Teenage Schoolers – How Abot TALA Can Become Abot KAYA, Can Afford!

This is for teenagers 12-18 years old who want an alternative school.

Last month, Jojo G Silvestre wrote “Joei Villarama: Advocate Of Self-Directed Learning” (18 October 2020, Tribune.net.ph[1]).

Is Self-Directed Learning right for your teenager?

This is a subject close to my heart. Know that I am a high school teacher, UP '65, Civil Service Professional. So, while Miss Joei thinks of those teenagers learning outside regular schools, I am thinking of teenagers learning inside higher educational institutions, HEIs, and state colleges & universities, SCUs. While retired, even at 80, I would love to teach those HEIs and SCUs teenagers to teach themselves!

Mr Silvestre writes:

Joei Villarama… is founder of Abot Tala, a co-learning hub for young people, ages 12 to 18, who are better suited to discover for themselves their gifts and talents, set goals and dream freely with the guidance of mentors.

“Abot Tala” in Tagalog (Filipino) can mean “Reach For The Star.” It is Your Star – so, learn to reach it yourself!

Abot Tala does not yet have a school compound of its own, and Miss Joei has been moving Heaven and Earth to raise money to establish that dream School of the Heart (my term). One way is donations. Mr Silvestre writes:

Today, Sunday, is the last day for bidding for 12 art pieces being auctioned online by Leon Gallery for the benefit of Abot Tala. Featured artists are Tessa Alindogan, Monica E Castillo, Arlene Villaver, Rellie Liwag and Jane.

Art for Heart.

Abot Tala is an alternative to school. Miss Joei says:

Abot Tala offers them (young people) the freedom to design and pursue their unique education path with the guidance of mentors who are their cheerleaders.

I note: “Abot Tala offers them the freedom to design and pursue their unique education path” – that is somewhat vague to parents and not attractive enough to teenagers. Today, I think I know one approach to convincing teenagers along with their parents to enthusiastically “enroll” at Abot Tala:

Give each teenager unlimited access to the Internet!

Then I’m sure teenagers and their parents will get excited about being part of Abot Tala. I imagine donations coming in as cash, computers and access to facilities. Financing the school rises from Purgatory to Heaven. Abot Tala becomes Abot Kaya, Can Afford!

Unlimited Internet means unlimited searches for each child to discover universes previously unknown, and along the way discover one’s hidden talent in athletics, dance, math, music, painting whatever.

From “Tala,” I’ll call this Internet approach
“Discover Your Star.”

Your star is your talent. Not only learners in independent schools like Abot Tala can discover their stars – also high schools in higher educational institutions, and state colleges & universities.

Let each schooler feel like a scholar searching one’s genius among the geniuses featured in the Internet, not the least but not limited to Wikipedia. Then, sooner or later, that teenager’s heart’s desire will appear as a bright Star.

The Star discovered can then be the guide for college studies – or pursuit of entrepreneurship.@517

 

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[1]https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/10/18/joei-villarama-advocate-of-self-directed-learning/?fbclid=IwAR2afOD5gpC0eCCpQT0OTFmq15_pqBhBsZCTWHntzg6sZioYiRcApncj3Vo