By Ma. Teresa Montemayor/PNA
MANILA — An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) has urged parents to help schools in instilling good and positive values in their children.
“The Department of Education wants to maintain a happy and healthy learning environment at iyan po ay hindi magiging magik o instant, kelangan po ng tulong ng mga magulang (and that won’t be magic or instant, it requires the help of parents),” DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla said on Tuesday in a television interview.
Sevilla made this remark in support of DepEd Santiago City Division Superintendent Dr. Florante Vergara’s call to parents to teach their children good manners and how to show respect to others.
Vergara expressed his appeal through a letter to parents.
“Halos wala na silang paggalang sa authorities, in spite sa mga advice na binibigay sa kanila, wala pa rin kaya naisipan kong gumawa ng ganoon (They [students] almost have no respect for authorities, in spite of the advice we give them, nothing changes so I thought of it [writing the letter]),” he said.
In the letter, Vergara reminded the parents that “magic words such as hello, please, you’re welcome, I’m sorry and thank you, all begin to be learned at home”.
“It’s also at home that children learn to be honest, to be on time, diligent, show friends their sympathy, as well as show utmost respect for their elders and all teachers,” the letter read.
Vergara also stressed through the letter that schools only reinforce the education that children receive at home from their parents.
Meanwhile, Sevilla said parents should not resent the call, but instead cooperate with schools to ensure that children would not go astray.
