The Youth Under Attack

Educators, in general, tend to think that special education caters only to students who fell victim to diseases and accidents before and after birth. But this simplistic idea of SPED (special education) is only half the truth. What we believe to be normal or regular student actually may also need our special attention as teachers and therefore, should be under the care of SPED specialists.

Surprisingly too, the same educators, despite their undergraduate units in guidance counsellor is to punish students who are misbehaving and that only bad students should go to the guidance office. This over simplistic view of the guidance and counselling is blind to the fact that each teacher should be a guidance teacher at least in the classroom.

These erroneous tendencies complicate the situation of our young people further. The very clientele who are supposed to be the hope of the fatherland are under direct attack even at home where they are supposed to be safe. And most of us stand helpless.

I still remember a graduating girl who was being molested by an uncle who was also her guardian. Even her mother was helpless because there was a threat to her life. With my trusted teachers and principal friend, we effected a quick transfer so that she can graduate and start a new life with her mother. And there was also this lass who was also graduating and working as a domestic helper in the house of a ranking officer in the military. We had to contact her immediate family so that the girl can have a new lease in life. The rapacious officer demanded that even the log reports about his misdeed be turned over to him since he is an armed forces officer and that they are all lies anyway. The record belong to the school and if the media will interfere, I said, it would be detrimental to his good name and standing in the community. She had to finish her studies in the province where she is under the care of her relatives. As for the officer who threatened me, I hope he will not be assigned in that province where the girl returned.

These are only two classic examples of attacks being launched at “home”. But how many of us parents have the time really to guide our wards when the television scenes flash PG (parental guidance). Right under our noses, the media is attacking our children.