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.