The School and The Youth: SOC SCI 3 Politics and Governance With Philippine Constitution

SOC SCI 3 Politics and Governance with Philippine Constitution
Maybelyn L. Oczon BTTE 2 Prof. Annily C. Flores
Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
 Define school and youth

 Discuss the different functions of mass media
 Enumerate and describe propaganda devices
 Distinguish mass media from mass escapism
The School and the Youth
Ideally, schools exists to equip students with knowledge, skills, and positive
values to enable them to cope with problems and challenges of the adults' world. Youth
are generally characterized by receptivity and pliability to ideas and idealogies. Their
role is recognized as a vital to nation-building as embodied by the Philippine
Constitution.
In the main, the initial training in schools is rationalization as to why a particular

regime exists. Then, it is complemented by the teaching on good citizenry in support of
the incumbent government's programs and policies. Indoctrination starts at a tender age
and is intensified in the tertiary level.
Brezeinski expressed this apprehension but pointed out likewise that the youth's
passion and idealism can also be an enormous source of national power. Indeed, from
the 70's to the late part of the 80's, the youth were tapped by the Marco's regime. Such
a move proved to be beneficial in the strengthening of a regime. Contrariwise, when
they organized themselves to spearhead mass actions for a patriotic cause, they
showed courage to face death if necessary.
The Political Nature of Curriculum
A curriculum is political in itself. And so, it is not surprising when school curricula
reflect governmenta thrusts such as: Population Education, Tax Consciousness,
Cooperatives, Nutrition, Ecology, Gender Sensitivity and many others. In 1973, schools
were ordered to offer the Philippine New Constitution where the "parliamentary system"
of government was introduced to legitimize an autocratic government in the guise of a
democratic parliamentary system.
In 1986, former president Corazon Aquino attempted at redirecting the goals of
the Philippine government and worked towards moral recovery and social
transformation of the nation. Fidel V. Ramos succeeded President Aquino in 1992.
Series of orders, memoranda and circulars from the Department of Education

reflect the thrusts and programs of the government. Each regime pursues its own
agenda and in every shift of the power, there is also a corresponding shift in education
that reflects the change of hands and piliticaln hierachy.
Language and Humanities
Being taught in a foreign language, however, students were compelled to

memorize democratic principles and political theories, oftentimes missing and failing to
internalize the essence of true democracy. Consequently, there is a wide gap between
democratic ideals inculcated in the schools and the values formed in the family,
community, church and the media. Conditioning at home and in the community is
oftentimes irrelevant to what are taught in the school. Incidentally, it bemuddles critical
thinking and stunts intellectual growth.
The Philippine Constitution provides that social sciences may be taught in

English and Filipino and so, bilingualism is employed. Nationalism does not mean the
exclusive use of Filipino as national language. To be globally competitive, one has to be
proficient in English and other major languages without neglecting our national
language and native dialects.
Accordingly, globalization advocates a world state, without boundaries, no nation

nor race. Although the centennial celebration of the 90’s drummed up so much about
nationalism and patriotism, being a polyglot, however, does not diminish one’s
nationalism or patriorism and for practical reasons. If one wants to be competitive in the
global labor market, he/she must be proficient in spoken and in written English
Today, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has been caught in a

quandary between giving importance to humanities or to science, technology and
mathematics. It issued CHED Memo No. 59 for General Education Curriculum (GEC)
"A" for Humanities, Social Sciences and Communication and Memorandum on GEC "B"
for technical courses. In GEC "A" HUSOCOM sufficient number of units in humanities
is prescribed while the number of units in humanities is left to the discretion of school in
GEC B. Subsequent issuances made the mandated courses. History and Political
Sciences courses take back seat again.
Mass Media
Media is deemed the fourth branch of government that informs the public and
acts as a "watchdog" of the Philippine Constitution. Literally, media means intervening
things through which forces, acts or effects are produced. These refer to technical
devices, commonly known as "mass media", "communication media", or "the media".
More intense than an aim to inform the public, propaganda is meant to propagate
thought, persuasion and utilization of influence. Propaganda devices include:
 Glittering generalities - where one speaks of virtues and values.

