Are you talking to yourself?

I have a very funny encounter with guagua the day before. while opening the door to our home, I was talking to him but perhaps mumbling so it wasn't really clear. So suddenly, he turned around and ask me, "papa, are you talking to yourself?" Me and Mich just burst into laughter.

but think of it, this question sounded both innocent but yet thought-provoking. I have the tendency to mumble when i talk, like having a gana (olive) in my mouth. So this qn reminds me to talk and pronounce my words in an audible and clear manner.

from another perspective, as adults and in this case, as teachers, do we often/sometimes talk to ourselves? Do we really spend time listening to our students? Do we give them opportunities to talk or we just put words in their mouths and assume that they are talking or selectively listens (not HEAR) to what they say? (actually vice versa, students tend to pick and choose the words they hear).

It is a tall order for us teachers, with a widening jobscope and expectations, and especially when the conventional perception of teachers is that of authority and demands a high level of respect; although this has been eroding with the social climate, with parents (and students themselves) questioning the way their children are being educated.

to digress, many a times, parents approach this form of questioning in a very disrespectful way, as if we are at their command. i hv this word of suggestion to the parents, plse let us do our job, if you keep questioning this and that, then, perhaps, you shld do home schooling.

And while questioning, many parents admit that they have problems communicating with their children, can no longer talk to their children and their children dun talk to them. So my question is, what happened after 13, 14, 15, 16 years of being together as a family, why this sudden breakdown? perhaps, it's time to reflect, rather than push that responsibility to teachers and the sch. Afterall, parents are the ones that give your children flesh and blood. family upbringing is still upmost impt. But it is a good alarm and mirror for me when I manage parents in the course of my profession; reminds me to buck up as a parent to guagua.

Anyway, i encourage questioning, it allows for ideas to flow, exchange and concretise. But it boils down to the virtues of Respect and Responsibility; showing respect to others when you question or talk, hv the moral courage and sense of responsibility for the words/actions/behaviour you display. So dunmanians, plse respect the Code. 8-P

wasay, whole string of thoughts from the words of a child.

Listening (not hearing) is an Art.

Back to work. wahahahaha