Looking back 30 years ago I thought I was smart and that I got a good education. I was wrong. I only realize the opportunity for children my age in other parts of the world, the world we know as the developed world and how it passed the time line parallel to mine and yet so far and so different. The education I had taught me co-dependence, service and hard work yet it did not teach me to be an individual and to be critical.
Twenty years after finishing a college degree I am still wondering what could have happened had I been taught critical thinking.
I have a chance to get out of my comfort zone and went to work in a developed country, started a family and now I can compare the way my son is being taught at school and the way I was taught. I can clearly see the big difference in the learning opportunity he enjoys although most children his age take it for granted. They never have to bring pencil and paper to school. They have activity books that are so simple but systematic. They have access to computers and internet and many online learning sites. Assignments can be done online. There are a lot of related educational trips.
Outside of school learning opportunities are endless ranging from educational television programs to structured play sessions. Not like in the Philippines where children are glued to cartoons and tele novela which I can conclude not quite educational.
It is not only the educational system but the unavailability of technology can be attributed to the lack of opportunity.
Now I have the educational and technological opportunity, I don't have the luxury of time. I can only make up for the things that matter most.
I would like to share the little opportunity that I have to children and everyone interested by means of technology.
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