Ahoy! Multigrade Teachers in Far-Flung Barangays

[Eddie C. Rodriguez]

TALE of a MULTIGRADE TEACHER

One day in Puti Anay Community School, a school located somewhere in the wilderness of Camarines Sur, Mr. Hipolito Tuliro the multigrade teacher in the said school is having a nostalgic moment. The memory is flashing back to his mind when he was in college. It was the time when he was very energetic not only in academics but with the girls as well. He is already in the second degree of happiness cherishing this moment when there is an outburst of soprano tone of cries coming from his pupils. “huwaaaa”,, then, he was awakened from a short nap and the poor teacher realized that he is not somewhere having “beso-beso” to any cute girl. He is in front of 52 pupils of different grade levels.

Mr. Tuliro’s confusion on how to manage a multi-grade class made him high- tempered and lost his trust and confidence with the system. Added factor is the dirty practice in the old bureaucracy, which happens most specially in the stationing of teachers. If you are nobody you will remain in a school up the mountains for many, many years. He had watched some of the green horns in the district being assigned in near schools because they belong to families who rub elbows with the "right people ".
He, on the other hand have been teaching all these years in the remotest school of the town. He has been sacrificing a lot to be able to fulfill the duties he had sworn to fulfill but all he got got for was unfair criticism. Do they never thought that he has also a family to care for? Why don’t they study the cause of his behavior ? His tardiness and absenteeism?. How many kilometers is he travelling on bare foot just to get there to school? How many times does he have to go to the district office to submit reports or to get some important forms for the school? But surely, most of the the barrio folks are not aware of the complicated duties he has as a lone teacher and at the same time a TIC of the school.

That moment, some of his pupils are expecting him to be mad at their classmate but what they heard is the opposite, “ Oy, class, tomorrow, you have no classes because I will go to the district office to submit some reports.

On Monday of the following week, Mr. Tuliro was surprised. There are parents flocking to his class. He thought these people will only ask about the “tupada” in a nearby barangay where he passed by. But he was dismayed when one of the parents approached him indignantly. “Sir, you have to prepare youself because our barangay captain is right now heading to your district office.

“My dear parents, will you please tell me what’s going on here?”. The upset teacher asks.
“Nothing, it’s all about your tardiness and absences.” replied the parents.

“ I was not here several days ago, because of the reports that I have to rush for the district office. Besides…..”.
“No, all of your words are nothing but lies. What reports? Is there still a need to make reports on this very small school with a very small number of pupils?.

“There’s nothing more to argue with you if you do not want to hear reasons, thank you for coming”. The teacher ended the arguments and started his multi-grade lessons.

Days later, Mr. Tuliro found himself at the office of the district supervisor.

“ You probably know already why I asked you to come. I know you are smart and you can easily reason out, but for God’s sake , don’t you have a conscience? How could you have received your salary without exerting your due effort? Without perspiring for it? Why did you fill in during your absences, aren't you ashamed of that?”.

In a trembling voice, Mr. Tuliro answered his PSDS. “ Yes Sir, for some portions of my salary, there wasn't a single sweat that came out of my skin. You know why, Sir? It is because the perspiration passed through my eyes, not through my skin. Sir, why should I be ashamed? That little amount could never compensate for my sacrifices, for my loneliness for the worries and apprehensions that I suffered all the nights that I spent away from my family.” You know what Sir, all the time that my wife has been pregnant with our first child, she has been alone in our house. Up to the day when she gave birth to our first child? How many months is our son now? How many hours had I squeezed to spend with him and his mother? already spent with even up to the time when she has to give birth. Mr. Tuliro’s eyes got filled with tears while he continued all his sad stories.

His PSDS was almost ready to burst into tears too, but was able to control it and shouted:
" Enough, Mr. Tuliro! I’m convinced. Next week, you will not go back to your station”.

“ Sir, talaga po? Di na ako babalik sa school ko sa isang lingo?”. Mr. Tuliro could not believe his ears.”

"Definitely!" his PSDS answered.

“Sir, when will I start to accomplish my clearance?”. Mr. Tuliro asked.

“What clearance are you talking about?”.

“Sir, clearance for my transfer”.

“What!?, who told you you will transfer? No, no, no! You will not come back to your school next week because you are scheduled to attend seminar. A seminar on multigrade instruction. It’s a five-day seminar at RELC, Legaspi City. Clear?”

Mr. Tuliro sat back on a chair, blinked his eyes four times as if awakened from a dream.


Update: Eight years after that particular confrontation, Mr. Tuliro was transferred to a school nearer to his home. His wife's co-teacher advised them to go to the house of no less than the School's Division Superintendent to air his side.

[Joyce B. Esposo]

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