This case about Quezon City Science High school students supposedly criticizing their school’s policies through their blogs brings to mind issues of freedom of expression and responsibility.
Based on earlier reports, these four students blogged about certain policies they deemed “unfair.” For that, they were suspended. As one student recalled:
“It’s not true that there was due process. We were asked to submit letters of apology and we thought that was it. Next thing we knew, we were suspended for ten days,” he added.
The school reportedly submitted a recommendation that the four students be suspended for 10 days, which was later approved by the Department of Education’s division. Later –or after news about the suspension of these students was picked up by media, the DepEd revoked the suspension and ordered an investigation.
When I was still in high school, it was unthinkable to criticize school policies. We do discuss about such things. But they were all done privately among us, students. Back then, there was no Internet to speak of. No blogs. No social networks.
Today, it’s quite different, as some teachers and college professors I have talked to attest. Yes, some teachers know that students blog and that they are now more vocal about their feelings about school policies, subjects, and even the teachers themselves. Some teachers may find this “inappropriate.” But others chose to tolerate it.
Question is: what can teachers/principals/school official tolerate?
Based on this report, the students claim they were not given due process when they were suspended. Also, they claim that the blogs were “private,” meaning only “friends” have access to it.
The report indicates that the students’ blogs were allegedly critical of the school principal, Dr. Zenaida Sadsad.
At this point, it’s hard to say whether or not the school was right in suspending these students. Students do have the right to express what they feel, but since they were done “privately” albeit through the Internet (think of discussions in a private mailing list that are posted in a public list), are they answerable to the school?
On the flipside, it is also apt to ask whether or not these students have gone beyond merely venting their feelings to the point of already maligning persons involved.
What do you think?
11 Feedbacks on "Students and blogs: The Quezon City Science High school case"
Tonyo Cruz
The blog linked at the end of this post is not owned by any of the four suspended students. This is according to one of them who I interviewed two Fridays ago.
DOM
Multiply had no quality control. Poor blog. The school go and learn the Japanese way. Workers there can wack a scarecrow with the boss’ face on it in their hearts’ content and delight right there at the gym.
88 Alumni
Voice your opinions Scientians! Persevere and you will come out victorious. School history will tell you that it has been done way before the general populace had access to the internet. Our batch was responsible for 2 teachers being let go because we were not afraid to express our thoughts. We even got together with another batch and took on the principal at the time.
“…united and dedicated, to you we’ll ever be…”
Milo
I agree with Central Office DedEd official’s statement that teachers and/or principal should not be “onion-skin” in dealing with criticism. In fact, government officials should even encourage feedbacks from their constituents to be able to enhance their programs and collaboratively achieve their institutional outcomes.
yamboy
history is repeating itself!
1983, if memory serves me right, we also had a problem with our principal. it came to a point that all 3rd & 4th yr students gathered in one room to discuss the problem.
I guess now with Internet the whole Scientia can do something better.
Good luck!
DOM
I would like to add that I read in the other section here that no one can just get in into multiply. Yet it can intrude with other email address like mine. Abogado did just that.
reyna elena
One correction lang po on this one:
There was a comment left on my blog that the link provided by Philippine Star is incorrect which was also the reference I used. He also wrote that the owner of that blog is still unknown and is under investigation. This commenter instead left the following links as the websites of those 4 suspended students. These are the blogs:
eufems.multiply.com
mychaelmiravite.multiply.com
ihateflattery.multiply.com
oneonesix.multiply.com
You can find it here on my blog article:
Quezon City Science High School Students vs. Principal Zenaida Sadsad
Thank you!
mg
I will not be surprised if that school is still repressive. This really proves that the system is difficult to change. I have had a share of bad memories of my own when I was languishing there -that was when Another Brick in the Wall II was in the charts. Anyway, I graduated without being kicked out. I never looked back until I saw this.
Cenotaph
i was still a sophomore college student of a prestigious university, and i came up with lots of realizations about my high school experience. Yes, i was from an isolated public school in an area detached from any forms of media (tvs could only get about 2 channels, and internet is still considered “cool” rather than ordinary)… our town had this friendster account “which aims to unite all its people”… i, by posting a comment, expressed my concerns over the faulty school system, one of which is the mediocrity of the faculty. the comment was received with violent resistance that the teachers texted me with evil words, threatening me with subpoenas and SB’s stuff. so much really for being “onion-skins” and immaturity.
rain
It’s like the Marcos/ Martial Law era in quesci!!!
Funny thing is, yesterday, around 5 pm, students from Quirino HS rallied outside the school gates. Protesting against Sadsad. Scientians have no idea of this. Other schools rallying for scientians? Awkward. But what really made me laugh was the contents of the placards held by the rallyists. Out of the blue, a placard caught my attention. It was held higher than the other placards. Know what it says? “OUST GLORIA”. Come on! Even quesci’s issues are being involved with politics? Or was it just plain KATANGAHAN of that certain rallyist or whoever made that sign.
RPG player 90-94
WE Xientians (students of Que-Sci) have always been critical. We are critical of new people that come in our school and people that believe they have the right to our loyalty and respect.
That said, when one does earn our respect we dedicate ourselves heart and soul to that comrade, teacher and schoolmate.
I’ve had many a batchmate protest in class and argue with teachers over subject matter and policy always believing that critical thinking and argumentation is what makes us Xientians.
Sadsad obviously didn’t know what she got herself into when she thought she’d bend Xientians to her will. The scientific mindset espoused by the school carries entails that proof, logic and skepticism are valued.
Obedience is taught, yes but never blind obedience. And curtailing of rights to expression just strikes a very dissonant chord in the hearts and minds of every Xientian.
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