Letters to the Editor
Letters to the
editor are welcome on this page. Only those with complete name,
signature, contact number and return address for verification
shall be considered for publication, subject to editing and space
limitation when necessary - Editor-in-Chief.
Looking for role model
THE USI administration would like to thank Dr. Ramon Caceres, Jr.
for his efforts in pointing out what he saw as errors contained in
the book Soaring High with Reading 2. Dr. Caceres found in many
selections what he claimed as errors and unacceptable choice of
words (nuances, idiomatic expressions) and came up with what he
deemed more appropriate.
The book being questioned by the good doctor was done by competent
authors, one of whom is Ms. Felicitas Prado, the incumbent
President of the Reading Association of the Philippines (RAP).
This book is widely used in other schools throughout the
Philippines. In Naga City besides USI, Naga Parochial Schools &
St. Joseph School are using the same book with no complaints
raised.
The BED Administration, after listening to Dr. Caceres’
more-than-an-hour presentation of the issue has responded through
the following courses of action:
• The BED asked for a diskette copy of his presentation and
promised to contact Abiva at the earliest time possible. But
before the administration could contact the publishing house,
ABIVA faxed to USI a response to Dr. Caceres’ complaint as the
latter had sent to Abiva his corrections even prior to his
presentation at the Principal’s Office.
• USI BED Principal called up Dr. Caceres about ABIVA’S faxed
response and provided him a copy of ABIVA’S response plus an
evaluation on the book by the Department of Education, National
Capital Region, Division of City Schools, Manila. (The book in
question is”highly recommended” by the Department.)
• The issue was lengthily discussed by the BED Administrative Team
and taken up in the Principal’s Council meeting, and elevated to
the Academic Council, as well as the President’s Council.
• This concern was also part of the agenda of the BED PTC Board
Meeting of 8 September 2005. PTC Officers and Board expressed full
support of USI’s stand to continue using the book while taking the
needed steps for corrective action whenever called for.
• Upon the directive of the USI President, the BED Principal
called for a meeting with the Reading and English teachers
instructing them to take note of the suggested corrections and to
make needed corrections during actual instruction using critical
analysis of any instructional materials.
In the future, the USI BED administration remains open to
assistance from concerned parents, especially Dr. Caceres, in
assessing the books used by the Department.
It wishes to underscore however, that, in expressing concerns and
complaints, utmost care be taken to exhibit highest ethical
conduct promotive of respect for dignity of persons, decency, and
the use of Christian language (oral and written), for the proper
value education and emulation of the young, especially of the
children who are in dire need of ROLE MODELS in our time. Thank
you.
SISTER HEIDI C. VILLAREAL, DC
BED Principal
MS. MA. CLARA B. DE HITTA
Assistant Principal for Academics
The Bicol Mail editors cannot understand why the Universidad de
Sta. Isabel administration continues to insist on the competence
of the authors of the book “Soaring High with Reading 2” despite
the valid arguments presented and dissection of the errors by Dr.
Ramon Caceres.
