Child protection policy gazette

Participants of the Orientation On the Implementation of Child Protwction Policy in Schools Jose Rizal hall of Batangas Country Club, October 10. MICHAEL T. VILLALUNA

'SHIELD'

School leaders undergo training workshop to craft uniform Child Protection Policy By: Domcar C. LAgto & Michael T. Villaluna

S

chool Heads of Batangas Province left their usual duties as school managers to once again be pupils and students.

This time not in a typical classroom but in Jose Rizal hall of Batangas Country Club to sit for a one-day training on localized Child Protection Policy.

A total of 791 school leaders from four areas of the province—Area 1 to Area 4, summed up the attendees of the activity for four days, one day for every area from October 10 to 13.

“Napaka-flexible (of the division crafted CPP), nakadepende sa situation ng school n’yo. ‘Yon ang pwedeng galawin as to the sanction (the) first offense as much as possible ay written reprimand lang. ‘Yon po ang aim namin na maging uniform, ang sanctions.”

-Atty. Salimo

, Attorney Karen Salimo, legal counsel III and the head proponent of the activity, clarified the purpose of the training, which is to have uniformed localized Child Protection Policy in the whole of Batangas Province at least in the sanctions implemented by the school authorities, Oct. 10. MICHAEL T. VILLALUNA

The need to have localized CPP “When we visit your school, you do

regarding the teachers’ protection parallel

offense.

not have the localized Child Protection

to child protection policy, by quoting the

Policy. When asked, you will be showing

response of higher authorities restating that

crafted CPP), nakadepende sa situation ng

DepEd Order No. 40 series 2012,” ASDS Dr.

the D.O No. 40 series 2012 is indeed the

school n’yo. ‘Yon ang pwedeng galawin as

Hermogenes Panganiban, mentioned in his

protection policy of teachers if the order will

to the sanction (the) first offense as much

opening remarks.

be followed.

as possible ay written reprimand lang. ‘Yon

Dr. Panganiban also said that if a certain

Similarly, Dr. Bolaños, ASDS expressed

school had crafted their Child Protection

his appreciation to the persons behind

Policy, there are contents being imposed

the event, especially to Atty. Karen Salimo

which are not in accordance with the existing

for their effort to have a uniform child

laws and DepEd orders.

protection policy in the whole of Batangas

The ASDS discussed further that schools

Province, that he reminded the participants

are violating certain rules and regulations

to give their utmost participation for the

if the localized policy which agreed upon

realization of the training’s objectives.

between and among the members of

Meanwhile, Attorney Karen Salimo,

stakeholders is not in accordance with the

legal counsel III and the head proponent

existing rules.

of the activity, clarified the purpose of

“The reason why Atty. Salimo, being one

the training, which is to have uniformed

of the protectors of our children, considered

localized Child Protection Policy in the

the CPP and all the things that we have

whole of Batangas Province at least in

to avoid, so that we will not be charged

the sanctions implemented by the school

administratively or criminally. We have

authorities.

to follow the guidelines, “Dr. Panganiban reiterated.

He also answered the queries of some teachers— not verbalized during the activity,

The Legal Counsel also mentioned that in the crafted policy from division office, contained are the detailed offenses classified as light offense, less grave offense and grave

“Napaka-flexible (of the division

po ang aim namin na maging uniform, ang sanctions.” Atty. Salimo explained.

“The reason why Atty.

Salimo, being one of the protectors of our children, considered the CPP and all the things that we have to avoid, so that we will not be charged administratively or criminally. We have to follow the guidelines.“ -Dr. Panganiban

CPP legal bases

explained “Ito ba ay ginawa para takutin ang mga teachers, at pahirapan ang mga school adminstrators,” this is the opening statement

the liabilities which the teacher may face in violations of the rules regarding CPP. The young attorney also elucidated the

of Atty. Karen Salimo relating to the DepEd

different abuses which one may commit to

Order No. 40 series 2012 also known as

the child. Her actual experiences in handling

Child Protection Policy.

child abuses became her motivation to the

The participants did not answer back

participants to partake in the discussions,

but intensely listened to the learnings

asking them the difference between criminal

explained by the legal counsel.

cases which may imposed in the regular

Atty. Salimo patiently clarified the legal

court embodied in RA 7610 and the

bases which supports the Child Protection

administrative liabilities in DepEd Order No.

Policy—1987 Philippine Constitution,

40 series 2012.

Family Code Article 2, Code of Ethics

“Hindi importante ang bad words such

of Professional Teachers, and the DepEd

as “P.I.” or “tanga”, kundi ‘yong utterance ay

Mission and Vision.

nag cause ng trauma sa bata. Na-damage ba

The Division of Batangas’ Legal

ang dignidad ng bata? Once na nag-cause

Counsel mentioned and explained the “loco

ng trauma sa bata, ‘yon ay ground na para

parentis”— the teachers’ responsibilities

masabi nating may verbal abuse,” explained

like the real parents over the child, but

Atty. Salimo as she gave examples on the

the exemption of implicating corporal

different abuses one may commit.

punishment to discipline the child.

