveness and lead to poor academic performance. It goes

on to affirm that, students who experienced stressful life

events also reports worse health outcomes and reduced

quality of life. Students spending so much time on school

works also meant that they were not meeting their

development needs or cultivating other critical life skills.

Since we spend most of lives in education, it is not

surprising that education is one area that relies on

constant stress because there are always targets and

deadlines. Education is a constant round of homework,

essays, regular tests, end-of-term and end-of-year exams –

which, it is impressed upon us, will shape our careers and

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our lives.

Literature Background

Stress is built into the education system. But stress

is, by its very nature, intended to be a short-term response

to physical danger. Education, by its own very nature, has

to be a long term undertaking. Even as we delve into the

core of the subject matter, ample attention needs to be

accorded that, introducing successful coping strategies may

help students avoid the destructive consequences of

excessive stress due to excessive school works. Although

teachers giving too much schoolwork may seem trivial, it is

in fact crucial in terms of today’s concern over student’s

physiological, physical and the overall well-being.

Education

According to Dewey (1916), “Education is a process of

inviting truth and possibility, of encouraging and giving time to

discovery. It is a social process – ‘a process of living and not

a preparation for future living’. In this view, educators look to

act with people rather on them. Their task is to educe (related

to the Greek notion of educere), to bring out or develop

potential. Such education is deliberate and hopeful where it is

Education definition
(George Dewey, 1916)
(Parankimalil, 2012)
RA No 9155 otherwise known
Effects of Stress as3 “Governance of
(McEwen, 2008) Basic Education Act”
(The American Institute
of Stress)
 EVALUATION OF EXECESSIVE SCHOOL
WORKS

Proposed Effective Solution in lessening

school works

Fig. 1 Theoretical and Conceptual Framework

learning we set out to make happen in the belief that people

can ‘be more’, education is informed, respectful and wise

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where it is a process of inviting truth and possibility, and

education is grounded in a desire that at all may flourish

and share in life for it is a cooperative and inclusive

activity that looks to help people to live their lives as

well as they can.

Parankimalil (2012), refer to education as “A

systematic process through which a child or an adult

acquires knowledge, experience, skill and sound attitude. It

makes an individual civilized, refined, cultured and

educated. For a civilized and socialized society, education

is the only means. Its goal is to make an individual

perfect. Every society gives importance to education because

it is a panacea for all evils. It is the key to solve the

various problems of life.”

Education is a human attempt to guide human adults who

have not grown to maturity. Educational efforts to help

children is to carry out his duties, to be independent,

legally-baliq, and moral responsibility. Education is the

pursuit of self-determination, and moral responsibility.

This relates to the definition of Langeveld (1995).

Effects of Stress

In accordance to the study of McEwen (2008), “Stress

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begins in the brain and affects the brain, as well as the

rest of the body. Acute stress responses promote adaptation

and survival via responses of neural, cardiovascular,

autonomic, immune and metabolic systems. Chronic stress can

promote and exacerbate pathophysiology through the same

systems that are dysregulated. The burden of chronic stress

and accompanying changes in personal behaviors (smoking,

eating too much, drinking, poor quality sleep; otherwise

referred to as “lifestyle”) is called allostatic overload.

A critical issue concerning stress among students is

its effect on learning. The Yerkes-Dodson law (1908)

postulates that individuals under low and high stress learn

the least and that those under moderate stress learn the

most. A field study and laboratory tests support the notion

that excessive stress is harmful to students' performance.

[ CITATION 4 \l 1033 ]

High levels of stress could lead to physical symptoms

that could have a negative effect on student performance.

These signs and symptoms include frequent headaches,

tremors, trembling of lips, neck and back pains, nervous

habits, (e.g., fidgeting), rapid or mumbled speech, upset

stomach, elevated blood pressure, and chest pains. The

stressed individual would have a disorganized and uncertain

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of their goals and priorities. This could lead to an

inability to effectively budget and manage their time. On

the other hand, he/she would have poor concentration that

could limit students’ ability to think critically or at

optimal levels when they write their papers or during tests.

A stressed individual would also have memory problems and

constant worry. [CITATION 5 \l 1033 ]

“Poor concentration could limit students’ ability to

think critically or at optimal levels when they write papers

or during tests” –Dusselier, et al (2005).

Mental Health and Wellness

According to a study by Sarah Stewart-Brown, “In 1947

the World Health Organisation defined health as “a state of

complete physical, mental and social wellbeing.” Until now

the NHS has given precedence to promoting physical

wellbeing, but the green paper Our Healthier Nation signals

that this may need to change. It emphasises the importance

of emotional wellbeing for health: indeed, health is defined

as “being confident and positive and able to cope with the

ups and downs of life.” These statements are supported by an

increasing body of epidemiological, social science, and

experimental research that is beginning to suggest that

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initiatives which aim to promote physical wellbeing to the

exclusion of mental and social wellbeing may be doomed to

failure.

