| 9 Black or White
(cont.) Black or White
Why these things should
happen at all is the question that you need to ask before a solution can even be
formulated. If you recall my first letter to you, some of the points I mentioned there are
contributing factors to this situation, among other things. Another factor of course is
the insecurity of some segment of the school that some other segments are after their
necks and want them kicked out of the school. Very sadly, this situation had been
perpetuated for so long now that there presently exists an atmosphere of suspicion and
distrust among parents and teachers. The distrust is such that even if teachers have good
meanings and intentions, some parents are bound to be always critical about every move
that teachers may do. Likewise, even if some parents have good meanings and intentions,
some teachers can get so defensive or offensive to the point of creating a volatility that
is just waiting to explode. Some teachers who tend to show sympathy to some parents even
find themselves at odds with other teachers. People are being segregated into either black
or white, for or against, loyal or disloyal.
This negativism has to be
overcome. Overcoming it will not be an easy task considering that a lot of us adults are
already stiff and unbending with our respective biases and prejudices. But precisely
because we are all adults and responsible elements in our PSJ community, we should harbor
hope and a positive feeling that we can overcome these difficulties.
Allow me therefore to
advance some of these ideas and criticisms, bearing in mind that all these are being said
with the noble intention of awakening everybody to their senses so we might start to turn
this tide of negativism around. Forgive me if I may sound too presumptuous about all
these, but it is a risk that I can take considering that I have nothing to lose to those
who would not appreciate what I am doing, and much to gain for everybody if some people in
the school will just move toward the direction that I am pointing to.
What The School
Administration Must Do
The faculty members and
school officials must act more objectively and less defensively. I wholly appreciate the
dedication of our officials in their jobs and in this respect, their dedication has been
exemplary. If for any reason, they get criticisms from some sectors of the community, they
should welcome and evaluate these criticisms as a way of improving their work, rather than
react to these criticisms with a vile bitterness that can only spawn more criticisms and
adverse reactions. In other words, the school staff and officers must realize that, with
their dignified positions, is the consequent responsibility of preserving the peace and
discouraging anything that can lead to the deterioration of this peace. Ending the cycle
of attrition must be part of their everyday thinking and countenance such that harmony and
cooperation can take the place of intrigues and misunderstanding. Desisting from issuing
inflammable remarks while opening the proper channels of dialogue and communication among
all sectors of the school is the hallmark of a mature and responsible community.
The PTG and the
PTC
The creation of the
Parents-Teachers Homeroom Groups and the Parents-Teachers Council under the democratic
thinking of our Consul General is perhaps the best thing that may have happened to the
school and as such all parties should endeavor to make these bodies work out properly.
Failure of doing so will only mean that parents will continue to seek their voices
elsewhere without a constructive mechanism of consultation with the school staff and
officials. The school administration must therefore be supportive of the PTC and the PTG,
regardless of who the officers are. [It is unfortunate that in the recently concluded
elections, some sectors again resorted to painting the results as either black or white,
and even questioned some people’s loyalties to the school for voting one and not the
other.] The last thing that the administration would want to happen is to reduce the PTC
and PTG into ineffectual bodies such that parents resort back to other means to address
their concerns.
Herein lie the proper
channels of communication and the proper means of fostering harmony, cooperation and
understanding among all sectors of the PSJ community. With the blessings of the school
administration and through the auspices of the PTC, the community can chair all kinds of
committees to tackle issues openly and professionally, involve a large sector of parents
and teachers and enjoin a healthy atmosphere of trust and confidence in the school. Some
committees that I can think of as necessary are the following: a grievance committee to
serve as buffer and monitor between discontented parents and hapless teachers; a
teachers’ performance committee to ensure the highest level of performance from each
and every educator; a continuing education committee to assist teachers improve their
teaching methods and child psychology skills; an information and communications committee
to ensure the flow and exchange of constructive ideas among parents and teachers.
New Horizons
… New Directions
This positive atmosphere
has been partly reached during the recently concluded Foundation Week activities. It will
be a pity if we have to retreat from this achievement just because of an outburst that
could have been prevented had we been more persistent and more vigilant in our will to
overcome the negativism that abounds.
Let me be blunt about one
thing. There will be some parties who will continue to resist changes and who will
continue to foster this negativism and polarism in the school out of their insecurities or
their vested interests. It is toward these parties that our efforts should be focused to
try to make them realize that their insecurities are unfounded, and that as long as
everybody is willing to work together, a spirit of accommodation can always be achieved to
ensure that everyone is at their best level of performance toward bettering the welfare of
our children at PSJ.
I urge your Honorable
Office to move forward from here, to take the initiative in this effort and to enjoin your
officers and staff in this direction. When parents see such a high-minded move from the
school administration I have no doubt that parents, radical or passive, vocal or silent,
will greatly appreciate this and respond in the same kind for a much better PSJ.
Thank you for taking the
time to read my letter and may God bless you always.
Respectfully,
Said K. Sadain
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