One way of SYNTHESIZING

THE TWIN GRACE of the COURAGE to DISCERN the greater need & the GENEROSITY to work at the FRONTIERS
Forming the minds, bodies, spirits of our future leaders: The frontiers for Jesuit basic education in the Philippines may be found in the areas mentioned by Fr. Provincial: deepening Ignatian spirituality, promoting solidarity with the poor & reconciliation with creation, working with/for the Church, & involvement in the Asia Pacific projects.

DIVERSITY CONFLICT BULLYING

Three big ideas that have emerged

DIVERSITY
Mindanao & its peoples are under-represented, misrepresented, or not represented at all (in our textbooks & consciousness). As a result, the very real diversity of the Filipino people is neglected or forgotten. Our knowledge of those different from us is characterized not only by factual errors, but also by stereotypes & labels. Some questions: Do our schools unwittingly promote uniformity at the cost of diversity? Do we know how to deal with diversity through respect & dialogue? Do we teach this to our students? Do we model this in our lives? How can we become agents of liberation against discrimination?

Three big ideas that have emerged

CONFLICT
The real cause of conflict is not poverty but injustice. Those who engage in conflict are those who find themselves in the fringes. Peace in Mindanao can be won in 3 ways: (a) on the table (NEGOTIATION) [peace talks] (b) on the ground (DEVELOPMENT) [social programs] (c) in our classrooms (EDUCATION) [our textbooks & curriculum, our use of language, the games we teach our students] Some questions: Do we unwittingly produce future agents of conflict by promoting debate instead of dialogue, competition instead of collaboration, & a win-lose (Trip to Jerusalem) mentality instead of win-win among our students?

Three big ideas that have emerged

BULLYING
The bullies in our schools dont know how to deal with diversity, unable to engage in respectful dialogue & collaboration. Bully victims are victims of discrimination, condemned to unfair stereotypes & labels. A neglected but very crucial party in our efforts to address the problem of bullying is neither the bully nor the victim, but the bystander, who should be included in the policy.
Some questions: How do we feel about the problem of bullying? Is our school suffering in some form of denial? Are we merely reactive or more proactive, creating caring communities? Do we feel empathy for the victims & their families?

Three big ideas that have emerged

Catholic schools in the Philippines can play a strategic role in building peace in Mindanao through our work in education: to learn about Mindanao & its people beyond the usual stereotypes & labels, and about respect of diversity.

DIVERSITY+CONFLICT+BULLYING
Mindanao can also help us deal with the problem of bullying in our schools.
For both Mindanao & in our own schools:

The call to speak up for the voiceless & to stand up for the victims.