The concept of mental and social wellbeing is less well

defined than that of physical wellbeing. Debate still

continues about the meaning of the term mental health. A

recent study in Scotland showed that lay people were more

comfortable with the terms psychological and emotional

wellbeing because they equated the term mental health with

mental illness. The concepts of social wellbeing and social

disease (misuse of alcohol and drugs, domestic violence,

child abuse) and the extent to which they are the

responsibility of the NHS is also controversial.”

According to Naci and Ioannidis (2012), wellness refers

to diverse and interconnected dimensions of physical,

mental, and social well-being that extend beyond the

traditional definition of health. It includes choices and

activities aimed at achieving physical vitality, mental

alacrity, social satisfaction, a sense of accomplishment,

and personal fulfillment.

Emotional Stress

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 Some research shows that emotional distress creates

susceptibility to physical illness. Exam stress increases

susceptibility to viral infection, and stress from lack of

control in the workplace or from life events creates

susceptibility to cardiovascular disease. Animal studies

reviewed by Wilkinson and Brunner (2010) provide supporting

evidence that emotional distress can lead to physical

illness by affecting the immune response. Health related

lifestyles provide the basis for an alternative, potentially

complementary, causal hypothesis. Smoking, drinking, and the

consumption of high fat foods are all valued by the public

for their ability to relieve emotional

distress. Collectively these studies are beginning to lend

credence to the widespread public belief that physical

disease may be the consequence of emotional distress.

(Stewart-Brown)

RA No 9155 otherwise known as “Governance of Basic

Education Act” states in their SEC. 2. Declaration of

Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to

protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality

basic education and to make such education accessible to all

by providing all Filipino children a free and compulsory

education in the elementary level and free education in the

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high school level. The school shall be the heart of the

formal education system. It is where children learn. Schools

shall have a single aim of providing the best possible basic

education for all learners.

DepEd Memorandum No. 392, signed by Education Secretary

Armin Luistro last September 16, advises teachers to limit

the giving of homework/assignments "to a reasonable quantity

to give their pupils ample time to rest and relax at home

for the rest of the day." "Therefore, no

homework/assignments shall be given during weekends for

pupils to enjoy their childhood, and spend quality time with

their parents without being burdened by the thought of doing

lots of homework," the memo states. "We know our students'

capacity and how long it would take them to finish their

homework. It's not to make their lives harder. Homework can

be used to teach them self-discipline, time management and

how to become responsible students," he said in an ABS-CBN

"Umagang kay Ganda" interview. He said that teachers give

more homework on Fridays because students have more time

during the weekends. He noted that homework can actually be

used by parents to spend more quality time with their kids.

Yolanda Quijano, director of the DepEd Bureau of Elementary

Education, said the department passed the order after

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receiving complaints from some parents that teachers were

giving their kids too much homework. She said the

memorandum is part of the DepEd's initiative to create a

child-friendly school system that also encourages play and

leisure time for kids especially during weekends. "All we

want is that the kids should also enjoy their time during

the weekends with their parents without the problem of

having too much homework. We are not limiting their time to

study. It should actually be a habit. They should study even

without any homework," she added

In a study conducted by the Organization for Economic

Cooperation and Development (OECD) it was found that “after

around four hours of homework per week, the additional time

invested in homework has a negligible impact on

performance.” That means that by asking our children to put

in an hour or more per day of dedicated homework time, we

are not only not helping them, but according to the

aforementioned studies – we are hurting them, both

physically and emotionally. What’s more is that homework is,

as the name implies, to be completed at home, after a full

day of learning – which is typically around seven to eight

hours long with breaks and lunch included. As the study of

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the National Center for Education Statistics found that high

school students get an average of 6.8 hours homework per

week. A figure that is much too high according to OECD.

According to a study by Stanford University, 56

percent of students considered homework a primary source of

stress. Too much homework can result in lack of sleep,

headaches, exhaustion, and weight loss. Excessive homework

can also result in poor eating habits, with families

choosing fast food as a faster alternative. Homework is an

important part of being successful inside and outside of the

classroom, but too much of it can actually have the opposite

effect. Students who spend too much time on homework are not

always able to meet other needs, like being physically and

socially active. Ultimately, the amoung of school work a

student has can impact a lot more than his or her grades.

According to the Trends in Mathematics and Science

Study (TIMSS), the highest homework loads are associated

with countries that have lower incomes and higher social

inequality. Undoubtedly, homework is a global phenomenon –

students from all 59 countries that participated in the 2007

study reported getting homework. Worldwide, only less than 7

percent of fourth graders said they did no homework. In some

nations like Algeria, Kuwait and Morocco, more than one in

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five fourth graders reported high levels of homework. In

Japan, less than 3 percent of students indicated they did

more than four hours of homework on a normal school night.

The Program for International Student Assessment

(PISA), in a 2008 survey, said one-third of parents polled

rated the quality of their children’s homework assignments

as fair or poor, and 4 in 10 said they believed that some or

a great deal of homework was busywork. A new study, in the

Economics of Education Review, reports that homework in

science, English and history has “little to no impact” on

student test scores. (The authors did note a positive effect

for math homework.) To sum it up, enriching children’s

classroom learning requires making homework not shorter or

longer, but smarter.

