Fragile

They were student leaders who joined the discussions on how to protect their companions in school through the Child Protection Policy of the DepEd. I delivered a talk on Positive Approaches to Discipline and I tagged them along. As the vehicle sped back to our place, I looked at them keenly and realized that indeed, an adult could change the way they will become in the future. 

For months that I have been immersed to the capacity building of teachers on how to protect children from bullying and abuse, I developed this disturbance inside. Those who shared their childhood memories could still vividly recall the way they have been hurt physically and emotionally when they were still young. A teacher remembered being thrown by his aunt some feet landing in all fours on the floor. Someone was punched by his father on the stomach... Another was made to kneel on rock salt. There were some who were hit by their teachers with stick and rulers. When we reached at the analysis part of the discussion, I asked the question: Why could you still remember them? All of them answered that these things are already embedded in their hearts.

On the other side of the fence, I asked for their happiest childhood memories and the syntheses of their answers come to the simplest acts of affirmation: that their parents and teachers appreciated their efforts by saying Very Good and they receive presents.

As a teacher and parent, what have we imprinted in the hearts of the children?

"The End of the Wasp Season" by Denise Mina is a disturbing book about a rich kid whose parents are into material things forgetting the existence of their children. Thomas, murdered a woman whom she thought as the mistress of his father only to realize later that she's not. The story is centered on the police deputy who is investigating the crime with entwined subplot of her being a product of a dysfunctional family as well.

I got hooked with the storytelling since I am into this adolescent behavior stuff. With the prose, I come into the conclusion that indeed, children would be pushed to a world where adults are oftentimes  the culprit.

I could not educate all the parents and the teachers on matters like these. I am even trying to learn more about these things... But I could not just be an onlooker for I might fall into the trap of indifference...

Young people are now considered as social investments. They will be the future parents. But the thing is: Most of them were born from parents who are still not ready to serve others. Their parents are still focused on how to satisfy their own needs and wants. So what kind of cycle are we going to expect?

I don't know. But I'm hopeful. I could see that there are still adults who are dynamically growing to be contributors of growth and development rather than those who constantly criticize to grab attention. I still could see people who are working hard to enrich themselves to realize the ultimate goal of life which is to SERVE. There are those who sacrifice so that their children will experience a better life soon.

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When we reached our place, I asked the student leaders if they were hungry. they coyly nodded their heads and I told them that we will eat a hearty meal. Food is a basic need. Most of the kids I know are often hungry...