A UST religion faculty member has called for a rethink of the school curriculum amid recent violent incidents in schools, warning that education risks producing “intellectual monsters” if academic formation comes without compassion.
Asst. Prof. Gemma Aboy of the UST Institute of Religion said schools should reassess their curricula from kindergarten to college as educators confront the factors behind violence among young people.
“It is high time we assessed curriculum offerings from kindergarten to college and asked ourselves: are we doing things the way they should be? Or are we simply molding ‘intellectual monsters’ but no compassion at all?” Aboy said.
Her call came as Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula and the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) urged schools and communities to strengthen support for young people following recent incidents of school violence.
CEAP issued its appeal following the shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban on June 22 and the incident at Ateneo de Zamboanga University on Aug. 18.
“May this tragedy awaken in all of us a deeper commitment to making every school a place of safety, care, vigilance and peace, where the protection of every child and every member of the school community remains a shared moral responsibility,” CEAP said in a Facebook post.
Advincula expressed sorrow over the incidents and warned that violence in schools damages not only those physically affected but also students’ sense of safety and trust in educational institutions.
“We need to listen to them, not only when they speak loudly, but especially when they suffer quietly. We need to create spaces where they can speak without fear of judgment, seek help without shame and know that they are valued and loved,” the Manila archbishop said in a statement of solidarity.
Aboy cautioned against attributing youth violence to a single cause, saying a combination of family, environmental and societal factors could shape young people’s behavior.
“If the child’s everyday environment is beating and harsh words, how can we expect him to be gentle? But the home is not the sole culprit. Society plays a huge role in these, too,” she said.
Aboy said a loving and supportive environment could help prevent violence, including bullying, and stressed the importance of the home in a child’s development.
“Although we believe that all of us were made fundamentally good, nurture plays a significant role in molding man’s character. This makes the home a primordial locus for the child’s development,” she said.
Catholic youth organizations could also help prevent violence by creating opportunities for young people to interact, engage with others and develop their talents and potential, Aboy said.
“When we provide the necessary environment where kids, pupils, and students can focus their energy and put it to good use, preventing violence will not be as difficult as it appears to us today,” she added.
