I am a teacher reading the news by Ryan Macasero: "Dumaguete Approves Ordinance Establishing 24/7 Library" (10 October 2019, Rappler, rappler.com). "The ordinance comes weeks after a post began circulating online of a McDonald’s branch requesting students not to study in their establishment."
Macasero says it was Silliman University Professor Ian Rosales Casocot who first called attention to that McDonald's non-study policy in his Facebook post:
In a university town? During the run-up to Finals Week? For an establishment that's open 24 hours? Where the only signs of life in the wee hours are students themselves? McDonald's is like that whiny girl who goes to the beach and complains about the sand.
That is like saying you can feed your stomach in a McDonald but not your mind! Selfish.
Macasero says you cannot really blame the Dumaguete students for studying in a McDonald because the university town has a small public library and limited public hours, "leaving students with options to study only in restaurants or coffee shops late at night."
In fact, I see 4 sides to this news and controversy.
One: That McDonald branch is for eating 24/7 – but not eating and studying 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That is like saying, "You can eat here anytime, but not study." That McDonald was not very friendly, was it? But that McDonald had a valid point – eating and studying do not mix well. You can discuss a little, but that's all. (That McDonald later changed its policy and welcomed the students studying there, but there's a limit to everything.)
Two: That a public library is for studying 24/7 – no Sir, a public library is not designed for studying 24/7!
Three: That a place for studying 24/7 belongs to the private sector, that is, the college or university where those students are enrolled. That college or university should provide, aside from a library for books, also a study area open 24/7 to all bonafide students. A library has always been for reading silently. When I am studying in the library, I do not wish to be disturbed by your noise! That is the reason for the signs that say, "SILENCE."
Four: That it is the duty of the college or university to provide a large-enough study room that is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. To encourage students to study, that educational institution should provide Internet connections and simply make sure that students inside are actually studying and not gossiping or entertaining themselves with prurient materials. After all, the college is the place for studying, so why not serve its students 24/7?
Dumaguete has 4 universities; there are at least 9,000 students attending Silliman University alone – so, that university owes its students study rooms, not the city government!
In the college or university, if students want to discuss loudly, there should be a specific room for that, for debates or presentations.
A university should be teachable itself. Yes, the institution itself can learn something new if its mind is open!@517
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