I am currently enrolled to earn a degree in Education. Recently, Prof. Joanna C. Consignado required us to submit a report, and this is what I wrote:
1. What do you remember of your Guidance Program in Grade School, High School & College? What are the facilities?
In grade school? Well, actually I came from a public school situated in a remote village in my lowly hometown, Marinduque. Hence, what would anyone expect of school facilities but the most basic classroom-teacher-principal things. I honestly say that our school did not have any Guidance Program that time but, I (or we) felt fortunate enough to experience a well-guided elementary education because the community we belonged was so small. I remembered each classes range in the average size of 30 students and grade levels were only one section each. And besides, teachers hail from the same community and, in most cases, were either relative or friends of every parent. Some teachers also became teachers of our parents. Therefore, I think school Guidance Program was not necessary then as discipline was basically conducted by each parents before (and during) a child enters school term. I observed that teachers and parents communicated in most casual ways and they really have extra-ordinary understanding of one another. Not to mention, those teachers clung to “Spanish Friar” attitudes who conduct discipline out of dominance and fear. Those times, no students or parents would complain when teachers shout at students or impose fierce punishment to misbehaving ones. It was well-accepted then to such an ‘old culture’. Taking the side of the school, as an institution, I believed Guidance Program was basically handed down to each classroom teachers, and when necessary, the Principal plays important role when issue became severe.
What about Guidance Program in my high school days? This time, I advanced into entering a private school at a relatively bigger district, but still, I can’t recall if we had any guidance office way back then. All I can remember was, every morning after every flag ceremonies, the principal stood before the whole body of students and faculty making ‘sermons’ at a truly lengthy style! The principal’s agenda basically consists of random things like announcements and updates, plans, reminders on school policies and student restrictions, disciplinary actions, and reading memorandum from the Director (the owner of the school). One of the ‘greatest policies’ the school ever had, in my opinion, was that All-English-Speaking-Students-Inside-The-Campus. It has been implemented very well as everybody really followed including teachers. I remembered each class had representative who was expected to submit daily reports about English violators plus other odd behaviours like passing over the fence, spitting somewhere, eating outside the canteen, not attending flag retreat, failure to attend the Sunday Mass and other many more. These reports did not escape the principal’s attention and therefore students (violators) names were announced in front of the whole campus population. Some were even asked to move forward so that everybody can recognize the offender. I believed this strategy became effective that time because our school carried a good reputation in terms of student discipline and education standard. Again, speaking of Guidance and Counselling, this program, I believe, was carried on by each faculty member being the adviser of a certain class while the Principal became visible on a day-to-day basis. When parents are needed to deal the issues, the Principal’s office is the place for that.
Way back in college, I’m sure Guidance and Counseling Programs were in place at the university where I attended. However, I was not aware on how it was going on that time since I believe I was one of those students who really behave well in and out of the campus. I remember we were required to attend campus orientation meeting before we start the school term as freshmen. We were also provided a student handbook, where plentiful information was written on it, for student reference and guidance. Though not sure being part of Guidance and Counseling, students were required to join a recollection/retreat conducted by our Theology professors in every Theology class taken. Furthermore, another retreat/recollection was conducted to the graduating class before Commencement Exercise happened. Other than that, I honestly can not say things which I was not into direct experience with for I really believe such kind of programs existed in that university where I came from.
2. Have you ever sought assistance from the guidance counsellor? Cite your experience.
I have never sought any assistance from the guidance office in my student years. I’ve been naturally a quiet, shy and reserved young person but I’m sure I was always easy to be friends with anybody; patient and understanding to other’s shortcomings; almost obedient and respectful towards my teachers, studious in and out of the campus; and I very well abide by school rules, policies and procedures.
3. What do you think is the difference between Guidance & Education?
Guidance and education are two distinct things that provide a clear contour to one’s character, behavior, life approaches, and role in the society. Guidance is an area where constituents are provided with directions and advices to a specific decision or course of action, while the education is another area where individuals are given instructions and activities which aims to impart knowledge and skills. In the academic institution, guidance covers the overall and general directions and advices towards student’s conduct and discipline in and out of the classroom, which, to a greater extent, affects individuals in dealing life inside and outside of that campus. On the other hand, education formally acquired in school maintains a limit among learners, based on the agreed curriculum from one specific term to another. Guidance counselors help shape individuals on diverse matters but usually became optional to learners, since the most accessible guidance counselors exist in their lives in the presence of parents or guardians at home. Just like guidance counselors, educators also became sculpture to one’s lives but quite different from the former because education has been a privilege to many and tends to be a noble goal to all, though it covers only specific field in the process.
Guidance and education outside the academic institution is also possible to anyone, in my humble opinion. With regards to guidance, as long as a person believes in the existence of greater force or deity, it becomes essential to one’s life. Such guidance determines how an individual directly or indirectly connects with that ‘higher being’ as manifested in one’s projection towards mundane, minute-by-minute events in life. Although, somehow guidance (solicited or unsolicited) can be acquired from various trusted individuals, such as parents, guardians, elderly, friends, religious leaders, spiritual gurus, masters of specific field, and any other persons whom one can speak with at any particular time. On the other hand, education can also be acquired without finishing any formal degree in school because one’s experiences, whether hardships or otherwise, became teachers to one’s being. As they say, life on earth is a school. Well, the previous statement pertains to profound knowledge. This is to say, of course that some knowledge and skills may be gained outside school in such a way that one reads, travels, listens, observes, and performs repeatedly until mastery became an attribute to the learner.
