Sometimes ago, I made a post about a WhatsApp group created in my son's Technical School. The group was meant to be a space where parents could share ideas, ask questions, and discuss matters concerning the children. Unfortunately, they gradually turned it into a war zone. There were constant complaints, especially whenever teachers discipline children for things like not bringing their books to school. They insults the teachers and call them names. It was going on and on and I am not comfortable with it.
After making my post, I did not stop there. I went straight to the group and share my thoughts. I spoke about the way some teachers were being treated and talked down to simply for doing their jobs. I tried to reason with the parents and encouraged them to look at the matter from a different perspectives.
We are asked to love our neighbours as we love ourselves and treat them the way we want to be treated. I told them that neighbours are not only the people living around us. As parents, we are all neighbours, and the teachers who teaches our children are also our neighbours.
I asked them to think about it this way, if your child goes to school without bringing his or her books, despite the fact that the school has a timetable and practical days as Technical school that it is. Then I asked, who is to blame? Don't you think the teacher was simply trying to do the job he was employed and paid for to do?
As neighbours, we should treat one another with respect, love, understanding and kindness because we are working together to raise and guide our children.
Honestly, I was expecting insults and harsh reactions. Because people don't like to be told the truth, once you did, they will rain insults on you. But to my greatest surprise, many parents responded positively, some even apologize on behalf of the parents who had spoken harshly. The particular parent involved also apologized to the teacher for talking down on him and for calling him names.
Today, I decided to visit the group again after being away for a while. Guess what? It feels like everyone has now sat up. The group is calm, and the discussion have returned to what the group was originally created for. There are no more unnecessary complaints, just constructive conversations about the children and their education.
Based on this experience, I would say my relationship with my neighbours, both the parents and the teachers deserves a good scores, because when there is understanding, there is peace. Thinking out loud 馃馃馃馃 sometimes people just need a honest conversation to remind them that we are all neighbours and partners in raising the next generation. What do you think?
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This is culture Q#2 in 
