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?

By Izah Morales

She’s 57 years old and is blogging for two years now.

“I’m not embarrassed to say my age because it proves that I’m still kicking and blogging,” says Marianita Girlie Villariba, educator, feminist and psychologist at the Education for Life Foundation.

Yes, Villariba is not your ordinary golden-aged woman who is afraid of technology and would rather stick with what is conventional.

“Parang may kulang sa araw ko ‘pag hindi ako nakapag-blog or nakapagbasa ng mga blogs [When I have not blogged for a day or have read others’ blogs, I feel that something’s lacking],” says Villariba.

Blogging has indeed become part of her daily routine aside from reading newspapers and magazines.

Her conversation with a friend who is into the study of babaylan or priestess led her to blogging.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

As a parent to growing kids, I found this helpful tips from Trend Micro on how to ensure the online safety of kids. Let’s admit it, kids are quite fond of social networks (more than their parents). My generation grew up watching television. Today, kids have the Internet and online social networks — not to mention online games. So it’s best that we parents should also understand how social networks work, for instance, so we could guide them.

Here’s one good example from Trend Micro’s website, which I think is very important:

Set reasonable expectations. Pulling the plug on your child’s favorite social site is like pulling the plug on their social life. This can shut down communication and send kids “underground” where they’re more at risk.

Here’s another one:

Try to get your kids to share their profiles and blogs with you. Also, use search engines and the search tools on social networking sites to search for your kids’ full names, phone numbers, and other identifying information. You’re not invading their privacy if they’re putting personal info in public places online.

Do you have any other practical tips you wish to share?

By Candice Montenegro
INQUIRER.net

WE’RE always told that the world is our classroom. Now, blogging gives a whole new meaning to that cliché and proves there really is a virtual classroom in the world (wide web).

Edublogs are blogs primarily used for educational purposes. These include blogs written by teachers (for a class or co-teachers) and those maintained by students for a particular school subject or class.

The blog is becoming a popular outlet for education-related discussions because it provides a fast and convenient way to share insights, resources and even homework. It is easy to update regularly, and feedback can come in the form of comments.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

A PHILIPPINE Science High School social studies teacher, known to his students as “Sir Martin,” believes teachers can use blogs or other web-based tools to connect to students.

“Blogging has allowed me to connect with my students this deeply,” Martin Perez said in a speech he made during a blogging forum organized to gather teachers who blog.

A blogger before he became a high school teacher, Perez admitted that blogging is not easy. In fact, it meant extra teaching load.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

A GROUP of teachers will be talking about blogs as alternative tools for education.

The Bloggers Kapihan has invited two well-known teachers who use “old” and new tools of web publishing to extend learning beyond the classroom. Sharing their experiences are Martin Perez of the Philippine Science High School and Danny Arao of the Department of Journalism of the UP College of Mass Communications.

More details:

The BK Crew presents Bloggers’ Kapihan 2.0: Blog Ed 101. This time around, let us tackle the importance of blogging in learning, learning in blogging and blogging as a tool for alternative education. The event will be held on October 13, 2007, 1:30 p.m. at the Ramon Magsaysay High School in Quezon City.

Blog Ed 101 is in cooperation with the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), a nationwide network of educators from different schools, colleges and universities.

Tonchi Tinio, chairperson of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, will also dive into the controversial CyberEducation Project of the Department of Education during the event.

A SCHOOL professor from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) has cited the potential of blogging in distance education in the Philippines during an international conference titled “Living in the Information Society: the Impact of ICTs on People, Work, and Communities in Asia.”

Former UPOU Dean of the Faculty of Development Studies Dr. Paz Diaz said in her presentation, “Blogging as a Strategy for Teaching and Learning” noted that the use of blogs has several advantages to both students and teachers.

In particular, Diaz said that through blogging, students and teachers are able to share ideas and discuss topics beyond the classroom.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

AT LEAST, that’s what Singapore is thinking. Then again, the Lion City is one of the world’s most technologically-advanced nations.

Here’s an excerpt from the Agence France-Presse story:

SINGAPORE–Blogs are replacing blackboards as Singapore moves high-technology into its classrooms as teaching tools, newspapers reported Wednesday.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

SHOULD English be the medium of instruction in our schools?

We now have a lively debate in our Vox Populi blog, which gives readers not just the chance to give feedback, but also post their own blog entries, subject to editorial discretion of course.

Check out “Medium not the issue, says reader,” “English ‘a must for development,’” and “English not anti-poor” for more on this issue.  And tell us what you think.

“FIND your carnival, and get your blog.” This one-liner comes from a service called, er, Blog Carnival. Simply put, a blog carnival is a collection of top blog postings on different topics. A blog called “All My Eye” also provides this definition:

Blog Carnivals attempt to provide a weekly or monthly summary of key postings in a particular blogging community or topic. The source media is different (blogs versus mailing lists) but the editorial process and end results are essentially the same: a regular digest of important scholarly or technical discussions. Carole Anne Meyer has described Blog Carnivals as secondary publishing reinvented.

Topics can vary. All My Eye found scholarly blog carnivals, which focused on the science community, for instance.

A blog carnival is a blog community or network with a twist. This new “approach” hopes to help you find more relevant information from the virtual haystack we call the blogosphere. But from time to time, you will still find some blogs regurgitating second-hand information. So be careful.

Blog on!