Skip to main content

It's Not Enough to Have a Good Teacher, You Must Have a System That Encourages Teachers To Do BETTER


It's been some time since Miriam Defensor-Santiago (or MDS for short) died in 2016. It's hard to forget the time she grilled former PNP chief Alan LM Purisima over the demise of SAF-44. While listening to her sermon, I remember the teacher I fondly called "My MDS style teacher!" I still owe a debt of gratitude to her for helping me become better. Yes, she was feisty, and not so many parents liked her temper. However, she was better than that elementary mathematics teacher. I may have not done well in high school but I say she was a good teacher. I failed to think outside the box. She always made us think outside the box. It's easy to say, "Well, we just need good teachers and there's no problem with the system."

However, like MDS, I'd react to that and say, "Really?" That was MDS' reaction when Purisima tried to play with words. Purisima was infamous for saying that he didn't give an order and only advice. Even funnier was when Purisima said, "When I delegated the responsibility, I did not delegate the accountability." It's because whether we want to admit it or not--systems shape the behavior of people! That's why I advocate for reforming the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines' weaknesses or even going for a parliamentary constitution. 

School can be taxing and stressful. It didn't matter how good the teachers were--the system always held them back. My mathematics teacher was good but I hated mathematics. As my classmate said, the mathematics teacher was just doing her job. Recalling the incident from the past, I was encouraged to write whether or not grades-over-learning approach makes mathematics that hated. My high school economics teacher was good. However, that same high school economics teacher was held back because the education system cared more about grades than learning (read here).


We must ask if our education system educates or automates students (read here). I will bring up mathematics yet again. The problem with mathematics is how often teachers are forced to teach students to become calculators. Mathematics textbooks can be as boring as cardboard. The mathematician  Paul Lockart gave this lament on the way mathematics is taught:
Lockhart begins with a vivid parable in which a musician has a nightmare in which music is taught to children by rote memorization of sheet music and formal rules for manipulating notes. In the nightmare, students never actually listen to music, at least not until advanced college classes or graduate school. 

The problem is that this abstract memorization and formal-method-based "music" education closely resembles the "math" education that most students receive. Formulas and algorithms are delivered with no context or motivation, with students made to simply memorize and apply them

Part of why many students end up disliking math, or convincing themselves that they are bad at math, comes from this emphasis on formulas and notation and methods at the expense of actually deep understanding of the naturally fascinating things mathematicians explore. It's understandable that many students (and adults) get frustrated at memorizing context-free strings of symbols and methods to manipulate them. 

This goes against what math is really about. The essence of mathematics is recognizing interesting patterns in interesting abstractions of reality and finding properties of those patterns and abstractions. This is inherently a much more creative field than the dry symbol manipulation taught conventionally. 
As somebody who used to hate math, I can understand why I hated it that much. How often do we discuss mathematics' wonderful applications? Putting aside my idiotic math teacher for most of my elementary life, I had some good math teachers. A math teacher tried to get me to like math by explaining things. However, how often does mathematics deal with real-life examples in the classroom? It didn't matter how good the teacher was if they were bound by a lousy system. Even the best teacher can expect more hostility with mathematics, not especially because education is viewed as a competition rather than a cooperation. I'd dare say my hatred for one of my former enemies was because he was better in math than me. With that logic, he should hate me too because I was better in the English subject than him!


Whether we want to admit it or not--a bad system will beat a good person every time, in one form or another. Every teacher, good or not, is confined to the same system. It didn't matter if my high school math teacher was good. The problem was the system made her teach math the same way as the bad math teachers! Math is taught without context or application. It's often said, "What am I going to do with this anyway?" Should students wait until they take the wrong course (like taking a computer course or engineering course when they're not qualified for it) to know the applications of mathematics? I never even knew the applications of trigonometry until I took a two-year computer course. I had a good teacher but she was still beaten by the same lousy system. I don't blame her for being strict. It's because mathematics requires extreme precision in real-life applications! Do we need to wait until college before we know why we have to learn math? Unfortunately, a good math teacher may want to explain the applications but it's barely taught! 

As Pritika Nair mentions, this is how the education system is doing education:

1. Children are treated like robots or machines

The amount of homework, notes to be copied, coupled with home assignments and related activities can get overwhelming for both children and parents. And this trend starts as early as Grade 1! When children would go to school, the only exception (and relief) was that notes were made to be completed inside the classroom. Now with online schooling, this load has also been thrust on their backs (more on the parents’ shoulders though).

I don’t say that any of the above is unimportant or unnecessary for the child. I and other parents like me aren’t able to comprehend why children as small as First Graders are subjected to “undue pressure” from the schools in terms of homework and notes completion? Do the schools perceive kids to be robot-like machines that can keep performing tasks one after the other and finish them in a jiffy?

