Large classes in UPLB? No way!
Ever since I studied in UPLB [1], I never dabbled in any issue. Because my Math 17 teacher told me that Math 17 is one of the subjects that will be subjected to a large class. Well, what is a large class? And what is the difference between that and a “typical” class in UPLB?
A large class is composed of more than 100 students, while a small class is composed of more or less 20 to 50 students.
So, what’s the problem with large classes in UPLB?
First, large class means almost no chance of catching up in subjects that one misses out.
Second, you need to have a sharp memory and very fast writing and erasing skills for you to cope with the lecturer’s speed. And even if you compare notes with your classmates, they might miss out on parts that you’ve missed. If that’s the case, then it’s FUBAR [2], no questions asked.
Third, large classes means that there is a chance that some people at the back are sleeping, texting, procrastinating, and in some cases, drawing “eject professor/instructor” buttons on their armchairs. It means that the following batches of UPLB students could be lackluster than earlier batches. Also, the said university will be producing “lots of “productive” students, great procrastinators, sleep moguls, and text addicts”[3] if the large classes schemes are to be implemented.
Forth, there are studies done by reputed universities around the world that smaller classes mean higher grades, high student to teacher interaction, and active participation in school activities.
As a student of the most prestigious state university in the land, I believe that large classes isn’t about quality education – it’s about haphazard cost-cutting and further atrophication of the mind. Especially the young Pinoy mind already more or less poisoned by the emo and Korean waves.
At this time, the Philippines needs educated people to run virtually every aspect of our beloved country. Large classes will fuck that up, and we’ll end up voting for Noynoy someone very incapable for the presidency, and other national and local elected positions.
To every student who must endure the excuse of an education system that we have, I can only offer these words of hope… Educate yourself, not with school teachers, but with the books they wanted to ban. Teach yourself, learn, grow, and develop. Learn that the greatest asset education can offer is that of independence. [4]
It’s your choice, Peyups. Would you rather be a “dumb” UP graduate? Of course not.
Don’t wanna be stupid? Be a fan of the NO TO LARGE CLASSES in UPLB Facebook page. You can find it at http://www.facebook.com/pages/NO-TO-LARGE-CLASSES-in-UPLB/256438163096 or click on this link.
This post does not represent the opinions of the absolute majority of UPLB students, nor its employees and officials.
Footnotes
[1] UPLB is the acronym for University of the Philipines Los Baños.
[2] FUBAR means Fucked Up Beyond All Reason, per http://fubar.urbanup.com/386487
[3] The comment was taken from the NO TO LARGE CLASSES in UPLB Facebook page, per http://www.facebook.com/pages/NO-TO-LARGE-CLASSES-in-UPLB/256438163096?v=feed&story_fbid=265239583096&ref=mf
[4] This quote was taken from UrbanDictionary’s definition of education, http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=education&defid=1652851
Si Manny Villar talaga!
The subject of our parody
Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng pera?
Nagpasko ka na ba sa gitna ng C-5?
Tinatanong namin, ikaw ba ay aamin?Nalaman mo na bang napaka-trapo niya?
Gagaguhin tayo para lang siya’y iboto
At ang kanyang plano ay i-negosyo tayoSi Villar ang tunay na mayaman
Si Villar ang tunay na sakit ng bayan
Si Villar ang mga kakayahan at nalalasing sa kanyang kayamanan
Si Manny Villar – ang magtatapos ng ating sense of humor!(Image found at Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 and the GNU Free Documentation License.)
Daghan Salamat, Kevin Ray Chua!
Taking responsibility and a contract
I, Ian Lopez, resident of San Pablo City, Laguna and citizen of the Philippines,
- Will no longer be part of various processes that will not benefit the Filipino people in General
- Will not participate in activities that will ruin various institutions, including schools, colleges, universities, government, the economy, military, and the like
- Will solve various problems through peaceful and lawful means, regardless of its seriousness and repercussions
- Will participate (as much as possible) in processes and forums provided by persons, organizations, groups, companies, and the government, to ensure that the voice of the people (including our dreams, hopes, wishes, and aspirations) will be heard.
