Sep 05 2008
School Season in my Small Town
School season in the Philippines usually starts on the first week of June. But for the teachers [like me], we start reporting to work a week earlier to prepare the classrooms, help in the enrolment, start preparing the lesson plans… teaching materials… and what not. The start of the school year just like in any other schools all over the world [perhaps] is the busiest day in the calendar.
School season in the Philippines coincide with the “wet season” in the country. School season is also typhoon season that is why we also cancel lots of school days due to storm, flooding and calamities. And because of these the school days are sometimes extended to make up for those days we lost.
School season in the Philippines is also the season for heavy traffic, especially in the cities. In our small town in Liliw, kids come to school on jeepneys, tricycles or on foot. They also come in uniforms unlike here in the US where kids come in casual clothes except for those who go to private schools. In the Philippines, both the Private and Public schools require their students to come in proper uniform. The public schools are subsidized by the government however; students are still required to pay a minimum fee for other school expenses.
And just like in any countries in the whole world… the teachers are still over-worked and under-paid… hahahaha. I still miss school though.
More Helpful Information
About Jeepneys in the Philippines… go to Jeepney, and Jeepney and other means of transportation in the Philippines
About Tricycles in the Philippines… go to Motorcycles and Tricycles in the Philippines
is that you in the picture ruthi? your class is really having a grand time. and if i may add, teachers in the philippines wear uniform too, like you in the picture. here, no uniform. i can just remember my high school days and the greg shoes
I sorta like the idea of requiring school uniforms. Maybe that would make people focus more on lessons than fashion in school.
Betchai… Yes, that was me and yes teachers wear uniforms. Yes that good old Greg Shoes. hahahaha.
Kalilea… I agree with you. I think wearing uniforms also gives a certain sense of equality among students because some less privileged kids will not feel intimidated if they cannot afford to buy the branded clothes and well-privileged kids will not feel superior just because they can afford to buy them. I guess.
Thanks for the insight into school start in your part of the world. Here in Sweden no-one wears a uniform for school - and maybe it’s different in the larger cities, but for the most part kids all get their clothes from the clothing stores that sell generic stuff and not designer brands. I’ve seen a few designer t-shirts but no-one’s much impressed because it’s only a big deal if people know anything about designer labels and here it’s not a priority.
In my native UK many schools have a mandatory uniform for the children - not the teachers.