You ask the school and they say: These notes can be completed by the child in their own time. But where do they give the time? Every day, there’s a new subject to study as per the time table, not to forget the homework and notes to be completed for the same too. This would inevitably pile up the previous day’s load on the child.

2. Children are encouraged to parrot what they learn

Mugging up concepts without really understanding their core meaning is an issue that’s existed in schools since forever. Most of us would agree and reminisce having experienced the same at some point of time in their respective schooling life. The same is being continued even today.

And now that we are parents, we hate our kids being turned into parrots too. They’re expected to score high (both from schools and parents) in the course of which, they will eventually learn well and parrot or write the same to score good marks but they would never be clear on what those concepts mean or be able to explain the same to their children in future.

3. Children feel bogged down and become disinterested

This is the most important and if not addressed promptly, may become unfavorable to all parties involved in this. Children, when laden with study pressure, may soon start losing interest in the very concept of learning - the ultimate aim for why we send kids to school in the first place. If that aim gets lost in the mind of the child, it’s the end of the story for both them and their parents - children might still study under pressure but we aren’t turning them into bright young minds for the future.

Should we ever start to wonder why people are becoming robotic? What's the use of demanding children to do good in school and then complaining about why they're acting like robots? I became robotic and students are becoming robotic. People are people and robots and robots.  That's why I wanted to become a robot back when I was in elementary--so I could memorize faster. The problem is worse when there's nonstop homework. I believe teachers are forced to give homework over the weekend. It doesn't only increase the stress of students to unreasonable levels--also the teachers themselves. That may explain why teachers tend to become tormentors instead of mentors. Treat it as a programming error that needs to be rectified! 


Faculty of Medicine

Let's think if the education system focused more on learning over grades. Grades probably won't disappear any time soon. However, we tend to focus so much on grades that I even wanted to mockingly say, "If grades were more important than learning then let's allow students to cheat! Let's legalize bribery!" However, I don't want students to cheat nor do I want to legalize bribery. As Professor Neil DeGrasse rightfully said, "Students cheat because the education system values grades over learning." I don't think he's the first one to say it nor the last. However, it's true and I hated school way back because of it. I was an eager learner but school cared more about monotonous memorizations and grading, instead of application. At first, I viewed school that way. But the more I wanted to learn, the more I realized that there was something really wrong.

Meanwhile, the Singaporean education system is different. People just don't realize the big problem of the education system. Here's what makes me think will encourage teachers to do better:

World Education Forum recently published an article saying that Singapore takes different approach for Singaporean children in term of education. Starting in 2019, exams for primary years 1 and 2 students will be abolished. This approach is to make education environment better. Primary and secondary students can study in less competitive environment.

As Singapore’s Education Minster said, “Learning is not a competition”, so that student in Singapore can experience study in less discouraging comparison between peer issues. In this situation student can have more concentration and explore their self.

Primary and secondary school report books will also no longer indicate whether a pupil finishes top or bottom of the class, while subject and group averages. Singapore’s new approach to education is in stark contrast to the neighbouring states that crowd the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) education rankings.

Teachers will no longer be prone to shaming bottom students--which often happens. As I was looking at the view, "Learning is not a competition." Math classes will no longer focus on people competing to solve the problem first. I'm still in favor of math quiz bowls and contests in math classes. However, the focus should be on cooperation. Math quiz bowls are done by a group of students. If students were learning math as a class--it would mean those better in math are required to help those weaker in math. I recall how often I fought several people in math class back in the final year of K+10. I had that increasing hatred for people good in math. I believe that the system encouraged such behavior. It would mean that students as a class, will be less competitive with each other. They will be trained to work together. Sure, competition between classes will remain. However, the end of it would be to simply see what can be done to improve performance. 

I believe that decades of Filipino First Policy ruined the education system. The Philippines is still stuck with obsolete education methods--not knowing how the neighboring countries are doing better. Pinoy Pride is often taught in school, such as telling people to prefer local as much as possible. Ironically, those books that teach students to buy local first, are produced with imported stuff. Of course, I expect mockers to say, "Oh no! Not that question on imported stuff again!" They will probably say that foreigners "unfairly" own the means of production (read here). I wonder what's their roadmap of creating a Philippines that's run only on purely Filipino-made stuff. That roadmap may end up in the same disaster as Mao Zedong's Great Leap Forward. If anything, it's more than time to declare Pinoy Pride or Filipino First Policy out of the values education books. It's because Pinoy Pride has never helped the education system, to begin with. 

