It's More on Upbringing

Today, I read about a top JC student who punched a poor bus driver, Wong Kok Leong, because he was angry that his girlfriend's bus card was retained by Mr. Wong. The 20 passengers who witnessed the beating were horrified by the violence displayed by the student. It was only when he realised that the police had been called that he broke into tears when he phoned his father. It was reported that he was remorseful. I doubt so. While admitting his mistakes and atrocious temper, he kept insisting it was an accident! How accidental could it be when the student kept hitting the driver, and in the process even the driver's pocket was torn off from his uniform? Worse, to give the less than intelligent reason that he recalled a newspaper article warning readers against giving their identification without reasons. What an unintelligent application of knowledge! The bus driver is no stranger demanding for identification. He is a legitimate staff and has every right to retain cards that appear to be invalid.

The bus driver was overwhelmed when the boy's father knelt down to ask him for forgiveness for his son. Tears welled in Mr. Wong's eyes as he could feel the pain and humiliation the student's father was going through. Only a father could understand another father's heart. From this, I can conclude the father loves his son who must have been overpampered. The son is the one who should have knelt down for forgiveness; not the father.

In my earlier blog, I had written about Maya's wonderful children. Credit should go to Maya for having brought up the children to be disciplined, caring and thoughtful of others. In reality, it is not so much whether one comes from a rich or poor family; it is the upbringing. Some parents over pamper their children - spare the rod and spoil the child. I remember once witnessing the temper of a little five year old girl in the MRT. She was screaming and throwing her tantrums throughout the 15 minutes train ride. Her mother was coaxing her and to my shock, she spanked her mother on the face. All this time, the parents were trying their hardest to cool her down. I was quite annoyed with the little girl, and being the teacher at heart, I glared and her and told her to behave. Suddenly she stopped her tantrums and stared back at me.

Parents, if you love your children, you sometimes have to be harsh and firm with them. I remember Dr. Low Guat Tin, my lecturer at the Institute of Education, had once taught us that sometimes we have to be cruel in order to be kind. By that she meant sometimes we have to administer painful punishment to a child so that he/she can learn.

What is the point of scoring so many distinctions when a top student does not even know how to control his temper.? Everybody wants to be great... but truly, a great man is measured by the way he controls his temper.