I did not catch this when it first appeared but several tweets from my Twitter friends led me to check it out. This is what House Representative Francis “Chiz” Escudero has to say on education:

Essential subjects, he said, would include Languages, including English and Filipino, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies or History, Computer and Good Manners and Right Conduct.

Subjects like trigonometry, calculus, geometry, and algebra, should be taught only in college or as high school electives since these are not relevant to the everyday life of Filipinos, he said.

Whilst we, in the universities and colleges, are trying to make sure that these skills are taught in high school so that we can teach more courses to our students, Rep. Escudero wants to make universities teach high school courses! I’d say WTF! Pardon me, but this is really one way to ensure that Filipino high school graduates end up as morons!

Sen. Escudero is jockeying to be the next president of the country, but if this is how he thinks, then I do not think that he deserves to be elected! I could have voted for him – considering that he is from the University of the Philippines – but now, I definitely WILL NOT. I am DISAPPOINTED to say the least!

Maybe he hated these subjects in high school (UP IS) so now he wants it to be transferred to college so he can opt NOT to take them!

What do you think?

Update: Francis Escudero is now a senator.

From GMA News:

MANILA, Philippines — As school starts on June 1, the Department of Education (DepEd) reminded pupils on Friday that cell phones will be forbidden inside the classroom.

Radio dzBB’s Allan Gatus quoted DepEd assistant secretary Teresita Inciong saying DepEd Order No. 83 in 2003 already noted the tendency of cell phones to disrupt classes.

Inciong said the order, which bars the use of cell phones during class, applies to elementary and high schools nationwide.

She said teachers who catch students violating the order will call their parents to a meeting and will bring the matter to their attention. - GMANews.TV

Some of these DepEd officials need a smack on the head for ignoring technology and its use in the classrooms. Cellphones can be used to help students do research – since DepEd cannot ensure that students have access to computers connected to the internet. Imagine this scenario – talk about science and then ask the students to use their cell phones to access Google. Students can share “load” and use a single phone to do their research, if they all cannot afford to spend 10 pesos for 30 minutes of internet access. This is just an example on how Filipino students can use the tools that students in developed countries use. Unfortunately, DepEd chose to do otherwise — to make sure that our kids cannot compete globally!

Ringing cellphones are a distraction, I agree. However, students can be asked to put their phones in silent mode and to step out if they think that the call is important. Students can even be told not to answer phone calls or sms during class. However, an outright ban is simply STUPID.

In a lecture that I gave not too long ago, an educator mentioned that students tend to read and send SMS instead of listening to the lecture. Whose fault is that? The student? Maybe. However, I stressed that it is more the fault of the teacher! The reactions of these educators were priceless! I told them that students will refrain from doing these unnecessary tasks if they are part of the class – involved in the discussion, participating. Unfortunately, teachers tend to talk to the black/white boards instead.

So – if the teachers engage the students in their classes, mobile phones need not be banned outright. Use mobile phones to aid their learning instead of sending our students back to the Bronze age.