Popular posts from this blog

Filipino Halal Resto Owners Can't Blame Arab Halal Resto Owners When Their Businesses Sink Into Quicksand

Food Craving Reviews Tomorrow is Hari Raya Puasa. Previously, I Googled "Mhat Am Kape" some time ago, only to discover that the place had been permanently closed . It was closed in 2020 before the Delta Variant came out in 2021. Their Facebook page is still on but the place is already closed . I tried eating there, calling the place mediocre, and when I talked with workers for Arabian halal resto owners, they mentioned that the place was definitely dirty. I could imagine how the Arab bosses would react to the lack of proper hygiene in the place.  I'd like to share a few photos I took from Mhat Am Kape's Facebook page. One needs to find out why the place closed down. I assume somebody sent the Cebu City Health office photos. The pastils (empanadas) on the floor (right) are an open invitation to pests . As a result, the establishment would be forced to close down. If these photos were taken sometime in July 2020 and the establishment closed in August 2020-- I assume Ce...

The Filipino First Policy Caused the Philippines to Succeed!

High School Philippine History Movement Yes, you read it right! I found a hidden gem that I should've read years ago! It's the book Nationalist Economics by the late Alejandro Lichauco, who is part of the magnificent IBON Foundation. It's a shame I refused to read it. I should've read Lichauco's book instead of the late Lee Kuan Yew's book From Third World to First . What a shame that I didn't look into the details that LKY was a dictator, that Flor Contemplacion was indeed innocent, and that Singapore is a state comparable to Nazi Germany. As I bought my copy of Nationalist Economics from the Trust Me Bro School of Economics--I'm now convinced that the Filipino First Policy caused us to succeed! LKY ruled Singapore for 31 years, meaning it's a frightening thing indeed! Six years is the magic number ot establish a benevolent rule!  Who should we all listen to? Should we listen to foreigners or should we listen to our fellow Filipino? We must think st...

I'll Vote for Teodoro A. Casino for Senator, IF His Supporters Can Run a SUCCESSFUL #SahodItaasPresyoIbaba Business That Pays PHP 1,200.00 Minimum Wage

If there's anything I want to say--only economically illiterate people would vote for Teodoro Casiño's promise. The chances are that (1) it's all for a vote, or (2) he doesn't understand what he's doing. In my case, I assume that Casiño is simply saying it, all for a vote instead of the second option. Chances are that he's only saying it, for a vote. Because nobody in the right mind would push a PHP 1,200 minimum wage, given the condition of the job market! I would like to write this article because what he's pushing is inflationary . It's because no matter how much you look at it, #SahodItaasPresyoIbaba is plain bad accounting (read here ). How can you increase wages without increasing the prices of goods and services? Business & Plans   I wrote about opening #SahodItaasPresyoIbaba stores nationwide . Until now, nobody has ever bothered to do the challenge. Why haven't they opened a single successful #SahodItaasPresyoIbaba store? As one would lo...

Yes, the Philippines Can Self-Industrialize Because Filipinos Are the Most Powerful Race in the World (NO JOKE)

Yes, you got that right! This meme is a fact that Filipinos are the most powerful race in the world. That has been proven by the Trust Me Bro Factcheckers of the Philippines. It's the case of Filipino Exceptionalism. One can read on Facebook something like, "How many times do I have to tell you that the Philippines isn't Vietnam/Singapore/China/Taiwan/Japan, etc.?" Ever read that? If you haven't then you must be exceptionally stupid. That's why the Philippines should never learn from other countries, especially from Singapore. Why are you always listening to foreigners? Why listen to the advice of a stinky Indian when you can have the advice of the best constitutionalist in the world, Atty. Hilario G. Davide Jr.? You say that nations of the world go to Kishore Mabhubani in Singapore instead. Forget them because the Philippines is so unique that it can do everything on its own. It was proven by the greatest president that the Philippines always had, namely Carl...

Why I Stopped Investing in Stocks and Bonds for Cryptocurrency

This April 1, 2023, I made up my mind with a new investment strategy. Forget about what Warren Edward Buffett said to Jeff Bezos of Amazon. Instead, I decided to invest in the newest, hottest tool ever known as cryptocurrency . I would like to say that I already sold off and withdrew all my funds from all the financial companies I got invested in to put it all in cryptocurrency .  Why did I even believe in those investment schemes where I have to wait. Forget about waiting as it's just a game for losers. If I invested with Buffett's style of cost-averaging my money into an index for, let's say, 10 years, that would be plain boring. Instead, why not go for excitement with the world of cryptocurrency. I heard of how cryptocurrency can increase my PHP 100.00 to a huge amount of money in such a short time . Too good to be true you say? Well, that's just because people who are investing in stocks and bonds are just jealous of cryptocurrency investors, who are getting rich fa...

