BOGOPHORIA COMMENTARY
Every time a tragedy involving young people happens, the first question people ask is, “Who do we blame?”
The school? The teachers? The parents?
The truth is that investigations exist for a reason. Facts matter. Evidence matters. We should allow authorities to do their work and determine exactly what happened before rushing to conclusions.
But while investigations focus on the incident itself, society is left to confront a much bigger question.
What kind of values are we teaching our children?
Long before a child enters a classroom, they are already learning. They learn from what they see at home. They learn from the way adults treat each other. They learn from the words they hear, the behavior they witness, and the examples that are set before them every day.
Children are always watching.
They watch how we respond when we are angry. They watch how we handle disappointment. They watch how we speak about people who are different from us. They watch how we solve problems, how we manage conflict, and how we treat those who have less power than we do.
Schools play an important role in education. Teachers dedicate their lives to shaping young minds. Communities help guide and support the next generation.
But character is often formed long before a report card is handed out.
Respect begins at home.
Empathy begins at home.
Accountability begins at home.
The ability to manage emotions, resolve conflict peacefully, and understand the value of human life often begins at home.
This is not about pointing fingers at grieving families. It is not about assigning blame to parents who are also hurting and searching for answers.
It is about reminding ourselves that parenting is one of the most important responsibilities any person can have.
In a world where children are constantly influenced by social media, online content, peer pressure, and countless voices competing for their attention, the values taught at home matter more than ever.
One day, every child will face moments where no parent, teacher, guidance counselor, or authority figure is present. They will make decisions on their own. They will choose how to respond to anger, rejection, conflict, and disappointment.
And when those moments come, what guides them is not fear of punishment.
It is character.
It is values.
It is conscience.
Today, our hearts are with the victims, their families, their classmates, and everyone affected by this tragedy. No family should ever have to experience such pain. No student should ever have to fear for their safety inside a place meant for learning.
May this tragedy remind all of us that education is important, but character is equally important. Academic success matters, but so do kindness, empathy, self-control, and respect for life.
Because the lessons that shape a person’s future are not always found in textbooks.
Many of them begin at home.
What do you think?
Do parents carry the biggest responsibility in shaping a child’s values, or should schools and communities play a larger role as well?
We’d love to hear your thoughts. Let’s keep the conversation respectful.
This is Bogophoria Commentary.