STRENGTHEN THE FOUNDATION

LAILA M. GOMEZ

How can a nation succeed? How can we, as part of the education system, be part of its success? Is it not with helping develop the individual constituents of our nation that are daily in our scope of influence? Producing responsible graduates who have awareness and care for growth, not just in the personal level, but in a wider scope, growth for others, for our nation, for humanity, should be the utmost goal of every educational institution. But for that desired result, tremendous effort must be put in, not just in the part of the school, but with all the other factors that affects an individual. It should be a joint effort of the school, of the community, and most especially, of the family.

The strength of the foundation of a nation starts in the circle of the family. The Filipinos have a strong family ideals and ties. This had been one of the motivating factors of many of those who had worked for achievements in their lives and in their chosen fields. The family atmosphere shapes the attitude and perspectives a person will present out into the world. The family also served as a shield and defender for whatever circumstances a person will face. Whatever a student learns in the school, it is first screened and reinforced by whatever initial learnings he has from home. Having strong family lays a foundation for a strong nation.

School should always work to build a strong communication and interaction with the family in order to have cooperative strategies that would help students develop holistically. This would allow parents, teachers, and all stakeholders of the community to have the same goal and perspective for the growth of the student and of the community as a whole. Though at times, it may be a grueling work for some teachers and other staff of the school, however, reaching out to the family of the students has brought many rewards and development.

The community as a whole, including the government, has a role in providing the necessary environment and assistance needed for building strong and responsible students. The school serves as a bridge between the students, their family, and the community as a whole. It helps in guiding the students on how to fully function as a good citizen. It also presents the importance of the rules of the society and provides a training ground for students. The community should always strive to work for the development of the school and the education system as a whole in order to produce responsible and respectable citizens that would help improve the nation.

Building a nation is continuous and arduous process. It is work of collaboration of every sector of the society. But it always starts with the individual citizen. It actually starts with the development of single child – a child growing up in a home, in a family. It continues with the development of a student – a student learning in a school, not just for academics, but in all other aspects of life. It progresses with the maturity and growth of each citizen – a citizen, concerned and involved in the affairs of the community. Working together, one person at a time, strengthening the foundation will pave the way for a stronger nation.

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The author is Teacher III at Pampanga High School