It's More Fun In The Philippines Thanks to the Filipino First Policy

I guess it can be called a day, right? This April 1, 2023 , I'm finally calling it quits with fighting for economic liberalization! Yes, that's right! All the advocacy for economic liberalization is just garbage. Why did I even spend so much time writing this blog only to find out that I've been duped? I hereby renounce everything I wrote here. I finally saw how brilliant the Filipino First Policy is. Man, what have I done? How much damage have I caused in advocating for economic liberalization?  The greatest president we ever had was... High School Philippine History Movement It's time to listen to the economic genius known as the late Carlos P. Garcia. Yes, he has to be one of the greatest presidents that ever existed.  I took this note from the Bohol Provincial Library and found this about CPG's Filipino First Policy ; CPG adopted the “Filipino First” Policy to promote greater Filipino participation in business, and to put the Filipinos in control of the economy...

April 1 Humor: When Chicken Restaurants Create Some Funny April Fool's Ads

It's April Fool's Day, and what's April Fool's Day without some friendly humor? Here's some crazy stuff I found on Facebook: This one is way too ridiculous. I confess I'm a fan of Bok Korean Fried Chicken. However, I still prefer Bonenone Korean Chicken at A.S. Fortuna, Banilad, which still tastes better IMHO. My only problem with Bonenone is the difficulty in getting a parking space. However, Bok in IT Park can be a quick fix. So far, no restaurant should be stupid enough to give free chicken, for bringing a live chicken .  This Mang Inasal ad made me think, "Cool, there's mocha ice cream." However, the description from the Facebook page made it a clear joke. Looking at the caption, "Pwede ring hindi." meaning "Maybe not," with the laughing icon proves it's just a joke! This one would be totally a joke. Hopefully, Dairy Queen will offer mint chocolate after this joke. It's definitely not advisable to swallow toothpaste....

Remembering the Red Tape of Requiring People to Learn Hokkien Before Learning Mandarin

  It's no secret that I had bad grades in elementary and high school. There's always this distinction between huan-a (which may no longer be offensive, and refers to anybody of the Malay-Indo race ) and the lan-nang (our people). However, I prefer to call myself hua-lang (華人, Huárén) over lan-nang. Early last year, I wrote about why the old Sin Jiang textbooks were written the way they were . Barely anything can be understood by the non-Chinese speaker! It's funny but true! Honestly, we were even forbidden from romanizing, and we had to use Zhuyin Fuhao--something no longer applicable with Standard Chinese! Taiwan is still left using Zhuyin. Zhuyin may be best rendered as obsolete as the Alibata for standard writing or inputs. The Chinese schools in the Philippines all operated under a single standard. Learning Chinese was often characterized by the "死記硬背 sǐ jì yìng bèi" or "Memorize to the point of death" mentality (read here ). People had to learn Hokk...

Nobody Gets Rich Overspending Money to Impress Fools Who Don't Know How to Value Money

My Money Coach Happy April Fool's Day, right? How often have we been fooled by someone who claims to be rich by frequently having a thick wallet full of cash, having plenty of expensive brands such as having an iPhone and highly branded apparel, and living a highly luxurious lifestyle? Somebody may even fool you he or she is rich by simply saying it. I remembered how that kind of thinking (back when I was a child) caused me to envy others. I remembered how some of my classmates would brag they had this and that. For some, somebody was poor because the parents didn't buy for the child this or that. What's ignored is that sometimes the rich man's son doesn't have this cool gadget while the poor man's son may have it. This can lead to another foolish habit of spending money to impress others who may be burdened in debt themselves. It's a very common thing to spend money to impress others. It's because it's a very common thing to say that one is rich and...

Why I Think Many Filipinos Are Easily Fooled By Financial Scams

Dreamstime It's April Fool's Day and I think it might be a great opportunity to write about why many Filipinos get easily fooled by financial scams. I was doing some reviews of mistakes I made and mistakes others make. I can't get over losing a huge sum of money to a family friend . I can't get over how we also lost a lot of money to those who were supposedly close friends. It was also during my MBA days at the University of San Carlos-Main Campus when the scams happened and some MBA students were victimized. I was an MBA student at that time when I defied common sense by allowing a family friend to purchase in credit. I thought she would return the money after she paid for her first transaction. During the pandemic, I had gone on a blocking spree when I'm getting text messages offering to pay me a much higher pay (per day) when it was too good to be true. The Philippines will still need to develop its economy before it can be legitimate that Filipinos can get a min...