Zero tolerance of the department of education was also well discussed, as well as

“Hindi importante ang bad words such as “P.I.” or “tanga”, kundi ‘yong utterance ay nag cause ng trauma sa bata. Nadamage ba ang dignidad ng bata? Once na nagcause ng trauma sa bata, ‘yon ay ground na para masabi nating may verbal abuse.”

-Atty. Salimo

Positive discipline versus corporal punishment The five-minute period given to

retold. “At hanggang ngayon ang teacher na

Everyday Teaching (PDET) approach model

participants to recall their positive and

‘yon for me, she was the worst teacher ever,”

that will help teachers teach lifelong skills,

negative experiences during elementary

she expressed.

courtesy, non-violence, self-respect and

years was not consumed as the participants eagerly shared their stories.

One participant recalled how her

Then Mrs. Marivic Dimaculangan, the speaker of the session, explained why child protection policy came into being and how

teacher slapped her hands corresponding

some teaching and non-teaching officials

to the numbers of her wrong answers in the

are over zealously exercising their substitute

given quiz, then somebody related how his

authority to the extent of implicating

teacher put a local orange in his mouth when

corporal punishment to their students.

he was caught not listening, instead playing with the fruit.

She explained further that corporal punishment represents the desire of one

Mrs. Movita Cruzat also shared her

person to hurt another, and it is expression

experience as she vividly retold how her

of hostility as oppose to positive discipline

teacher put her in embarrassment during her

as corrective love, unobjectionable behavior

natal day when she came in the school late

and the child will accept its consequences

and not in uniform because she went with

without resentment.

her mother in church before going to school.

“Ang sabi niya, at bakit hindi ka naka-

According to Mrs. Dimaculangan positive discipline is about finding long term

uniform?, sabay bitbit sa tainga ko, at hindi

solution that will develop self-discipline,

ko na po nasabi na birthday ko,” Mrs Cruzat

then she shared the Positive Discipline in

respect for others.

“Ang sabi niya, at bakit hindi ka naka-uniform?, sabay bitbit sa tainga ko, at hindi ko na po nasabi na birthday ko,” Mrs Cruzat retold. “At hanggang ngayon ang teacher na ‘yon for me, she was the worst teacher ever,” she expressed.

-Mrs. Movita Cruzat

Suggested interventions “Lucky are those guidance counselors

the participants the aims of counselling and

leaders and guidance coordinators are more

who are being given a chance to attend this

necessary skills one must possess to handle

than eager to discussed and implement

seminar.”

guidance and counselling. These skills were

matters regarding the CPP, but Atty. Salimo

effectively imparted to the participants

reminded them that their to be crafted

Aurelia Aguila, PSDS from Area II as

during the simulation acted by the speaker

localized CPP must first coordinated,

she expressed her appreciation after Mrs.

as guidance counselor and Mrs. Marivic

discussed and communicated to every

Leonora P. Santos a licensed guidance

Dimaculangan as a bullied adolescent.

individuals of the school community before

These were the exact words of Mrs.

counselor of Malvar National High School

Accordingly, Mrs. Lina Magoling

discussed basic counselling as intervention

clarified the use of intake sheets in handling

to handle children and adolescents in

cases involving the students.

schools effectively.

Mrs. Santos gained the interest of the

After Mrs. Magoling clearly presented

its implementation.

Each day of training-workshop for every specific Area was formally closed after certificate of attendance have been

the Division Office’ suggested format of CPP

distributed and photo opportunities have

participants during the “holy hours” when

to be a guide of different schools in crafting

been done.

she started her session with game activity

their very own CPP, she presented two

before she delivered the significant parts of

cases which were analyzed and discussed by

the session.

different groups employing the appropriate

She clarified the distinction between

approaches and the use of intake sheet as

guidance counselor who is a licensed

mandated in DepEd Order No. 40, series

person to conduct counselling and a school

2012.

guidance coordinator who was given the

The workshop effectively elucidated the

authority to act as designated by the school

role of the school leaders and designated

official.

guidance counselors to avoid “none to

The resource speaker then explained

report” entries whenever the Division Office

the approaches of basic counselling and

asked reports about bullying and child abuse

clarified guidance and counselling before

cases.

the eager participants. She as well reminded

After the training-workshop the school

“Lucky are those guidance counselors who are being given a chance to attend this seminar.”

-Mrs. Aurelia Aguila

The workshop effectively elucidated the role of the school leaders and designated guidance counselors to avoid “none to report� entries whenever the Division Office asked reports about bullying and child abuse cases.