- Would rather have dialogues with persons who are involved in processes and schemas that may affect the Filipino youth, especially students, than to organize or be part of protests actions that could lead to nowhere.
- And will participate in the electoral process, which is important for every nation.
Also, I will be responsible for my actions, strive to improve myself – academically, personally, and in other ways, and to avoid the temptations that lured many young people into danger, disaster, desparation, and untimely death.
Ian Lopez
trying to keep my sanity
A few hours ago, my classmates in Math 17 were surprised to see me join the anti-Large lecture class protest.
Why, Ian? Are you now one of “them”?
To be honest, I just joined the protest action because I felt that there was no consultation with the affected students, and I felt that large classes aren’t interactive. In large classes, you may have to seat at the front row and/or have to comprehend the lessons well. That’s what I did for most of my classes in UPLB, large class or not.
Anyway, I managed to sneak out of the rally, then sneak back in, then sneak out of the rally, because I had classes at that point. Am I embarrassed with my actions? Maybe. Regretting my participation? Probably. Pero sayang ang effort (according to my friend), since there are better ways of expressing various grievances to the concerned officials. However, they may not listen. Regardless, sayang talaga.
I believe that I’ve antagonized too many people – classmates, teachers, and other people that want me to become a more successful person. Anyway, I’d like to emphasize that “I joined to condemn the planned expansion of the Large Classes scheme to other Foundation and GE classes, not the other issues that were brought up”. Again, sorry for those that were antagonized.
Again, I’m not affiliated with the groups that joined the demonstration held earlier. And no, di pa ako brainwashed.
Ending 2009
Early in the year, I made the pathetic effort in “remodeling” this blog into “surviving 2009″, which was a bad idea on my part. Anyway, there are some events that made my life a bit iffy in the past couple of days.
- First, this. Worse, he got shot. A couple of times. Wa na pake ako dyan.
- Second, some family problems. What is private is private, said my mother.
- Third, the files that I’ve transferred from my USB to my nephew’s computer got deleted, since it slowed down its performance. But the good news, is that my cousin (my nephew’s father) saved some files. The bad news, is that I have a collection of pics of my friends and me (no camwhore stuff), some very rare songs (like I Ain’t Bullshittin’ by the 2 Live Crew and the Kanye West version of Twista’s Slow Jamz), and two 50 Cent music videos – Crime Wave and the controversial Stretch, plus Marie Digby’s version of Say It Right.
- Forth, my computer got fucked. (Wait, that was sometime in early December).
- And I am kulelat (have low grades) in Math 17. But i’m trying my best to improve my grades (and reach 1.75).
But those are just nothing compared to the blessings:
- I got paid on Christmas Day – and I was able to save more money for the RCM EAF (private acronym, will tell you before the 23rd of January)
- I was able to upload crucial traces and waypoints on OpenStreetMap, and travel a bit more (other than the usual routes)
- I made more friends in real life, and I was able to meet some of my former classmates from pre-school and elementary days (how nice)
- And I made an effort to be nice to some persons that I didn’t like.
Since I’m ending this year blaming it on The Bar, let me say thank you to the SK Chairpersons in San Pablo City (including my friend and my SK Chairman Epoy for the opportunity to participate in the meeting of SK Chaurpersons that happened some Saturdays back), my groupmates at IT 1 V-3L Lab section (kat, jekkah, ehdz, eman, tajroo, mitch, anne, gieane, dani, and the rest, whose names I forgot), my “classmates’ in Math 17, English 1, PE 1, History 1, IT 1 lecture class, CWTS 1, Economics 10, all in UPLB, to some of my mother’s friends, who are supporting me in my UPLB life – one way or another, my relatives, and of course, my parts and my sister.
Time to celebrate the rest of the year! See you in 2010!
