Work Ed Orientation - Part 1

The speaker initiates the Work Education Orientation, emphasizing the importance of attendees being seated closer for better visibility and communication. Around 600 students are expected, and volunteers from the College of Education, along with faculty members Mom Noi Heladuga and Sir Roland Gadella, are present to assist. The speaker also highlights the strict attendance policy, stating that attendance after 8:15 AM will not be accepted, which is crucial for proceeding to the work immersion phase.

The speaker references Jesus Christ's holistic life and Luke 2:52 to illustrate that education extends beyond academics. Drawing from Jewish tradition and Adventist education principles, the importance of manual labor is underscored. It is explained that work education is a distinguished feature of Adventist schools, rooted in biblical principles and the spirit of prophecy. The speaker shares a personal anecdote from college, initially questioning the value of manual labor, but realizing its significance in character building by observing esteemed faculty members engaging in such tasks. The discussion then transitions to how work education promotes the dignity of labor, contrasting it with the common Philippine cultural view that often looks down upon manual labor. Citing Paul as a tentmaker and Ellen White from 'Education' page 215, the speaker stresses that honest toil does not degrade, while idleness and selfish dependence do.

The video discusses the role of work education in promoting mental health, particularly in the post-pandemic era. Ellen White is quoted from 'Fundamentals of Education' page 146, stating that continuous study without physical activity leads to poor health. The speaker shares a personal experience from law school, where intense study negatively impacted health, emphasizing the need for holistic training. Work education is presented as a way to balance mental effort with physical exercise, which prevents unbalanced blood circulation to the brain. Manual labor is highlighted as an effective form of exercise that also utilizes time efficiently. Furthermore, work education helps individuals become better administrators and thinkers by fostering practical wisdom, close observation, independent thought, planning, execution, courage, perseverance, tact, and skill, as highlighted by the spirit of prophecy.

The speaker recounts a personal experience in a garden, harvesting potatoes, to illustrate how work education fosters spiritual health and character. The lesson learned about planting the best potatoes for future superior harvests is analogized to the importance of giving and generosity in life. This act, whether in tithes or daily choices, leads to greater blessings. From 'Councils to Teachers,' work is said to develop satisfaction, helpfulness, and a clear conscience for duties well done. Lastly, work education trains individuals for missionary work by instilling empathy and practical understanding of labor, making missionaries more influential and capable of teaching effective methods, as stated in 'Testimonies for the Church Volume Six'.

The orientation details the two types of work education: Work Education 1 focuses on manual labor (e.g., sweeping, gardening, cleaning), while Work Education 2 offers a choice between manual labor and office work, including apprenticeships related to a student's major (e.g., shadow teaching for education students, volunteering in a clinic for medical students, or joining a communications team for ECE majors). All AUP students, regardless of nationality, are required to enroll in work education, as it is a mandatory part of the curriculum for graduation. The Center for Work Education, established in 2024, oversees the program, with a new coordinator appointed this semester, Mommy Mi. Students are required to complete 40 documented hours of work per semester. The importance of documentation (daily time records) is stressed, as undocumented hours will not be counted. The program aims to instill values such as diligence, hard work, responsibility, accountability, integrity, honesty, punctuality, and time management.

The speaker outlines criteria for exemption from work education: married students (must submit marriage certificate), parents (must submit child's birth certificate), and those employed full-time for at least one year (must submit certificate of employment). All exemption documents must be submitted on or before midterm; late submissions will result in the requirement to perform manual labor. Health reasons for exemption are also discussed, with examples given of valid versus invalid health claims (e.g., severe autism vs. scoliosis that doesn't hinder light duties, or bad eyesight correctable with glasses). Work scholars are not exempted but can use their existing work hours as their work education, with their supervisors evaluating them. Work scholars must submit their evaluation forms on or before pre-finals. The speaker emphasizes the importance of adhering to deadlines to avoid overburdening the sole staff member responsible for encoding grades.