Carebears.

I half-expected it. I know how teachers, whether from private or public schools seem to shun social issues and are only lending all ears when remuneration is the topic. Still, I felt sad that the group of social science teachers didn't rise to the occasion when the topic of human rights came up in the training-seminar. They are teaching social studies, politics and government and now are tasked to handle a very timely course "Community Engagement, Solidarity and Citizenship". I am sure we are all acquainted with issues that confront us as a nation. But...

The young historian who walked us through the curriculum guide for the subject was quite excited on the first day because he said we are going to tackle Human Rights and so he asked the training staff to distribute copies of the UN Declaration. He also dropped some hint on what key issues we would be discussing and the key words are definitely not alien to any of us: EJK, war on drugs, gender sensitivity, etc.

The first activity was already very telling. When asked who do we consider as best PH president, three volunteered the following choices one after the other:

1. Garcia - because a former professor told them of his admin and this teacher was impressed. The fact that she couldn't say much about what Garcia accomplished is as we now say "maliit na bagay". 

2. Marcos- because this teacher was brought up in a family who thinks the late dictator did so much (infra-wise) . 

3. Arroyo- because ,let's face it, argued the teacher, it was in her time that teacher salary began to increase. 

Now, I must admit that I tend to judge others by their political choices. The three above went on my list of co-trainees I wish to interact less with. Well, not really. I could still stand them because tolerance and understanding were also taken up seriously in this seminar. Still, I could only roll my eyes at the prospect of them teaching the soc sci courses to SHS.

When Human Rights came up, there were three who volunteered the following opinion:

1. The US who forced these rights on us is guilty of violating them (cites Gitmo) and so why would we be forced to follow said UN Declaration?

2. We are a weak state with a weak justice system and therefore we may not follow the universal declaration.

3. Drug suspects rape or kill and they are not entitled to the respect for the right to live. 

The resource speaker was obviously having a hard time at this point and his enthusiasm about pursuing the topic waned. He just said it is but a topic in the syllabus and will only be given a few meetings to discuss and so he moved on to the next instead. EJK was not taken up anymore. Not by him. It was mentioned again by the next facilitator but I doubt if anyone would discuss it in the demo teaching scheduled for the next day.

If I were Dep-Ed, Human Rights should have been allotted at least two weeks to discuss. Given the nonchalance these teachers exhibited towards upholding the said rights, it seems it will just be given cursory treatment in class. And EJK will be trivialized if not totally accepted as a day-to-day thing. Teachers didn't care enough for human rights obviously in the same mind with many who think that killing druggies outright is the solution to what this regime has brainwashed many into thinking as the foremost problem of our country.

Aside from corruption, the foremost problem we have it seems is bad education which contributes to the weak instilling of values in many families. 

Sad.