Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts.

I hope you took the comments above in the spirit of fun as was intended. I hope, too, that the contents of this site do not become major factors in striking out St. John’s in the list of institutions you’re considering entrusting your daughter’s education to. That you read beyond the literal sense of the posted comments lifted from the gov.ph site is really healthy, I believe.

Unfortunately, I personally don’t have the faintest idea of the school’s current faculty and curriculum as I’ve not been anywhere near SJA in the last 25 years — save perhaps the times when I needed an alternate route to Makati via Valenzuela St. — nor have I gotten in touch with anyone with children enrolled there, including those from my batch. (I may be the exception, though).

While I strongly agree with how the quality of faculty affects the quality of education an institution provides, I have to point out also that much can be attributed to two other important things: environment and a strong support system.

St. John’s is located in what may strictly be classified a residential area of San Juan. As I said, I still pass Valenzuela when necessary, and I see that not much has changed and I’m happy with that. There’s an element of safety to the fact that the SJA compound is far from the madding crowd and I believe that this kind of environment is healthy for the students.

SJA has kept a low profile all these years. I do know that it tends to be somewhat choosy in accepting students and one’s financial capacity has never been the primary reason for admission to the school. (I have to admit at being surprised by the case of mikikay, the mother, however; it both amused and saddened me and wished that the reasons she cited for the rejection of her son were not true). My sister and I studied in St. John’s; we were reared single-handedly by our mother, herself a single parent.

Anyhow, it still appears that SJA is not as much as concerned with quantity as it is with quality in terms of student population. It has remained a small school in that aspect, one, which I think, makes it more manageable for its faculty and system to handle.

Another point I wish to make is the child’s background and family. As you know, SJA is non-sectarian. If you think it matters little that a school does not necessarily have to be faith-based to be considered ‘good’, then by all means let it remain in your top 3. I believe that the system SJA put in place still makes up for what makes its alumni responsible parents and citizens who are God-fearing, contribute positively to their communities, exercise tolerance and embrace diversity.

The school, at least, has not been thrown into the limelight as a result of wrongdoing or anything negative since its founding. SJA and its students still enjoy a good record and are fortunate to not have acquired a negative reputation, nor have they been objects of ridicule by others. For us, this is comforting thought.

I am speaking, of course, as an alumna and can only infer from my own experience and from what I have been made aware of. My batchmates may have something more to say.

i also came across this same forum at gov.ph that you cited before i bumped into your blog and now, i’m confused whether to even consider SJA or not anymore.

i know the batch of faculty then and now makes the difference to most schools. would you have an idea how the SJA teaching is now or is it comparable to your batch’s? i just needed some reliable information… hope you’d care enough to drop me a note thru my email addy…thanks!