Memoirs of an Amnesiac

It has spread around the country (even around the world) like some grass fire that is ready to engulf anyone who has heard and read it. Beauticians and barbers alike have their say about the issue. Even the cigarette vendor and the peddler talk much about it and is very much intent on following its developments.

Those who are really concerned and have a personal hand on the issue keep mum about it. I admire the measures that STC has deployed to carefully air out their side, without jeopardizing the school and its commitment to providing not only the best education to its students but also to guide them to taking the right path.

I have expressed my neutrality to this issue all because even when I do say my side, people uncannily have formed their own. It is as futile as fighting with the wind. But right now, I really should lay out one by one the different sides of the coin, hoping that whoever gets to read this would understand why I'm choosing the side that I think weighs heavily on the other.

The school is a serious business (if you can ever call it that). There people treat us in "a damn you do, damn you don't" kind of way. All the persecutions are present in all forms. If you are neglectful in accomplishing things, they would brand you lax. If are firm on a certain issue, they'd refer to you as despotic. Tell me, where else will the school stand?

It is easy to point fingers at the school that is very "exacting" (in both the honor and the blame). Yes, the school gets that all the time and have learned to balance it. Parents think that when they have heard other parents telling them how nice their kids have been, having graduated in this school and that, they are already sold out on that school. They fail to see the school's "culture" in contrast to their own. Yes, each school has its own culture. It is a small society by itself and as such, as parents, it is one's duty to let one's child adhere to the culture of that school (no matter how lax or despotic it may be).

The school is not only about academics. If you would take it at that, it would be like stripping the child with its other essentials parts, which defines the totality of the child. The school therefore takes care of all aspects, mental, physical, emotional and even spiritual. So, no one has the right to say to the school that they should be only concerned about the academics.

Do not compare our culture with the culture of the U.S. because we will never fare in comparison with them. What may be regarded as outright "ok" with them is not exactly "ok" with us just because what, our society has slowly accepted it? That is too loop-sided! I am no moralist. I just believe there is a thin line that separates the liberals and the conservative and we are slowly crossing that line.

As with consequences, the parents brought the shame upon themselves by taking the issue to the media. If they had only thought about their child's shame over their own, they would not have caused so much fuss about everything. With clandestine arrangements between the school and the parents, they could have met at a certain point.

Yes, the graduation is such a memorable and significant celebration to anyone who has gone to school. But it is just that, "a celebration." In fact, each student is adjudged in the graduation rites as just a "candidate". The real score is when that student gets all his pertaining documents signifying his/her completion of the said course. What could be worse is that the school prohibited the students from graduating and getting their own transcripts. STC is still merciful even with the situation. Besides, if the students and the parents are so intent on making their students march proudly on stage, embodying the ideals of a student who has been faithful to his/her Alma Mater, then they should have thought about their child's misdemeanor (as I call it) in the first place. They should have more sense in controlling their children. If their child really did march on stage, what will his/her other classmates say about him/her? Will she be proudly marching with his/her head held high for a well-deserved diploma?

And what about their Facebook cameo appearance? Here is where the rub is. As minors, they should be guided by parents (who have more sense) not to post anything on a public social networking site. Again, just because the rabbit is doing it, so should the monkey.

Policies will always be policies, no matter who sits in the government. Even when the school takes all the blame for the depletion and the moral degeneration of students (which parents have a big role also), they continue to be firm in their resolve to teach students to choose the right path albeit their means are as grave as not letting a student march.

May this Facebook lesson teach students that not all the publicity one gets on any social networking site is good. Sometimes, people need to be nipped in the bud just to teach that foolish monkey a lesson.