The political landscape in Greece on Tuesday took an even stranger turn, moreso than “usual”, as a recently completed report by a committee charged with developing a “national dialogue for education” includes a proposal for parents and students to sign a “contract of honor”.
The proposed “contract”, an idea hashed out by a panel of educators and chaired by the relevant education minister, calls for a “guide for good behavior in schools”. It reads:
“I give my word of honor and promise to respect the school, the teachers and my classmates; to behave chivalrously to all, and particularly to the weaker, and I will never attack a weaker person, but I will defend them from attacks. I will only consider fair play in terms of distinguishing (myself) in education, sports, good behavior and other goods works. I will never do something to someone that I would not want done to me. And I will consider any violations of this promise, which I give freely, as a disgrace…”
Along those lines, the leftist SYRIZA government’s education ministry is reportedly preparing a “Pedagogical Code of Democratic Humanism”, also based on the report. The language, which is reminiscent of previous eras in the 20th century, is mainly directed at parents and guardians, while advising them to “…see their child as equal with other, but not as a princess or as an heir apparent”.
Other “advise” includes the following:
“It is a disgrace and ridiculous to show-off that you have money and other things, when other children are wanting and suffer. And it is honorable and beautiful to care for the other and to help them when you can…”
