On Being Taught by Students

KYSD or the Know Your School Day is an activity wherein students give tribute to schoolteachers and staff and take their positions for a period of time. The SC is the body in-charged of this activity and because I am an SC officer, I took part in preparing the said activity. We prepared the certificates and the closing programme for the last day. I know I contibuted less but at least, I did a part of this event.
This year’s KYSD was very memorable because it is the last KYSD that we, the graduating batch would have. Yes, I am aware that this is the last KYSD that we would have in UP High but still I did not take any school faculty or staff position. I did not take any position for the four years I studied here.
I know the honor and privileges of the students who apply as school staff. They can miss classes and get test exemptions. But I still did not try to be one. This is because only a few of my classmates took positions and I for one do not like to skip classes. I fear being left behind and having trouble catching up with the lessons I might miss because of being busy, being in the position of a school staff. Another reason is that I do not have any expertise of a particular subject. I do not like to teach something that I am not a master of.
Being a student of a student teacher was fun. I felt more comfortable because I can freely ask questions, which I rarely do to our actual teachers. It is also advantageous to our part because our classmates who act as teachers for the day, gave easy types of tests compared to our original teachers.
Students are supposed to have presentations for the teachers on the last day of the event. But we, the seniors, haven’t prepared anything. On the day before the closing ceremony, we heard that the Sophies and the Juniors prepared a number and we, the graduating batch, cannot offer a tribute to the teachers?! Luckily, one of our classmates, Aiko, was able to compose a song overnight. And in the morning of the last day, the song was done, complete with the whole lyrics and the accompaniment! Of course, Aiko did the greatest part of this. But this whole event made me more proud of my batch. It made me realize that through cooperation and dedication, anything can be achieved.
In the closing ceremony, the teachers were given tokens, which were written by the students themselves. It served as a card from all UP High students. Last year, the token was something bought, but Ms. Rodel said that something personally made is more appreciated.
Because the SC, the CWTS, and all the people involved in the event did their part well, the programme flowed smoothly. Everything went fine and everyone’s effort was appreciated.
We know that behind the activity’s success, there is a misunderstanding that is happening between two of the faculty members. We hope that some time soon, everything will be fine. KYSD is not just an event to “know our school”. I also believe that it is a time to know the people inside the school. That it is a time to forgive whatever misunderstanding there is between teacher and student and especially teacher and co-teacher.