The school year is about to begin so let’s have a quiz. Well, actually, it’s just one multiple choice question, the kind that our teachers used to give us during periodical grading exams (Not sure if that is what they still call it these days.)
So here’s the question, “Next time your kids do not want to go to school, which of the following would you do?”
a) whip their butts or pinch their ears
b) make them work in the fields day in and and out
c) tell them about how you struggled as a kid just so you can go to school
d) tell them about other kids who have to walk four kilometers everyday just so they can go to school.
e) say, “Bahala ka sa buhay mo!”
Although letter A used to be a common practice, it’s no longer a good option because the kid can complain to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Believe you me, I have a cousin whose kid told her, “Isusumbong kita sa DSWD!” And she wasn’t an abusive mother at all. Shocking, no?
You can chose B, but child rights NGOs will accuse you of forcing your kid into child labor.
Letter C is an option but it is very likely that your kid will say, “Ket apay nga i-compare mo ti biyag idi iti biyag itatta?” Or “Why are you comparing life then with life now?” Believe you me again, kids can be sort of cheeky these days so they will definitely say that.
Unless you are an irresponsible parent who would choose letter E, the proper pick would really be letter D where you tell your kids about other kids who have to overcome everyday challenges just so they can go to school. Right? But, of course hehe.
Well, if your kid says something like, “Huh, apay talaga aya nga adda ti kasta itatta nga panawen? (Really are there things like that in this day and age?”) Then you should tell him/her about this ABS-CBN report regarding some of our kailiyans in Naswak and Bulo in Bokod, Benguet who have to walk two to four hours a day to go to school. This means that they will have another 2-4 hour walk to go back home.
Although the report appears to have been packaged to squeeze the tear ducts of viewers so they will say “Kawawang mga batang Igorot”, it doesn’t mean that it is not true. Access to education is really a big problem in the remoter parts of our already remote boondocks. So your kids, if they don’t have to walk 4-8 hours a day, are fortunate and hopefully they will not take their “fortune” for granted.
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My mom did gave me a “candy-baot” when I was a kid, but that was because I talked back at her. I grew up fine, and I learned my lesson. Given the circumstances, I think talking to a child and explaining to her/him the importance of education is a good approach. But, there are just times a light “candy-baot” is a needed nudge for kids to see the lesson. I’m not advocating beating up the child. Diplomacy and a little candy baot would do.
Hi Kayni,
I agree. Nothing wrong with a little baot if the child needs to learn a lesson. I also learned that way. Huwag lang siyempre yung talagang malakas na palo. Thanks.
It can be very disappointing if the child refuses to go to school. But look at the practical side and you, as a parent, will find yourself heaving a sigh of relief.
The schools inflict scoliosis on our children. Have you tried carrying your first grader’s bag? I need not say that the bag gets heavier as the child goes up the educational ladder. We should rename the condition of having spinal curvature schooliosis “in honor” to its cause.
Aside from saving our children from schooliosis, we save at least P30,000 (tuition, transpo, baon) per child if the little ones refuse to go to school. Of course, we may opt to send our children to the public schools but they are so poorly funded they could not deliver. Siempre, ibang usapin yung ibang public schools sa rural areas where the pupils are treated as the children of the teachers and are therefore taught well. This used to be the case with Besao and Sagada Central schools.
And this is the most practical side of them all: What difference does it make to the child’s life if (s)he goes or not to school? I know some people with master’s degrees who are unemployed. I know several more who are underemployed. A licensed civil engineer is working as a utility man in a government office. A CPA is employed as a government accounting clerk. Mas mabuti pang turuan silang magtalon. At least, makikita yung instant na resulta.
So we can’t spank the kids. What a blessing in disguise. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hi Chyt,
Oo nga that’s one of the tragedies in our country. Education is really not that liberating and graduates have very little option once they get out of school. Look for instance at the number of doctors who are trying to be nurses or caregivers. It’s a scandal.
The other option pala, at least in the elementary and high school levels is home schooling one’s children. Then have them take a high school equivalency exam. At least hindi sila magka-scoliosis with all those books that kids have to carry these days. Thanks Chyt.