From Banyuwangi

SD Jajag 2 Advances on Many Fronts

Together with improved student achievement since the start of the MBE program at SDN 2 Jajag in Gambiran sub-district there has been an increase in requests from the community for their children to be accepted at the school. Because of the limited number of classrooms, the meeting room / assembly hall, which was not routinely used, has been changed into a classroom, and the parents group are furnishing the room by buying new chairs and tables - the first stage being 10 sets of tables and chairs to supplement the exist-ing furniture.

Parents know about this and understand because they can see the school budget which is displayed (left) in the principal's room. Because of this the community feels a sense of ownership, and understand that the amenities are be-ing provided for their children's learning.

SDN Jajag 2 is developing not only in community participation but also in teaching and learning activities. See the photos below: A sixth grade child has made up a conversation and is receiving feedback from his friend. This teaching method is very useful. If students do some writing (report, story, conversation) it is a good idea for them to show it to their peers so that they can receive their comments. This process is useful to both participants.

The Students look after the Guests

On our visit to SMPN 1 Banyuwangi we were taken round the school by two students, Neza and Rosa (left). They explained about school activities and answered our questions. The information they gave was very interesting and comprehensive. This is a good way of developing students' self confidence and responsibility.

Negative Behavior Point Values

SDN Penganjuran IV Banyuwangi has 700 students in 27 classes. Grade 6c which is taught by Ibu Barorotin, are very disciplined, care about each other, and the students compete creative-ly to fill the wall magazine. The teaching and learning process is conducted in an orderly manner without any disturbances from bad be-havior. The reading corner that contains text and general reading books is well used. This is evident as all the books look well read.

Things are like this because of the 'Negative Behavior Point Value' system that was made up by the students together with the teachers. Together they identified the kinds of bad behavior that are usually committed by students. The students identified 36 different kinds of breaches of good behavior, each kind has been given a points value depending upon on how big or small the breach is.

If all teachers were creative like Mrs Barorotin, students would be disciplined without pressure from other people and there would be good relationships between students and teachers.

Beside the students in the 6th grade, students in 3a grade are also doing citizenship studies in an active manner. Many citizenship lessons are characterized by indoctrination. In this grade 3 class the students are asked to identify and write about negative and positive kinds of behavior. This results in the students writing down their own opinions.

SDN 04 Penganjuran

Because of the large number of students in SD 04 Penganjuran, more than 55 in some classes, the conditions were in some cases not conducive for learning and teaching. Because of this the school made plans to restructure and add more classrooms.

The upper level of the building, currently a meeting room, was made use of to solve the problem. Other problems include rooms that do not have facilities such as curtains, student desks, chairs, cupboards, etc. In class 6b, Ibu Barorotin brought up this matter through the parents group who then offered to overcome the shortage.

The response was very positive and unexpected. The parents' group collected money to buy cupboards, chairs and tables and some people bought material and made curtains. When we visited the class we noticed that the color of the curtains is different from in other classrooms, as are the cupboards, because that is what the group wanted.