HOLY TRINITY COLLEGE OF GENERAL SANTOS CITY

Daproza Avenue, General Santos City

Graduate School Program

Educational Sociology in Philippine Setting

EdMngt 308

Name: Lhenery E. Ombaña

Professor: Mr. Tobias A. Flores, MAED
Course: MAED-EM

1. Can you give your personal comment on the case presented below in this line with the “
Teacher Freedom Discrimination”
In fact, in 1978, California State Sen. John Briggs sponsored a ballot referendum that tried to ban
lesbian and gay people from working in the state's public schools. The bill would have also allowed
the dismissal of teachers who supported LGBTQ rights, regardless of their own sexual orientation.
"What I am after is to remove those homosexual teachers who through word, thought, or deed
want to be a public homosexual, to entice young impressionable children into their lifestyle,"
Briggs said in an interview during the campaign.

My comment about this is that over the past decades, the nation has seen an explosion of lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activism, and even in school. Yet, far too many people still
encounter discrimination based on their individual sexual identity, gender identity, and/or gender
expression.
Should the member of LGBT or Homosexual teachers be allowed to teach? The answer is a simple
YES!. Anyone academically qualified should be able to teach, regardless of their culture or sexual
orientation. In fact, there are gays teachers who are effective in teaching values to students. Decency
and respect are important characters that anyone can possess.

It’s not a problem to have a homosexual teacher, but teaching the LGBT curriculum to kids is a
different story, and that is NOT OK. Regardless the gender, teachers are entitled to be respected
unless, he does acts that would leads to terminate him, like sexual harassment or unethical behavior.
Still, display actions that please everybody. Show respect to others and so others will respect you.

2. If you are one of the school administrators what is your move on the issue of Academic
Freedom?
Social media rules have become an ethically challenging topic for schools, colleges and universities.
Administrators grapple with acceptable behaviour for their faculty on services like Facebook,
Instagram and Twitter. It’s important that professional adults conduct themselves properly, but who is
to decide what is “improper?” Will this be decided by impartial reviewers or is it at the whim of
administrators invested in the good standing of the institution?

Here in the Philippines we have or freedom of expression, when we relate it to new technologies, it
brings new concerns for teachers and school administrators. Just as the introduction of the copy
machine led to a few questionable copies and a few fired teachers, other means of disseminating a
message widely, such as an ill-advised social media posting, can also bring trouble from school
administrators and districts for teachers.

If I will be one the administrators, and if it violates the concerns, values and norms of schools most
specially destroys the image of the school will undergone investigation and will fired eventually.
Actually many teachers or facilitators have been fired for Facebook and Instagram posts, tweets, and
other social media posts.

What’s the best practice for teachers? If you must use social media, include disclaimers that note
that your speech is your personal opinion and not related to your employment. Also, avoid speaking
about work-related matters unless, as we’ll discuss below, the speech is protected as discussion
related to working conditions and collective bargaining.

3. What is your opinion on this statement in concerning Teacher Freedom of Expression?

A teacher works in a sensitive area in a schoolroom. There, he shapes the attitudes of young
minds towards the society in which they live. In this, the state has a vital concern. It must
preserve the integrity of the schools. That the school authorities have the right and the duty to
screen the officials, teachers, and the employees as to their fitness to maintain the integrity of
the schools as a part of ordered society cannot be doubted."

While doctors are savings lives, teachers should be harnessing critical thinking, especially now that
more people are interacting on social media given the lockdown. And to do that, teachers should also
be champions of information and free speech.

Teachers, wherever they are assigned, maybe in religious or sensitive school, private or public
school must model strong character traits, such as perseverance, honesty, lawfulness, patience,
fairness, responsibility and unity. As a teacher, you must treat every student with kindness, equality
and respect, without showing favoritism, prejudice or partially. A teacher must maintain confidentiality
unless a situation warrants involvement from parents, school administration or law enforcement and
never use relationship with students for personal gain. It is also stated in the Code of Ethics for
teachers.

We have to maintain good standing and values at all times because according to magna carta a
teacher should be a role model. We should impose continuing education, not rants and violations.

4. If students object on religious grounds to portions of a textbook, may they be excused

from studying the material?
No. Public schools can require that all students use a prescribed set of textbooks if the books
neither promote nor oppose any religious practice. The students must only be required to read and
discuss the material and may not be required to perform or refrain from performing any act forbidden
 or mandated by their religion. Mere exposure to ideas that one finds objectionable on religious
grounds does not rise to the level of a free exercise claim that compelled activity would.
Public schools may not teach religion, although teaching about religion in a secular context is
permitted. The Bible may be taught in a school, but only for its historical, cultural or literary value and
never in a devotional, celebratory or doctrinal manner, or in such a way that encourages acceptance
of the Bible as a religious document.

5. As an experienced teacher can you site an instance where in due process right of
teachers can be applied?
Rights and privileges of all teachers in the Philippines:
 Authority, respect, and protection1 -- “Teachers and school administrators are persons in
authority when in lawful discharge of duties and responsibilities… [and] shall therefore be accorded
due respect and protection.”2
 Fair wages -- “The State shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education and ensure
that teaching will attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents through adequate
remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment.”3
 Punishment against attackers -- “This [imposes]... a penalty of imprisonment ranging from
six months and one day to six years and a fine ranging from 500 to 1, 000 pesos upon any person
found guilty of assault upon those teaching personnel.”1
 Professional development -- “The State shall enhance the right of teachers to professional
advancement.
 Freedom of expression -- “Free expression of opinions and suggestions...”
 Labor group participation2 -- “Establish, join, maintain labor organization of their choice to
promote their welfare and defend their interest.
 Free legal services -- “To be provided with free legal service by the appropriate government
office in case of public school personnel and the school authorities concerned in case of private
school personnel, when charged in administrative, civil and/or criminal proceedings, by parties other
than the school authorities concerned, for actions committed directly in the lawful discharge of
professional duties and/or in defense of school policies.
 Freedom from non-compensated mandatory assignment -- “Right to be free from
compulsory assignment not related to their duties defined in their appointment or employment
contracts unless compensated thereof.
 Freedom from extraneous contributions -- “To be free from involuntary contributions except
those imposed by their own organizations.
 Right to intellectual property2
 Career alternatives -- “Teachers shall be given opportunity to choose career alternatives for
advancements.