1. What do you remember of your Guidance Program in Grade School, High School & College? What are the facilities?
In grade school? Well, actually I came from a public school situated in a remote village in my lowly hometown, Marinduque. Hence, what would anyone expect of school facilities but the most basic classroom-teacher-principal things. I honestly say that our school did not have any Guidance Program that time but, I (or we) felt fortunate enough to experience a well-guided elementary education because the community we belonged was so small. I remembered each classes range in the average size of 30 students and grade levels were only one section each. And besides, teachers hail from the same community and, in most cases, were either relative or friends of every parent. Some teachers also became teachers of our parents. Therefore, I think school Guidance Program was not necessary then as discipline was basically conducted by each parents before (and during) a child enters school term. I observed that teachers and parents communicated in most casual ways and they really have extra-ordinary understanding of one another. Not to mention, those teachers clung to “Spanish Friar” attitudes who conduct discipline out of dominance and fear. Those times, no students or parents would complain when teachers shout at students or impose fierce punishment to misbehaving ones. It was well-accepted then to such an ‘old culture’. Taking the side of the school, as an institution, I believed Guidance Program was basically handed down to each classroom teachers, and when necessary, the Principal plays important role when issue became severe.
What about Guidance Program in my high school days? This time, I advanced into entering a private school at a relatively bigger district, but still, I can’t recall if we had any guidance office way back then. All I can remember was, every morning after every flag ceremonies, the principal stood before the whole body of students and faculty making ‘sermons’ at a truly lengthy style! The principal’s agenda basically consists of random things like announcements and updates, plans, reminders on school policies and student restrictions, disciplinary actions, and reading memorandum from the Director (the owner of the school). One of the ‘greatest policies’ the school ever had, in my opinion, was that All-English-Speaking-Students-Inside-The-Campus. It has been implemented very well as everybody really followed including teachers. I remembered each class had representative who was expected to submit daily reports about English violators plus other odd behaviours like passing over the fence, spitting somewhere, eating outside the canteen, not attending flag retreat, failure to attend the Sunday Mass and other many more. These reports did not escape the principal’s attention and therefore students (violators) names were announced in front of the whole campus population. Some were even asked to move forward so that everybody can recognize the offender. I believed this strategy became effective that time because our school carried a good reputation in terms of student discipline and education standard. Again, speaking of Guidance and Counselling, this program, I believe, was carried on by each faculty member being the adviser of a certain class while the Principal became visible on a day-to-day basis. When parents are needed to deal the issues, the Principal’s office is the place for that.
Way back in college, I’m sure Guidance and Counseling Programs were in place at the university where I attended. However, I was not aware on how it was going on that time since I believe I was one of those students who really behave well in and out of the campus. I remember we were required to attend campus orientation meeting before we start the school term as freshmen. We were also provided a student handbook, where plentiful information was written on it, for student reference and guidance. Though not sure being part of Guidance and Counseling, students were required to join a recollection/retreat conducted by our Theology professors in every Theology class taken. Furthermore, another retreat/recollection was conducted to the graduating class before Commencement Exercise happened. Other than that, I honestly can not say things which I was not into direct experience with for I really believe such kind of programs existed in that university where I came from.
2. Have you ever sought assistance from the guidance counsellor? Cite your experience.
I have never sought any assistance from the guidance office in my student years. I’ve been naturally a quiet, shy and reserved young person but I’m sure I was always easy to be friends with anybody; patient and understanding to other’s shortcomings; almost obedient and respectful towards my teachers, studious in and out of the campus; and I very well abide by school rules, policies and procedures.
3. What do you think is the difference between Guidance & Education?
Guidance and education are two distinct things that provide a clear contour to one’s character, behavior, life approaches, and role in the society. Guidance is an area where constituents are provided with directions and advices to a specific decision or course of action, while the education is another area where individuals are given instructions and activities which aims to impart knowledge and skills. In the academic institution, guidance covers the overall and general directions and advices towards student’s conduct and discipline in and out of the classroom, which, to a greater extent, affects individuals in dealing life inside and outside of that campus. On the other hand, education formally acquired in school maintains a limit among learners, based on the agreed curriculum from one specific term to another. Guidance counselors help shape individuals on diverse matters but usually became optional to learners, since the most accessible guidance counselors exist in their lives in the presence of parents or guardians at home. Just like guidance counselors, educators also became sculpture to one’s lives but quite different from the former because education has been a privilege to many and tends to be a noble goal to all, though it covers only specific field in the process.
Guidance and education outside the academic institution is also possible to anyone, in my humble opinion. With regards to guidance, as long as a person believes in the existence of greater force or deity, it becomes essential to one’s life. Such guidance determines how an individual directly or indirectly connects with that ‘higher being’ as manifested in one’s projection towards mundane, minute-by-minute events in life. Although, somehow guidance (solicited or unsolicited) can be acquired from various trusted individuals, such as parents, guardians, elderly, friends, religious leaders, spiritual gurus, masters of specific field, and any other persons whom one can speak with at any particular time. On the other hand, education can also be acquired without finishing any formal degree in school because one’s experiences, whether hardships or otherwise, became teachers to one’s being. As they say, life on earth is a school. Well, the previous statement pertains to profound knowledge. This is to say, of course that some knowledge and skills may be gained outside school in such a way that one reads, travels, listens, observes, and performs repeatedly until mastery became an attribute to the learner.
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