A blog that tackles issues on basic education (in the Philippines and the United States) including early childhood education, the teaching profession, math and science education, medium of instruction, poverty, and the role of research and higher education.
Mason District Holds a Protest with a Community Feeling
Get link
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps
Black lives will only start to matter if we dismantle systems that either advance or encumber a certain group of individuals. No amount of education can erase racism for this grows from self-interest. Our children know this since they are not born with this attitude but with our misguided desire to be at an advantage, children grow within a system that either favors or burdens them. We do not need to educate. What we need is to change the educational system so that it serves all students. Equity is the only answer. We heard our children more than a week ago here at Mason district. The community is united in this endeavor but protest rallies need to end with action and we must change our institutions. The following is a repost from Blue View. In this, Abby Block states, "Perhaps that tells us something about the depth and breadth of the effort that has just begun and shows no sign of abating." I sure hope so.
Mason District holds a protest with a community feeling
June 17, 2020
By Abby Block:
Protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police have spread across the nation, not just in big cities but also in small communities — like our own Mason District here in Fairfax County — that don’t typically respond in organized fashion to events far outside their boundaries.
Hundred joined in on Mon., June 8, for the Black Lives Matter Annandale Family March from the Barcroft Plaza Shopping Center to the Mason District Government Center. The orderly and respectful crowd chanted, heard speeches, knelt in silence for 8 minutes and 46 seconds — the time a Minneapolis policeman’s knee was on George Floyd’s neck – and ended the 2-hour program with a song of unity.
Participants wore masks in recognition that we are still in the midst of a pandemic.
Mason District came together as a community to hold its own Black Lives Matter march
The march was conceived and organized by parents at Mason Crest Elementary School. The original idea came from Mary DeDios who enlisted Simon Sandoval Moshenberg and Ricardy Anderson, Mason’s representative on the Fairfax County School Board.
Keynote speaker Jocelyn McCullough helped set the tone for Mason District’s grass roots protest
Other parents joined the effort quickly. The objective was to commemorate George Floyd’s death in a shared endeavor that involved kids, provided a meaningful learning experience, and promoted unity.
The presence of an open megaphone encouraged speeches from parents, community leaders, and students.
The keynote speaker, Jocelyn McCullough, is a student leader of the Equity Team at Justice High School. In a moving and memorable speech she talked about her own family history and about why black lives matter.
She cited numerous examples of entrenched racism and its cumulative negative impact and spelled out the many things that need to change.
Mary’s husband, Angel DeDios, also spoke about the crisis in education resulting from systemic racism, and many students, ranging in age from elementary to high school, added their voices for positive change.
On a personal note, I was pleased to learn that the community I left to come here 40 years ago, Merrick, Long Island, also hosted a march in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Perhaps that tells us something about the depth and breadth of the effort that has just begun and shows no sign of abating.
Main photo: Amelia DeDios takes the mic at the Annandale Family March, with Alma Valencia at her side/ Photos by Bill Millhouser
Abby Block served in the federal government as a health benefits program manager and as an executive advisor to a consulting firm. She is a member of Mason District Democratic Committee
There is information to be gained from data. Tests in schools can be informative. Scores of students provide a quick glimpse of the current state of education. Thus, it is useful to have these numbers. These numbers may not tell everything in detail with high accuracy. Nevertheless, test results allow for a useful perspective. The National Achievement Test administered by the Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines, a set of standardized tests addressing the major subjects taught in school, is an example. These tests are given to Grade 3 where students are assessed in both English and Filipino (These two subjects comprise two thirds of the exam) and Math and Science (These two account for the remaining one third). A different set of tests is given to Grade 6 pupils where each of the following 5 subjects is assigned 40 items: (Science, Math, English, Filipino and Social Studies). Another set is administered to fourth year high school students (This is currently the last year
MGA TANONG AT SAGOT HINGGIL SA Kto12 PROGRAM NG GOBYERNO NG PILIPINAS Posted on May 28, 2012 by David Michael San Juan MGA TANONG AT SAGOT HINGGIL SA Kto12 PROGRAM NG GOBYERNO NG PILIPINAS (Paunawa: Simpleng lenggwahe ang ginamit sa artikulong ito upang madaling maintindihan ng mayorya.) For the full English version please visit http://www.scribd.com/david_juan_1/d/70033985-San-Juan-David-Michael-Full-Paper-Kto12 TANONG: ANO ANG KTO12 PROGRAM? SAGOT: Ang Kto12 Program ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas ay tumutukoy sa pagkakaroon ng mandatory o required na kindergarten at karagdagang 2 taon sa dating 10-year Basic Education Cycle. Kung noon, pagkatapos ng anim na taon sa elementarya at apat na taon sa hayskul (kabuuang 10 taon) ay maaari nang makapagkolehiyo ang mga estudyante. Sa ilalim ng Kto12, bago makapagkolehiyo, kailangan pa nilang dumaan sa karagdagang 2 taon pagkatapos ng apat na taong hayskul. Sa bagong sistema, tinatawag na senior high school o junior
With the new K to 12 curriculum of the Philippine basic education system, questions are now raised regarding how tertiary education should be modified to fit the changes in Philippine high schools. The focus is on general education requirements. Currently, as Isagani Cruz explains in his MINI CRITIQUE , The Philippine Star, March 22, 2012 ; There are two General Education Curricula (GECs) – GEC-A and GEC-B. GEC-A (taken by students majoring in the humanities, social sciences, or communication) requires 63 units (that is, hours per week for a semester or trimester) divided into 24 units of language and literature, 15 units of mathematics and natural sciences, 6 units of humanities, 12 units of social sciences, and 6 units of mandated subjects. GEC-A was promulgated by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order (CMO) 59, series of 1996. GEC-B (taken by all other students) requires 21 units of language and humanities, 15 units of mathematics, natural sciences, an
Comments
Post a Comment