bearing fruit

If there's one good effect of the brouhaha about the questionable election of the SSG adviser it is the bringing together all the head teachers under one roof and in the same room.

The tensions caused by the different year-end events chaired by the different head teachers (having conflicting leadership styles and priorities) erected barriers between them. The friction caused much heat such that they have broke camp and left the temporary head's office. Each to his own place.

The principal, days before she retires,  has decided to gather them again under one roof. I hope that they will be more considerate and accommodating.

Biriyo na naman an beatles...:)

Sorsogon National High School

Sorsogon City

June 17, 2014

The President

Supreme Student Government (SSG)

Sorsogon National High School

Sorsogon City, Sorsogon

Ms. Acosta;

Good day.

This letter is my personal reply and reaction to the manifesto distributed by your office to all those concerned, especially the teachers in this school. I said personal because this is my own decision as a member of the school community and as a concerned teacher, though not necessarily a teacher concerned.

I personally admire your leadership and courage, and the united effort of the Supreme Student Government (SSG) of this school to come up with such a finely crafted piece of document to encourage, if not remind, the teachers to respect the independence of the student government and its decisions as an autonomous body within the school.            

Though I personally believed in the purest of your intentions, I am saddened by the tone of the letter and the manner by which it was disseminated.  I raise, though unsolicited, a few points of interest and clarification in the said manifesto.

Firstly, in paragraphs 1 and 2 of the same letter, the issue is about the transformation of the former girls’ comfort room into a grand edifice standing in its shining glory, a testament to what the SSG could accomplish if they are united in their endeavors, and that because it was rehabilitated into a glorious SSG-AGCC office, it cannot be made into a faculty room but only for exclusive use of the SSG-AGCC in its transactions.

            The girls’ comfort room was a project of the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) thus its upkeep is the PTA’s responsibility. It is but fitting and proper for the SSG-AGCC who worked for its conversion, to use it for their purpose. However, since it is obvious that only Mrs. Norma Navarro, Head Teacher III of the Social Studies Department is “squatting” in it, with the consent of the Principal, then the SSG should have written a separate letter to Mrs. Navarro requesting her to relocate to a more welcoming office, and not prepare an all-inclusive letter for all teachers and Department Heads.  

           

            Moreover, since you have shown great courage to keep and use the SSG office for its intended purpose, I would suggest that you would also display the same zeal in scrutinizing how the money, derived from various fund raising projects, was spent in rehabilitating your office and make certain that proper accounting and auditing is done to dispel any apprehensions of irregularities, as a fitting action of an Anti-Graft and Corruption Commission.

            I would recommend that a properly documented financial statement be posted in a conspicuous place in your office or better distributed to all concerned like the way the manifesto was released and distributed to the teachers . (Article XVIII Section 11 and 12 of the SSG CBL)

Secondly, on the issue of the generated negativity, open acrimony, snide and unsavory remarks directed to Mr. Fungo on his election as the new adviser of the SSG, on my part I have no problem with his unanimous election as he is my friend and colleague in the Science Department. I can personally attest to his competence, ability and willingness as a teacher and adviser of all school organization he handled in the past. His character and reputation is beyond reproach. The issue, however, is on the manner and the process by which he was elected as adviser.  

            

            a. Who presided over the meeting to elect the SSG adviser? If it is the principal then it is not in keeping with your Constitution and By Laws under Article XIII Section 1 for the role of the principal is merely to designate the SSG adviser. The SSG President should preside over all the meetings, even in the nomination and election of the new adviser.

            b. How were the three (3) teacher- nominees determined by the SSG? Is it through an open, free and independent deliberation by the SSG officers or upon the behest of the Principal?

            c. Was the list of names of three (3) teacher-nominees submitted to the Principal done through a resolution as provided by the SSG Constitution and By Laws under Article XIII Section 1?   

            d. Was the removal of the names of Mrs Matilde Dino  and Ms Chona Reyes allowed by the SSG CBL because they have served as SSG advisers in the past? Then why was the name of Mrs.Fatima Flores not removed from the list, even garnering three (3) votes, when she has already served as SSG adviser in the past, before the term of the current principal?

            e. If indeed the nomination and designation of the SSG adviser open to all, then why the need to specify the preference of Social Studies Teacher or Department Head before any competent, able and willing teacher in the school?

            f. In paragraph 5 and 6 of the same manifesto, the SSG nominated teachers as potential  advisers   and at the behest of the Principal proceeded to have an election.

            Is this consistent with the your Constitution and By Laws under Article XIII Section 1 where there is no mention of an election of the adviser of the SSG, since the advisorship of the SSG is not an elective position, but is merely a designation by the school head? The SSG is not empowered to elect an adviser. It is mandated though, by its Charter, to nominate teachers, and after a free, open  and independent deliberation on their qualities and qualifications prepare a shortlist of three (3) nominees and with a resolution, submit it to the school head for her discretion and choice. The “election” of the SSG adviser by the student body is highly irregular because it arrogates the power and authority of the principal to designate an adviser who she believes is the best person for the job, whether or not he/she is the unanimous choice of the SSG. The school head is still the final authority in the choice of the SSG adviser.

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Thirdly, the SSG would be doing a great disservice to all teachers of Sorsogon NHS by not identifying those who have displayed open acrimony and have expressed snide and unsavory remarks against Mr. Fungo. If indeed the SSG officers have known the identities of these teachers, then the letter should be addressed and given to them and not to all teachers.

Lastly, your teachers are your best ally and most active supporters of all your programs and fund raising projects. We do not undermine your freedom to exercise your rights. We are in school not to demoralize students and the SSG officers. We want you to succeed in promoting mutual understanding through social, civic, intellectual, recreational and scientific programs and activities in Sorsogon National High School. (Article II Section 1)

I hope that this letter will not diminish your view of your teachers as persons worthy to emulate 

decency, fairness, justice, sportsmanship and all the good deeds that you should learn.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely yours,

       EDGARDO J. BUNGCAG