40TH PINNING AND CANDLE LIGHTING CEREMONIES AND TRIBUTE TO PARENTS (3PM

NOVEMBER 21, 2019

My due respect to the University of Bohol President Dr. Ryan Tirol, Chairman of the Board
of Trustees Atty. Nuevas Tirol-Montes, teachers, proud parents, pre-service teachers, students,
friends, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon!

The Pinning and Candle Lighting Ceremonies and Tribute to Parents are time-honored
traditions marking the occasion when one is welcomed into the teaching profession. It is a
symbolic ceremony denoting a milestone in an educator’s life. Giving each of you a pin that
signifies your identity affiliation with the honorable profession of teaching. It is a symbol that
poses challenges as you embark into practice both on-campus and off-campus practice teaching.
Pre-service teachers, are you now ready?

For all we know that life itself is a series of challenges, whether great or small. With all
these challenges, how do we react? Do we easily panic and frantic or do we stay positive and
proactive? Do we make small problems big or we treat big problems as small ones? How we
face the normal events in our lives, generally how we will face bigger challenges ahead of us.

This year’s theme is: Teaching Multicultural Students: Creating Inclusive Classrooms.
Recently, as a melting pot of cultures, Philippines, specifically Bohol, is home to millions of
tourists who transferred their domicile or immigrants – by reason of marriage. In this changing
educational landscape, teachers are challenged with creating inclusive classrooms where
students of all backgrounds feel represented and welcomed. The following guide explores how
teachers can build inclusive multicultural learning environments.

For teachers with a classroom full of students of different backgrounds, the responsibility
to connect with them goes beyond simply knowing where they’re from, or what their favorite
subjects are. These teachers must strive to understand their students in a more holistic way,
incorporating their cultural traditions into lessons and activities, so students feel understood,
comfortable, and focused on learning.

IN THE CLASSROOM
Academic Performance. Students are taught to process and understand ideas and information in
different ways based on their cultural upbringings, meaning teachers may need to adapt lesson plans for
multicultural classrooms.
Handling Conflict. Cultural responses to conflict vary significantly, and it’s vital for teachers to be aware
of these differences so they can mediate effectively. Some students are taught to avoid conflict at all
costs, while other cultures see conflict as a positive and constructive exercise.
Student-Teacher Relationship. How students treat authority figures, and what they expect from them,
differs across cultures. While American or western children tend to be more informal, other cultures may
have very formal structures for student-teacher relationships
Solving Problems. Given the same set of information about a problem, students from different cultural
backgrounds are likely to suggest a wide array of solutions. A teacher’s job is to validate a range of
approaches and help students understand there are multiple ways to solve a problem.
OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
Religion. Whether adhering to specific duties or rules set forth by their religion, or missing class because
of a religious ritual, students from religious backgrounds that are less common in Filipino culture may
have trouble balancing different priorities.
Family Structure and Values. Students come from all different types of households, from single-parent
families to multi-generational homes to parents of the same gender. We have to thank God that our
Supreme Court justices are still conservative and strongly uphold the Constitution and belief in God.
Family structure and values can influence how students see themselves, interact with others and their
attitudes towards school
Language. If a child is the only English speaker in their family, getting help from their parents or siblings
on school assignments may not be possible. Some students may also have extra duties at home to help
their parents communicate with others, taking time from their studies. The implementation of MTB as
medium of instruction for Grades 1-3 in which our teachers have difficulty in using the language
themselves.
Socio Economic Status. Socioeconomic status can influence school performance in many ways. For
instance, some children may not be able to afford proper school supplies, causing them to struggle with
homework assignments because they don’t have the right tools.
Food and Diet. Studies have shown that malnourished children struggle to remain focused and to retain
information, so they are more likely to fall behind. Different family structures and socioeconomic factors
can influence the nutrition students receive at home.
Disablities. In addition to cultural differences, students with physical or learning disabilities face an added
obstacle to their learning. Students with family members who have disabilities may have different
perspectives of education or less assistance with homework

How can we connect ourselves to them? We need to understand. No wonder that the
University of Bohol’s vision and mission primarily aims to develop the students’ potential
holistically to produce graduates who are ready to be immersed and to connect in the real world.

