So this post has been long overdue. I’m late as usual and I’m kickin’ my butt for it. However, tardiness aside, a couple months ago in class we watched a film titled The Learning. Basically, the film is about four Filipina women who leave their families to go to Baltimore to become teachers. Their prime obligation is to better their families lives back in the Philippines. Kind of similar to the Filipino value of Utang na Loob, which is simple put as "debt of prime obligation"(Charles Kaut).
This documentary was powerful in displaying the need for a change in our American public school system. Being raised in a private school, my understanding of public school system was not until high school to which i was lucky to have some very dedicated teachers.the clash between cultures; and the difference between Filipino and American values and culture. To which there is a gap in learning that these women are trying to fill, and their drive to teach these students was amazing. However, these women were defiantly out of there comfort zone. For instance, one scene of the documentary shows one of the teachers at home speaking about how gloomy the day is in the rain and how lifeless Baltimore is compared to the Philippines. Recruiting teachers from a different country cannot be the only solution if the teachers themself go into depression. Something needs to be done in our communities’ values to change, before we allow our system of learning to continue.
That aside, there is another question this film holds, why the need to look overseas for migrant workers? Are there not enough American teachers? What happens to the displacement in American teachers?
That aside, there is another question this film holds, why the need to look overseas for migrant workers? Are there not enough American teachers? What happens to the displacement in American teachers?
