Reporter: SALDIVAR, SHARLENE EdTC1

ASUNCION, ROMMEL

Chapter 1: THE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT LEARNERS

CHILDHOOD is the age span ranging from birth to adolescence. According to Piaget’s theory of
cognitive development, childhood consists of two stages: preoperational stage and concrete operational
stage.
In developmental psychology, childhood is divided up into the developmental stages of:
- Toddlerhood (learning to walk);
- Early childhood (play age)
- Middle childhood (school age); and
- Adolescence (puberty through post puberty)

The term childhood is non- specific and can imply a varying range of years in human
development. Developmentally and biologically, it refers to the period between infancy and adulthood. In
common terms, childhood is considered to start from birth. Some consider childhood as a concept of play
and innocence which ends at adolescence.

ADOLESCENCE (from Latin “adolescere”, meaning to “grow up”) is a transitional stage of

physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to legal
adulthood (age of majority). This transitional period can bring up issues of independence and self-
identity.

SOME EXAMPLES OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS ARE:

 The right to have a voice in matters that affect children
 The right to special protection
 The right to special education and care
 The right to play and rest
 The right to health

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

DepED Order No. 40, s. 2012

The policy aim to protect the child from all forms of violence that may be inflicted by adults,
persons in authority as well as their fellow students, including bullying. To provide special protection to
children who are gravely threatened or endangered by circumstances which affect their normal
development and over which they have no control, and to assist the concerned agencies in their
rehabilitation. The policy guidelines have listed down the specific acts that constitute child abuse and
violence which public and private schools cases used as a guide in addressing this social problem.

Section 3(2) Article XV of the 1987 Constitution

The state shall defend the right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and
special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial
to their development.
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

CRC aims to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury and abuse,
neglect or negligent treatment maltreatment and exploitation, including sexual abuse.

Child
- refers to any person below eighteen years of age or those over but are unable to fully take
care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or
discrimination of physical or mental disability or condition (RA 7610).

Children in School
- refers to bonafide pupils, student or learners who are enrolled in the basic education system,
whether regular, irregular, transferee or repeater, including those who have been temporarily
out of school, who are in the school or learning centers premises or participating in school
sanctioned activities.

Pupil, Student or Learner

- means a child who regularly attends classes in any level of the basic education system, under
the supervision of a teacher or facilitator.

CHILD ABUSE
- refers to the maltreatment of a child whether habitual or not.

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CHILDREN

- refers to an act of exclusion, distinction, restriction or preference which is based on any

ground such as age, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, language, religion,
political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, being inflicted by AIDS,
being pregnant, being a child in conflict with the law, being a child with disability or other
status or condition, and which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the
recognition, enjoyment or exercise by all persons on an equal footing, of all rights and
freedom.

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

- refers to a kind of punishment or penalty imposed for an alleged or actual offense, which is
carried out or inflicted, for the purpose of discipline, training or control, by a teacher, school
administrator, an adult, or any other child who has been given or has assumed authority or
responsibility for punishment or discipline. It includes physical, humiliating or degrading
punishment.

CHILD EXPLOITATION
- refers to the use of children for someone else’s advantage, gratification or profit resulting in
an unjust, cruel and harmful treatment of the child.

Two forms:

1. Sexual exploitation – abuse of position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual
purposes.
2. Economic exploitation – use of the child in work or other activities for the benefit of others.
VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN COMMITTED IN SCHOOLS

- refers to a single act or a series of acts committed by school administrators, academic and
non-academic personnel against a child which result in or is likely to result in physical,
sexual, psychological harm or suffering or other abuses.

BULLYING OR PEER ABUSE

- is committed when a student commits an act or a series of acts directed towards another
student, or a series of single acts directed towards several students in a school setting or a
place of learning, which results in physical and mental abuse, harassment, intimidation, or
humiliation.

CYBER-BULLYING

- is any conduct which results to harassment, intimidation, or humiliation through electronic

means or other technology, such as, but not limited to texting, email, instant messaging,
chatting, internet, social networking or other platforms or formats.

HOUSE BILL NO. 5496 “ANTI-BULLYING ACT OF 2012”

- it empowers the DepED to penalize schools that do not stop bullying or sanction bullies.
- Authorize schools to impose sanctions on student bullies.

POSITIVE AND NON-VIOLENT DISCIPLINE OF CHILDREN

Is a way of thinking and a holistic, constructive and pro-active approach to teaching that helps
children develop appropriate thinking and behavior in the short and long-term and foster self-discipline. It
is based on the fundamental principle that children begins with setting the long-term goals or impact that
teachers want to have on their student’s adult lives, and using everyday situations and challenges to teach
life-long skills and values to students.

FUNCTIONS OF CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE

 Draft a school child protection policy with a code of conduct and a plan to ensure child protection
and safety, which shall be reviewed every 3 years
 Initiate information dissemination programs and organize activities for the protection of children
from abuse
 Develop and implement a school-based referral and monitoring system
 Give assistance to parents or guardians, whenever necessary
 Coordinate closely with the PNP, DSWD, NGOs,and other non-governmental institutions
 Monitor implementation of positive measures and effective procedures
 Ensure that children’s right to be heard are respected and upheld in all matters and procedures
affecting their welfare.