But our dear students, please be reminded that you have not come this far without the
following people who made you climbed to the ladder of success. We must be thankful to them.

First, to your proud parents and guardians, who unselfishly toil and work hard all day long so that
they can address your needs and wants. Parents are just like the emergency landing airport that when an
airplane experiences turbulence from tempestuous storms, the pilot immediately secure the plane and its
passengers. We only have one set of parents, and we should make it a point to show them how grateful
we are for everything that they have taught us. Whatever gesture we choose to express our thanks, the
important thing is that they know how much we love them. 

Second, to our teachers, for molding us not just only in academics but also the values which will
sustain until we become old as they are instilled in our minds and engraved in our hearts. I still believe in
Proverbs 22:6 which says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart
from it.” Our teachers are the ones training you to become the best of what you want to be. After all they
do for you, sometimes it is hard to find the right words to thank a teacher.

Above all, to our Almighty God, for giving us wisdom, understanding, strength, and
everything so we may be able to become what He wants us to be. He gave us His Son Jesus
Christ for the payment of our sins. All glory and honor must be given back to Him, our creator
and Savior.

What a wonderful thing to be grateful! Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the
parent of all the others. That’s according to Marcus Tullius Cicero

According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good
thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have
contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” And the Bible
says in I Thessalonians 5:17, “In everything give thanks for this will of god in Christ Jesus
concerning you.”
Dear students, parents and guardians, teachers, congratulations and God bless everyone!
What is Multicultural Education?

Multicultural education is not a task to be done or even an end goal to be accomplished. Instead,
it is an approach to education that aims to include all students, promote learning of other
cultures, and teach healthy social skills in a multicultural setting. “It is the present and future of
education,” according to Shilpa Bhouraskar, who runs a business offering online courses to
students worldwide. “Multicultural classrooms are a melting pot of learning,” she says. “Rather
than a passive, one-way flow of learning from teacher to student, there is a brainstorming of
ideas, stories, and experiences that enrich the educational experience in ways that are
impossible in monocultural classes.

Classroom Resources for Multicultural Education

Using different activities and games in multicultural classrooms is an excellent way to foster
inclusivity and encourage students to share their heritage. It’s also a beneficial way for teachers
to involve students in different styles of study to immerse them in their learning. Sharing about
oneself within the confines of an activity is often much easier than being asked open-ended
questions and put “on the spot.” These activities can then provide a safe space for dialogue and
serve as an entryway into more in-depth interactions. The following section outlines some
examples of activities and games appropriate for different age groups.

Classroom Activities

Elementary School Secondary School

Digital Holiday Field TripGrades 1-5 Immigration StoriesMiddle or high school
Take a virtual field trip to different Use Ellis Island’s interactive online tour to learn
students’ places of origin, on days about different cultures that immigrated to America.
when their country or culture is Expand the activity by allowing students to share
celebrating a holiday unique to them. their unique families’ immigration stories.
Games Around the WorldGrades 1-5 Ethnicity ExerciseMiddle or high school
Use the start of each lesson to learn Students discuss their ethnic backgrounds and share
about playground games from different three unique things about their culture (food,
 cultures. holidays, celebrations, etc.).
The Name GameGrades 3-5 Writing PoetryHigh school
Students tell stories about what their Students write poems that describe their identity, and
names mean in their cultures and how then peer review in small groups.
they were chosen.
Share a MealGrades 3-5 ‘Who Said It?’ QuizHigh school
Students (and their parents, if possible) Teams compete to see who can identify the most
bring in a dish their culture is known for quotes from historical leaders of inclusion
and share it with their classmates. movements (Gandhi, Martin Luther King, etc.).

For Parents & Guardians:

Strengthening Multicultural Education
Parents, guardians and other family members are a crucial component in educating the future
generation. They serve as role models, advocates for their children, and links between their
children and society as a whole. As active participants in their children’s learning, they can help
ease the tension, confusion, or frustration that may arise when children are trying to navigate
cultural and language differences. The following section highlights some of the ways parents,
guardians and other family members can help their children receive the best education possible.