The “F” in Education By Dr. Victor Wong
Parents in Kluang take education very seriously. Growing up in a Chinese family especially, I’ve learnt that through education, parents want to give their children a future with 3 Fs – Fortune, Fame and Filial Piety. When we talk about fortune, we don’t mean making them billionaires since we know that money isn’t everything in life. We just want to give our children an opportunity we never had so that they can make a decent living in life. When we talk about fame, we don’t mean becoming megastars in the news or social media. We just hope that through education, they will become people of standing within the community. Of course, the ultimate wish of any parent is that their children will learn to honour, respect and provide for their parents in the golden years of their lives – that is filial piety. There is another “F” which parents have to admit is important to them in the practice of parenthood – and that is Face. By that, I mean gaining the respect from our community whenever they see the success of our children. I believe that there is nothing wrong or selfish with that. In fact, I would even go as far as to say that as parents, you deserve to be honoured because of the years of providing for your children. They become your respected face in the society. That is why we want to give the best education to our children. We are prepared to work two jobs, sell our house, empty our bank accounts and for some, even borrow from the “Ah Longs” to ensure that the best education is given to our children. With all that being said, there is yet another “F” in education that we must not forget. And personally, I think this is the most important of them all because, if you get this right, the other “F’s” will take care of themselves. This “F” refers to “Fatherhood” – a critical part of education that is often overlooked. We pay a lot of money for our children’s education and we 4
expect the teachers to do their magic. The more we pay, the higher the expectation. However, I believe the most crucial role in education lies with the father. What do I mean by that? Here, I’ve listed four roles that, in my opinion, only a father can play in order to ensure true wisdom is imparted to his children. These roles cannot be outsourced to the school. These four roles are: ● Disciplinarian – the way a father disciplines or doesn’t discipline his children will determine how his children set moral boundaries for themselves. ● Playmate – the way a father enjoys time with his children will create the dynamics of fun and enjoyment for his kids. ● Educator – the way a father imparts life lessons of his own life will add deeper wisdom that will be etched in the hearts of his children. ● Caregiver – the way a father provides for his family will give a template of how his children will care for their own families when they become parents one day. As you live out these 4 roles well, remember that it is okay to fail. After all, the “father” in education is also the education of the father. This is a lifelong curriculum – and fathers will become better.