A study conducted by Philippine Basic Education draw

out t a conclusion that the data gathered indicate that it

is not necessary to assign huge quantities of homework, but

it is important that assignment is systematic and regular,

with the aim of instilling work habits and promoting

autonomous, self-directed learning.

Homework is not a mere extension of the classroom. It

is not an augmentation of teaching or learning time.

Instead, homework is an opportunity to develop

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responsibility and self-efficacy. With this in mind, it

becomes clear what the real value of homework is in

education. It likewise becomes evident what a good homework

should be.

THE PROBLEM

Statement of the Problem

The main purpose of this study is to determine the

effects of excessive school works on the overall well-being

of Grade 12 students of Bohol Wisdom School.

The study specifically aims to answer the following

queries:

1. What are the effects of excessive school works on the

overall well-being of Grade 12 students of Bohol Wisdom

School? Are they positive or negative?

Specific aspects include:

1.1 Physical Health

1.2 Emotional Health

1.3 Mental Health

1.4 Spiritual Health

1.5 Family Aspect

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 2. How does it affect to the overall well-being of Grade

12 students of Bohol Wisdom School?

Statement of the Hypothesis

The Grade 12 students of Bohol Wisdom School does not

have a negative and positive effect of excessive school

works on their overall well-being.

Significance of the Study

The findings of the study are beneficial to the

following:

School Administration. This study will help them to

become aware of the current situation the school is facing

and to come up to a solution that would greatly help in the

improvement of the school, student, and teacher.

Teachers. This is study will serve as guide to the

teachers who give too much work load on students for them to

be aware about the struggles and can make solutions that is

both beneficial to the students and teachers. They will be

guided to create a better plan to avoid the said issue.

Students. This study will be beneficial to the students

who undergo depression and stress due to excessive school

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activities and works. Students may be able to know how to

balance their time and work on it wisely. This study could

also heighten the awareness of the students about doing this

in a healthier way.

Future Researchers. This study will serve as reference

to future researchers who shall evaluate further into the

effects of excessive school works on students. These ideas

suggested are hopefully useful as a source of information

for the future related researches in this topic.

METHODOLOGY
Design

The researchers will be using the qualitative type of

research. In gathering important data and information, the

method used is the descriptive survey. This method is used

to determine the impact of excessive school works on Grade

12 students of Bohol Wisdom School.

Environment and Respondents

The study will be conducted at Bohol Wisdom School

located in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines.. The said

school has been chosen by the researchers since it is known

for its high quality education and with this, the

researchers would like to know the overall well-being of the

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students behind the quality of the school. The participants

will be

The respondents of this research are the employees of

the randomly selected Grade-12 students of Bohol Wisdom

School. They will be asked to choose their preferred

response by checking the number base on their answer along

the given area.

Instrument

The researchers will make use of a self-made

questionnaire. The questionnaires will be containing

questions with choices which possibly corresponds the choice

of their answer.

Data Gathering Procedure

Before the survey questionnaires will be distributed to

the respondents, the researchers first will secure

permission from the school and the respondents themselves.

With the approval of the school principal, the

researchers will administer the survey. The researchers will

use convenient sampling to determine the respondents.

The survey questionnaires containing instructions

clearly explained will be distributed to the respondents.

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They are requested to answer truthfully and will be assured

that their responses were held confidential. They will also

be made to understand the validity of the results weigh

heavily on honest and accurate answers.

Statistical Treatment

In analyzing and interpretation of the data, the

following formulas will be used:

1. Percentage Formula

In getting the profile of the respondents in terms of

age, gender, educational attainment, and years in of work

experience, the percentage formula was used.

F
P ¿ N x 100

Where:

P = Percentage

F = Frequency

N = Number of cases

DEFINITION OF TERMS

To clarify ideas and to have a better understanding of

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the study, the following terms are defined according to how

it is being used.

Emotional health. Refers to the range of psychological

phenomena, including temperament, personality, and mood. It

is based on a person’s emotions or feelings.

Excessive. Refers to something that is beyond what is

typical or normal. When something is excessive, there’s way

too much. Excessive is more than what is necessary, normal,

or desirable; immoderate.

Overall. Refers to everything or every element and

feature a certain thing possess. In this study, it includes—

physical, emotional, social and spiritual health.

Physical health. Refers to physical health as a state

of physical well-being in which a person is physically fit

to perform their daily activities without restrictions. Good

physical health is having a good and healthy body.

School works. Refers to the activities that are

assigned to the students. It includes projects, homework’s

or assignments, performance tasks, research studies, extra-

curricular and other school activities.

Social health. Refers to a person's ability to

interact, and form appropriate relationships with other

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individuals.

Spiritual health. Refers to your religious faith,

values, beliefs, principles, and morals. In this study, it

based on the prayer time and if a person go to church.

Students. Refer to a person or pupil that is studying

in the school. They are the people who attend educational

institution and studying in order to enter a particular

profession.

Well-being. Refers to a general condition of a person

or group. A high level of well-being means in some sense the

individual or group’s condition is positive.

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