CHAPTER VI

Community Linkages and Professional Engagement

Lesson 1: Establishing of Learning Environment That Are Responsive to Community Contexts

Education Theory

As the African proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child,” For every learning
intuition, there is a community with prevailing culture that influences the learning environment.
Bickford and Wright (2018) define community as the social context of the students and their
environment that consists of people with a common purpose, shared values, and agreement on
learning goals.

Community can be considered a great source of knowledge; therefore, it is important to

understand its role in engaging teachers and students in learning. Meaningful leaning happens in
an environment that adapts to the context of the community. Hence, learning environment must
be responsive to the community context that requires an understanding of cultural beliefs and
practices, languages, history, race, ethnicity, and perspectives from different cultural
backgrounds.

The following are suggested strategies to foster a learning environment that is responsive to
community context;

1. establish of a school-community partnership to foster positive relationship and to explore

common goals that may improve school programs and policies as well as the community;

2. promotion of cultural and traditional activities to increase the teacher’s cultural aareness and
to preserve local tradition, belief, and values;

3. utilization of culturally responsive teaching approaches to integrate teaching and learning

practices that are within the experience and cultural frame of students; and

4. contextualization and localization of learning content and materials to create a relevant and
meaningful learning experience for the students.
Lesson 2: Engagement of Parents and the Wider Community in the Educative Process

Education Theory

A 21st century environment both gives and gets support from families and the local
community (“Partnership for 21st century” n.d.). In the Philippines, the partnership between
teachers and parents is established through the organization of a parent-teachers association
(PTA). A PTA is organized to provide a forum to discuss issues and solutions relating to the total
school program. It is also organized to encourage coordination with members of the community
to address relevant concerns and provide support to the school for the promotion of common
interest (DepEd 2009).

According to George Lucas Foundation (cited in “Partnership for 21 st Century” n.d.),

strong home-school connections result the following outomes:

 children do better in school when their parents are involved in their education;
 after-school learning opportunities promote student achievement;
 community youth development programs spur academic development; and
 school that integrates community service reduces risk and promotes resilience in children.

Teacher should build a good relationship with parents and the wider community to improve
the learning environment. They must be equipped with necessary competency in dealing with
stakeholders to implement properly the school’s program and facilitate the discussion on
issues and concerns relating to the student’s academic performance.
Lesson 3: Professional Ethics

Professional Ethics serve as a guide in practicing one’s profession. It encompasses personal and
professional standards of behaviour. This lesson will help you demonstrate an awareness of the
existing laws and regulations that apply to the teaching profession. It will help you understand
the responsibilities specified in the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers. The objectives of
this lesson are the following:

 observe how the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers is being practiced;
 analyzed the importance of the Code of Ethics to Teachers and students; and
 analyze the the professional and social accountability.

Educational Theory

The kind of teacher you are and the way that you portray yourself matters a lot your employer,
the community, and the stakeholders. As roles models, teachers are expected to embody good
ethics, which is a fundamental requirement of a profession. Good Ethics is based on moral
principles and appropriate conduct that one should observe as a professional.
Section 6 of RA 7836, the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers was promulgated by virtue
of PRC Board Regulation No. 435, series of 1997. In accordance with the preamble of the Code
of Ethics for Professional Teacher, teachers are referred to as duly licensed professionals who
posses dignity and high moral values as well as technical and professional competence in the
practice of their noble profession. They strictly adhere to, observe, and practice this set of ethical
and moral principals, standards, and values (PRC 1997).

The Code of Ethics cover all public and private school teachers in basic education, technical-
vocational education, as well as non-formal education. It articulates the professional
accountability of teachers with the state, the community, the teaching profession, the higher
authorities in the profession, the learners, the parents, the business, and as a person.

Relatively, this set of ethical standards also serves as sufficient ground for the imposition against
the erring teacher of the disciplinary action consisting of revocation of teacher’s license or
suspension from the practice of profession (PRC 2015). The teacher as a model should
religiously practice the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers to set a good example not only
to the students but most especially in the teaching profession and the community they serve.
Lesson 4: School Policies and Procedures

School policies and procedures serve as the operational guidelines of a school. This Lesson will
help you demonstrate knowledge and understanding of school policies and procedures to foster
harmonious relationship with the wider school community. The objectives of this lesson are the
following:

 Analyze the importance of school policies and procedures;

 Observe how school policies and procedures are implemented; and
 Analyze how school policies and procedures are developed.

Educational Theory

The whole operation of a school lies in school policies and procedures. The school administrator
and teacher should be guided with the school’s policies and adhere to the procedures and
guidelines for the successful implementation of school programs and projects.

School policies and procedures help schools rules and guidelines in the operation and
implementation of school programs and projects. It upholds the school’s vision, mission, goals
and objectives that serve as a guide for school administration, teachers, and students in their
everyday life on campus. School policies define the processes within the school including the
interaction among the school, learners, parents, and members of the wider community.

Some of the important factors considered in establishing a school policy are the provision for the
following:

1. Safety and security;

2. Use of school facilities and equipment;
3. Admission and retention;
4. Graduation;
5. Teaching and learning;
6. Grading system;
7. School fees
8. School uniforms;
9. Educational trips;
10. Medical and dental services;
11. Guidance and counseling;
12. Students with additional needs;
13. Disciplinary actions;
14. Administrative sanctions;
15. Faculty development;
16. Human resource;
17. Quality assurance;
18. Community linkage;
19. Gender and development; and
20. Academic records

School policies and procedures are developed at the institutional level. However, for private
schools in basic education, a set minimum requirements is provided in the manual of regulations
for private basic education per DepEd Order No. 88, series of 2010, for their compliance. The
manual of regulation serves as a guide for private schools in basic education in implementing
their program ensure that implementation anchored in the mandate of the DepEd.