LIONS QUEST Workshop

 

LIONS QUEST Workshop

by:  Murnijati
(Head Master of  St. Maria 1 Senior High School,Bandung)

 

As a teacher, I have always been interested in everything dealing with education. The issue of education which is often discussed today is character building or character development. However, honestly, I had no clear description about what it is and how to implement this in my school. Character development is a matter of behavior, values and life skills, which I know, are not easy to deal with, moreover those of teenagers in big cities. But, thanks God, I was then introduced to the LIONS QUEST Workshop, a Lions Club’s Program in education. This workshop lasted for two days, 12 – 13 May 2011, in Cipayung, Bogor, attended by around 23 participants consisting of teachers from various subject backgrounds, principals, as well as social workers. The goal of the workshop is to prepare us to help, guide, and support the positive development of youth so that we or the school community can best support the development of capable, healthy, and caring young people with strong character and desire to serve.

From this workshop, I got not only the understanding about the important life skills and character development for young people, but I also learned how to implement them in my school since all participants were really involved in some model classroom activities. The activities simulated through the workshops were really practical. The curriculum or materials of the program are graded in such a way that they are applicable for students of primary to secondary education. We are just to adapt them with the condition of our schools or students.

I saw and felt that every single activity done in each session give me enlightenment; from grouping students or children, various energetic dynamic classroom activities and how to manage them, delivering materials and assignments, drug information guide, to conducting parent meeting. The participants got two advantages at the same time; learning the materials of the program as well as learning how to implement them in class, schools, or even in the community outside the schools. I also learned a lot from Ms. Frances Portillo as a trainer and a teacher. She was really professional. She was very friendly, attentive, energetic, but she was firm as well. She made the whole sessions of the training exciting. What an ideal model of a teacher!

One more thing. I was really amazed to see how teachers from other schools speak English. They are kindergarten teachers to principals of secondary schools, and they are not English Department graduates! I would like to invite all teachers to see how teachers from other school have make progress so that they have great self confidence and keep ‘survive’ as ‘up to date’ teachers. If they can make it, then we can, too. Even we can do better than them.

Finally I would like to say that the program I attended is inspiring and encouraging me to do my best for the youth of my people start from my own school community.

 

Bandung, June 1 2011