Teachers’ Group Urges Department of Education to Grant More Autonomy to Teachers in Classroom Management
A teachers’ group called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to reconsider its directive regarding “bare classroom walls” and to give teachers more independence in managing their classrooms and teaching methods. The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) spokesperson, Noel Galvez, made this appeal in a statement released on Thursday, September 7.
Galvez, who is also a visually impaired teacher at the Antipolo Special Education (SPED) Center, emphasized the importance of considering the diverse learning needs of students and the varying pedagogical approaches employed by teachers. He urged DepEd to go beyond surface-level judgments and recognize the potential benefits of educational posters and decorations in classrooms.
DepEd, led by Vice President Sara Duterte as Education Secretary, instructed teachers and public schools to clean classrooms thoroughly before the start of the 2023-2024 school year on August 29. The directive required teachers to remove all items and decorations from the classroom.
TDC expressed its concerns about the lack of clear basis for DepEd’s directive, describing it as “disturbing.” The group questioned the necessity of the order when arguments for and against the use of educational posters and decorations in classrooms are equally divided.
While DepEd’s directive aimed to create a comfortable classroom environment without penalizing teachers, TDC raised concerns about the potential implications for classroom autonomy and academic freedom. They argued that decisions regarding classroom instruction, including the use of instructional materials and decorations, should be left to the discretion of teachers, in accordance with the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers and the Constitution.
TDC highlighted the burden already placed on teachers by existing regulations and stressed the need to address more pressing issues, such as malnutrition, overcrowding, shortages of facilities and instructional materials, and the excessive clerical tasks performed by teachers.
Decluttering classrooms may help students concentrate on their studies, but TDC believes that these “distraction-causing issues” should be prioritized. The group called for a comprehensive approach to improving education, addressing the underlying factors that hinder student success.
As the debate continues, teachers are hopeful that their plea for greater autonomy in managing their classrooms and teaching methods will be seriously considered by the Department of Education.
