We stand by the decision of STC, our alma mater

As Manila-based Cebu Theresians, we (Ma. Teresa de Veyra-Montilla, Esther Rafols-Lopez, Maricor Vergara-Mendoza, Virginia-Lim Go, Evelina Neri-Coronel, and the undersigned) are reacting to the ongoing controversy regarding St. Theresa’s College Cebu’s decision to disallow four high school seniors from participating in the graduation ceremony. We are glad that our school has stood its ground—the students were allowed to graduate but not to march.

When parents choose to put their children in a particular school, it is expected that they and their children will abide by the vision and rules of the institution. St. Theresa’s College (STC) has been known, over generations of students, for its high academic standards and discipline. It has nurtured and shaped leaders and women of substance. This is the reason why STC has endured and has been revered for almost 80 years.

STC prepares its students for life through positive principles and Christian values embodied in its balanced curriculum, related activities and discipline. Complying with the rules is an integral part of molding the girls into upright, law-abiding women of society. Just as one follows the terms and conditions of a bank in order to enjoy the privileges of using its credit card, failure to do so results in this privilege being revoked; so, too, in abiding by the rules of one’s school of choice, or any organization, for that matter.

By now, people should have realized that posting entries in Facebook or other social networks can no longer be considered a private matter. Once posted, an entry ceases to be private and turns public because of the multiplying effect in the Internet, and one loses control over it, as material gets passed on and takes on a life of its own. For example, committing libel in cyberspace is now considered a criminal act.

Our youth can be led to become soft, irresponsible, and too fun-loving, lulled to believe that they can commit scandal or misdemeanor, and go unpunished or be shielded from it. It is up to us and nurturing institutions like STC to prevent this.

We send the wrong message that one may act in any way when there are no consequences to bear. When discipline is imposed, parents and the child concerned shout “Foul!” Whatever happened to the time-honored tandem values of freedom and responsibility? We cannot be breeding a generation of delinquent young who grow into irresponsible and inconsiderate citizens, parents, politicians, etc.—all leading to a society of unbridled excesses!

Proper discipline is not about being un-Christian. A good parent disciplines a child who goes out of line. It does not scar the child, but rather, it builds character and integrity—traits we are now sorely in more need of. By allowing a wrong to go undisciplined, we do a disservice by releasing our graduates into the world with a blurred vision of what is right and wrong. Every time we crumble in the face of criticism, or yield to the threat of “child abuse,” we only dull the effect of rightful discipline.

We think our alma mater and St. Theresa will smile at us as we remain faithful daughters of STC!

We continue to praise the wisdom of our patron. “St. Theresa, hail, hail to thee!”

—MA. AURORA SORIAGA-ABEJUELA,

past president, STC Cebu Parents’ Council (1995-1997), HS ’65; College ’69, [email protected]