Dear congressmen and senators:
For a more responsible, humane society, please consider passing laws for the following:
1) Antibullying: Penalize bullying (cyber and noncyber) to discourage this practice and make school and parental authorities responsible. Penalties based on severity and consequence of bullying should include expulsion from school, public apology in print or social media, and community service by both parents and student. School authorities should be penalized as well for allowing bullying to happen in their campus which they administer. Where loss or damages result from bullying, legal remedies should be applied and may include financial restitution. Bullying is no less damaging than hazing, and it’s time our laws addressed this. Many youth suicides have their roots in bullying. Assign responsibility to stop abuses.
2) Include fiscal or financial responsibility lessons, starting from the grade school curriculum. This will help address poverty as children grow up to be financially responsible both in terms of earning and spending hard-earned money wisely, and become responsible adults to their children. Include the benefits of saving for the lower grades, and the risks of credit and investment options for high school. Let’s change our fiscal attitude to change our economic situation.
3) Include practical courses in the curriculum like crafts, vegetable and flower gardening, mechanical and simple electrical works, culinary, and housekeeping so students can learn to be useful in their own homes and open their eyes to the option of being entrepreneurs, not only salaried employees. This can help them become responsible adults, and also keep the country out of poverty.
OFELIA BLANCO
Antipolo, Rizal