Everything is school's fault, and school has to solve it.

I just read an interesting piece, and I partly agree with her. The part I agree with is that I, as a parent, am responsible for the upbringing of MY children. Although I also want to interfere with the upbringing of another child in the context of 'it takes a village to raise a child' because I think we have a shared responsibility. On the other hand, anyone who can and wants to make a positive contribution in any way whatsoever to the upbringing of my children is welcome to come with me. I really don't have a problem with that. In fact, I encourage this. I also agree with the point that schools do not need to educate. I also think that you can expect minimal social skills from your students and that you can rely on a certain basis regarding norms and values. I dare to say here in black and white that if one of my children were to go fog about these three things, they fear me more than “the punishment” that school or the educational inspectorate might impose. But that is where it stops agreeing.

For who is going to “educate” parents or “address”. The school? The teachers? The government? All three of them, in my view, have an example, and as long as they do not perform that function properly, I would not want to be the school, teacher or government who would like to build it with me as a parent. And then I'm a non-aggressive and always polite parent. I expect a school and teachers to respect the same standards and values that they preach and also slightly more than basic social skills. And sometimes that leaves something to be desired. Just because they don't have balls. Simple example: if a child is late in the classroom, you should not just register and leave it there and let another person solve it but perform. So I think you're sending out the wrong signal. Do you expect children to have their affairs in order in terms of homework, deadlines and respond to assignments then you will also make sure that you have your affairs in order. If you don't want to accept excuses from students, don't use them yourself. If you want parents to educate, let parents educate but accept the differences in upbringing that arise after the first 3 points mentioned: social skills and manners, values and norms. I wonder if this is really what they want because now we're teaching children to be mostly average. In order not to be too emblematic, not to be too difficult, to be an obedient citizen without opinion and if they already have an opinion then it must be average, otherwise it will be difficult. At best, you can pronounce it, but don't act on it. You can make mistakes, they prefer not to often because you will be punished. Complaining but not acting is what happens now: at schools, at teachers and at parents. Confrontations must be avoided because there is nothing to do with them.

What is a good citizen in the Netherlands? At present, this is a citizen who follows, who is afraid to speak out, who wants to be himself but cannot be. A good citizen in the Netherlands was someone who had an eye for his environment and could be himself within it. The Netherlands was tolerant but only by acknowledging and naming and accepting the differences. My humor doesn't have to be yours, but it still has the right to exist. A good citizen in the Netherlands has a thick skin, which can take a beating. A good citizen in the Netherlands is confronted and that may mean that sometimes you have to conclude that you agree that you disagree with each other and that is fine. Perhaps we should once again incorporate this into education, schools, teachers and parents and, above all, the government and political parties. I'm the parent who's confronting, and you know what the scary thing about this is? That I always win the confrontation. Now I always come to ice well but that's the same as the scary “my opponents” unfortunately not. I would 1. not even have to face the confrontation if they were because then that confrontation was not necessary at all and 2. I arrange it every time I have to conclude that they have no idea what they are talking about but are the people who have to send my children. Knowledge is power... for God's sake bring back knowledge... do not be afraid of differences but demand basic social skills and values and norms... and embrace the orphanage without feeling attacked. It takes a village to raise a child... let's build a village. Together we are strong!

My reaction concerns Marianne Zwagerman's Column. If you want to read it, click HERE .