When one becomes a parent, the first instinct is to protect and provide for your children’s needs. Parents almost automatically start assessing their environment and thinking of ways on how to nurture these kids physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

Values will be realigned and in most cases, discipline will be in the agenda. Parenting is one heavy task so most immediately mature and become responsible on demand.

Education is one major focus for these young minds. As parents, we believe through proper education, our children will secure a bright future. But what is “proper education”?

Webster defines education as “the knowledge and development resulting from an educational process” while on Wiki it’s translated as “the formal process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills, customs and values”.

How we educate according to Webster is “to provide schooling or to train by formal instruction and supervised practice especially in skill, trade or profession. To develop mentally, morally and aesthetically specially by instruction” and it also states “to persuade or condition to feel, believe or act in a desired way”.

I agree with all these and believe that we studied History, Science, Arts, Music, Language, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, Commerce, Numbers & Formulas as all these affect our society and the way we behave today. I also believe that education is methodical, spiritual and acquired through any accumulative experience that comes our way. Most of all, I believe that education starts at home.

If education is through a process, why do we behave differently? It’s because we have different perspective and understanding; we react based on our experiences and learn from them differently. And because of these we form our own opinions, values and beliefs which in turn we pass onto our children.

Some people think numerous degrees entitle them to be bullies. Some are bullies thinking they are superior than others. Some think they are superior because they have titles to go with their names. Some strive for titles because they see this as a way to gain respect. These people are “educated” differently I suppose.

In the field of science we have learned about physics, chemistry, geology and biology – how to use energy and force to our advantage, how the magic of atomic interactions materialize, how the world of animals, plants and living organisms behave and how all these contributed on how our environment is formed.

We can also compare ourselves to the kingdom animalia; similar to human society there’s hierarchy, classes, species and food chain. Yes, we have the snakes (deceivers), the leech (suckers), the butterflies (gentle spirit) and of course, the dominant/loud bullies.

What separates us from them is our ability to be great thinkers and leaders. But it is sad to admit that there are animals amongst us. Degrees may secure you a better job but it does not necessarily make one a better person. Titles or positions may earn more money or power but this does not give them the right to disrespect others. What’s scary is that some of these people are so-called educators, who have the capacity to influence others’ thinking, sometimes lack common sense.

I have seen and known kids (and adults) who attended private schools and yet a few won’t cover their mouths when they sneeze, jump queues, would dip their spoons into the dish instead of using the serving spoon, take things without permission and those who refuse to observe simple rules. How can you call them educated if they fail to demonstrate courtesy and social etiquette? We also have some “highly educated” people in our government and yet they lack the moral conscience to avoid the temptation of lies and corruption.

How can one educate if he or she abuses his/her power/position or he/she can’t even recognize what is right and wrong? How can one educate when one fails to accept theirs or other’s limitations, exercise logic, manifest integrity, observe respect, show common sense and/or share compassion?

How do we weed out or separate these elements? As hard as we want to, sometimes we can’t. We rely on our government, schools, churches, clubs and even media to nourish our minds but unfortunately humans have denied themselves of growing as a colony. If you study the ants or the bees, they respect, recognize and embrace their existence; the needs take precedence of the wants. They work hard with humility, together as one for the good of everybody. That does not exist in our society – we seek what we want and want more than we need.

The best education we can teach our kids is to be a good influence in their lives, to educate them of the consequences of choices and to teach the difference – the difference between anger and compassion, arrogance and respect, selfishness and genuine generosity, subjectivity and truth, superficial and beneficial, reasons and justice.

This world is designed for co-existence – until men decide to do respect the law of nature and humanity we are left with two choices: to be wary of our own backyard and stay close-minded or to explore the world equipped with love, trust, faith, hope and understanding.

I am not perfect, no one is. But I will DO my best to create an environment of change – reflect on my experiences, review my expectations, recognize and respect others, realign my values to what gives dignity to humanity and society and to what pleases God. It’s time to let go of what can chain us in the past and RE-learn forgiveness (not only to others but ourselves), re-enforce generosity, repair/restore, reassure, remind, renew and rejoice! Only when I choose to put aside ME will true learning begin.

Other post/s by Bless Salonga

• Calling Australia home is more than words - January 26th, 2012
• Chained by Fate - November 27th, 2011
• Isang Hibla - July 25th, 2011
• Independence is about accountability - June 22nd, 2011
• Jovito Salonga, a rare kind in a dirty political world - May 30th, 2011