 Testimonial approach - employs a public affirmation or by a popular personality
endorsing a product or an idea.
 Band-wagon - shows everybody's preference for something, inviting the public
to do the same.
 Common folks approach - focuses on a celebrity who joins or acts as a simple
folk, endorsing something.
 Smoke-screening - blinds the public, shifting their attention from relevant or real
isues to something trivial or other unrelated events.
 Yellow journalism - distorted, sensationalized reporting of stories.
 Muckraking - a rake used in collecting or spreading manure pertains to
sensationalism of petty information or an expose of personal or private affairs to
destroy a popular personality.
Generally, mass media has five functions:
1. Reporting
2. Interpreting the news
3. Influencing citizen's opinion.
4. Setting agenda for government action
5. Socializing citizens about politics
Normally, in democracy, a government should be responsive to public preferences. To

feel the pulse of the people, the following are frequently used:
1. Polling by mail, telephone and in person

2. Drawing samples
3. Probability sampling
4. RDD -Random Digit Dialog
5. Sampling error
Mass Escapism
With the advent of cybernism, information is made readily available. Media have
improved a lot. As a lucrative business, however, sociologist found out that media
magnates are alert in detecting what the masses want. Giant television networks cater
to public demands and feed the public with what appeal to them; In turn, they get
corresponding patronage and profits.
Aware of the Filipino mind, film-makers and publishers of popular texts such as
tabloids, magazines, komiks and movies focus on heinous crimes like kidnapping, rape,
sordid sexual stories, grostesque killing, and many others. Producers usually depict or
even glorify notorious or controversial characters. Articles written particularly for tabloids
consist of gossips about movie stars, sex scandals, controversies and violence. Filipino
comedies, on the other hand, range from green jokes to toilet humor. Viewers are
intertained by magic and fantasies and "talk shows" which in reality are infortainment (a
kind of talk show which is aimed more for entertainment or publicity rather than
intellectual discussion on relevant issues).
While many movies thrive on trash, they are widely patronized by the public.
From 5 o'clock in the afternoon to late in the evening, the viewers are bombarded with
tele-novelas ranging from fantasy, horror stories, sex, drama, comedy, incessant
shouting and tear-jerking stories that begin and end with crying. Ironically the viewers
relish imported tele-novelas: Mexican, Chinese and Korean are shown during prime
time while sex-comedy entertainments are shown late at night. And, intellectual talk
shows which are meant to inform and to educate are shown mid-night while lunch-time
shows and week-end variety shows are mostly games and competitions among would-
be young movie stars, dancers, and singers. Consequently, we tend to escape rather
than face our problematic situation squarely. Mass escapism perpetuates and raises the
already high percentage of non-thinking Filipino public.
Reference:
Daquila, Sonia S. (2008). Politics and Government with Philippine Constitution.

Philippines: Metrobank Foundation, Inc.

The School and The Youth: SOC SCI 3 Politics and Governance With Philippine Constitution

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The School and The Youth: SOC SCI 3 Politics and Governance With Philippine Constitution

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The School and The Youth: SOC SCI 3 Politics and Governance With Philippine Constitution

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

SOC SCI 3 Politics and Governance with Philippine Constitution

Maybelyn L. Oczon BTTE 2 Prof. Annily C. Flores

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

 Define school and youth

The School and the Youth

In the main, the initial training in schools is rationalization as to why a particular

The Political Nature of Curriculum

Series of orders, memoranda and circulars from the Department of Education

Language and Humanities

Being taught in a foreign language, however, students were compelled to

The Philippine Constitution provides that social sciences may be taught in

Accordingly, globalization advocates a world state, without boundaries, no nation

Today, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has been caught in a

 Glittering generalities - where one speaks of virtues and values.

Generally, mass media has five functions:

Normally, in democracy, a government should be responsive to public preferences. To

1. Polling by mail, telephone and in person

Daquila, Sonia S. (2008). Politics and Government with Philippine Constitution.

You might also like