Failure...

I love this word. it sounds so sophisticated and clean. nevertheless, behind it is a truckload of subtexts which we ought not say out here.

When things go wrong, people around me hear my "failure." this is not original by the way. Giving credit to where it is due, Fr. Dong Ofina, SDB and Fr. Nioret Geronimo, SDB, have been the proponents of the "Failure" fever.

Anyway, today, a Failure has just occured, and i just couldnt keep it to myself.
I told my World Lit class to research and get hold of a copy of one of the chapters of Khalil Gibran's the Prophet. They did come to class prepared. Little did they know that it was their teacher who was not ready (i hate coming to class ill-prepared. when that happens, i feel that i am the worst teacher in town).

I didnt give justice to such a great work of wisdom and of literature. During the class, i didnt give a backgrounder on the text, a sketch of the author, a cultural insight, not even a praise for the work, which might inspire them in creating their assignment. Nothing. I instead set them free for the long four hour period, leaving them with the task to make a lame ONE-page reflection paper on any chapter they chose.

it was only when i left the room that i realized the terrible injustice i have caused. i felt that i have not demanded enough from them, which might cause them to think less critically about the work and about their life. If only i had come to class more prepared, more inspired, more clear about what i wanted them to learn, then i wouldnt have said "Failure" after all.

Ill make it up next time. This was a mistake meant to be learned from.