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Ex-adviser: Penalized student bloggers not ‘notorious’ kids


MANILA, Philippines - The former adviser of the four student bloggers of the Quezon City Science High School (QCSHS) who were suspended for criticizing their principal has cried foul over snowballing criticisms that they were "notorious" kids. “They are not notorious kids. They can identify what is right, mas matino pa ang values nila kaysa sa professionals [Their values are better than those of professionals]," former QCSHS teacher Rex San Diego told GMANews.TV in a phone interview on Friday. The students’ blog entry supposedly mocked QCSHS Principal Zenaida Sadsad who said the entries also damaged the school’s reputation. According to San Diego, these four bloggers were actually model students at the high school and were supposed to take over the posts of editor in chief, managing editor, and news editor at their campus publication. “Hindi sila pipitsuging bata [They are not mediocre kids]," he said. Moreover, he said that the issues discussed by the students on their blogs were very much legitimate. “Those issues raised were very valid...if you dig into it, you’ll see a lot more irregularities [at the QCSHS] I am intolerable with unreasonable policies," said San Diego. As for the way that the principal was described or depicted by the students on their posts, the former teacher said that it was just normal teenager angst. “Bata yan, gagawa yan ng katatawanan. [They are kids, they will do mischief] These are kids, period," he said. In addition, he said that the posts were not meant for public reading or scrutiny because the kids’ thoughts were private. “These kids are being penalized for having a private diary. It’s the right to privacy versus the manufacturing of issues," he said. The punishment However, the Department of Education has approved a 10-day suspension for the four students. But DepEd Undersecretary Franklin Sunga on Wednesday warned government officials, particularly the teachers, against being too sensitive to criticisms by their students. “We have to be very careful about punishing students for what they are going to write because of the constitutional right of all persons, including the students, the right of the freedom of expression and of the speech. Public officials should not have onion skin. They should be more tolerant about criticism," Sunga said in a recent interview. On the other hand, Assistant Division Superintendent of Quezon City Schools Division Dr. Betty Kavo also recently said that instilling discipline on these students is crucial. "Discipline, I think, is necessary for them to realize that freedom is responsibility," she said. However, the mothers of three of the four students said the punishment was “too harsh." One of them has said that her child has suffered from depression while another claimed her child had shown signs of fear and humiliation. Moreover, San Diego told GMANews.TV that the suspension was “malicious" because it was given just in time for the students’ periodical exams. Campus repression? Meanwhile, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) has branded the decision to penalize the students with a 10-day suspension as “campus repression." CEGP national president Vijae Alquisola said the group would probably file a complaint on behalf of the students at DepEd and the Congress. "It is disturbing to learn that high school students, in their very young age, are being subjected to this kind of campus repression, their right to freedom of speech and expression undermined," Alquisola said in a recent statement. He added that instead of punishing the students, their school officials should have encouraged the youth’s views as “a mere venue for students to air their demands and democratic rights." The CEGP chief also chided the QCSHS for its alleged closure of the school’s official publications – “The Electron" and “The Banyuhay." Moreover, he said the emotional, social, and psychological effects of the suspension on the students should be studied. “It must surely be a blow to the young ones to be humiliated and treated in such a way. It also sends a wrong and chilling message to other students that in high school, freedom of speech and expression are not recognized," he said. - GMANews.TV
Tags: blogging, qcshs
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