Comments on a discussion at radio Klara

Recently there was a beautiful program on Klara (Flemish classical music broadcaster) whereby music and discussions were linked. The central theme was the past holocaust and what people can do to each other, extending up to today. I'm not sure how long this program will be available and it's in Dutch so many will not understand what they're talking about.

Climate change and its possible consequences

Apart from discussing only the past, they also reflected on our current time with its climate change and the miserable period it may bring. Indeed, in a number of countries dictators rule and climate change may be the tipping point when harvests fail and people start to be hungry and even thirsty so people will rise against their leaders such as in Syria but also elsewhere in Africa and Latin America. But, as we're with too many on this planet who don't want to change the way we live, many choose wrong leaders as they are angry about the cost of essential measures that needs to be taken but also because in unsure times people stick to what they know. The yellow jacket movement in France but also Belgium is an example. And thus, the current migration wave may only be the beginning of a much larger migration as we understand from the past that people move away to better places; this we're already experiencing in poor countries but even in the rich Western world as the Californian fires demonstrated in which some people lost everything and became angry with their government.

But, just as me, the interviewee was optimistic about the future as we'll learn from punishment. And yes, this change in attitude already started and continues as growing numbers of people are starting to sacrifice some of their own pleasures if that means a better world for many, certainly in the West where many realise the West was the main contributor to climate change. But, people who have most are often those who find it hardest to sacrifice something for the common good, even when the sacrifice asked is small such as paying themselves for the installation of green energy while the poor receive help.

The beautiful music with this discussion was "Elegy did the Arctic", played by pianist Ludovico Einaudi surrounded with the melting Arctic ice to show the beauty of that area and this in collaboration with Greenpeace.

Jews versus Nazis

They also discussed how music can bring people together. The interviewee spoke about a small part in the film "The Pianist". The Jewish pianist's life was saved because a Nazi officer loved his piano music. Still, inequality existed as the Jew had to play whether he wanted or not and remained at the mercy of the Nazi officer while the latter was free to do as he wished until his capture. And while the Jew was free after the war, it is correct that the officer received a punishment because, as a person with a higher position in the army, he was responsible. On the other hand, sometimes people are in the army to sabotage it when it does wrong as it did in Hitler's time. In other times both men may have been good and even friends.

And how to act if times of great evil? We can't say before such a time as our reaction may depend on our situation such as will it endanger friends and family. Recently an example, the in the past admired pediatrician Hans Asperger who gave his name to the syndrome. It seems he sometimes willingly worked together with the German army. But maybe, if he hadn't done so (and thus hadn't sacrifice any child) than he may have been arrested and even murdered and replaced by someone who would have liked all children while now he may have been able to save some people. Living in times of great evil is unfair and people should not lightly be judged. Still, because of such time, people may do wrong and thus their name removed from history.

The beautiful music with this discussion was Frederic Chopin's Nocturne No.20 Op.posth cis-moll"Lento con gran espressione".

Importance of education and respect for teachers

In the interview, there was also a part about anarchy and again as often that teachers are to blame for stopping children's creativity. I strongly disagree as there are teachers for sciences, languages, sports and arts and each includes creative exercises and thus there is something for everyone. Although, for instance I remember mainly ball sports that I hated and for many years afterwards I wasn't interested in any sport at all.

Children are our future

But, when children misbehave and think they should be anarchists than teachers can only concentrate on bringing order in the classroom so they can teach children at least the minimum what they must learn to be able to find a job when they're adults. In contrast, when children behave than teaching can be very satisfying as teachers can encourage children to discuss what they learn and this also in relation with real life. Yes, today (maybe in contrast to the past), children are encouraged to engage with teachers as that's much more fun than preaching the courses without interaction.

But indeed, sometimes totalitarian regimes are needed in schools so children understand they must behave after which teachers can teach as they would like to do by interacting with children so children notice that when they behave than going to school can be fun whereby adults respect them. The introduction of "totalitarianism" has been done in the UK in some what were known as failing schools and after the conversion, parents were queuing to send their children to those schools because children not only know the basics but more. Later, those children will be able to go to university and get a degree or have a profession, whatever but earn a living. And for those who don't understand what I mean: imaging your child has to redo the year or change direction, not because your child doesn't understand the subject but because your child couldn't hear the teacher; many parents would not be amused. Of course, it should not go too far because children need to release energy or an explosion will happen but indeed, going orderly to class after playtime helps to calmchildren and teachers. Unfortunately, many adults defend the bad behaviour of children against teachers as they see teachers as enemy so the latter are scared to call for order. In such an environment, and certainly when also police is constantly criticised when they want to calm children, children understand they are above laws. But one day they go that little too far and ademanding children to sit on their knees and the handsabove the head

. Now of course police is criticised and this will continue until society is fed up with children who are rude and act, whatever criticism from others who may also be considered as rebellious adults.

Parents also told me that children are now placed in groups according their "intelligence" whereby those who are more intelligent receive more difficult exercises compared to those who find the lessons more difficult. I think this is totally wrong. Children must learn that not everyone has the same intelligence and thus they have to work together so everyone will progress. Of course, teachers can give more difficult exercises to everyone to complete at home if they wish but in the classroom the clever ones should help those with difficulties so most can progress because teachers can't only concentrate on the group of children with difficulties, mixed groups mean in each group there is at least one kid who can help other kids. And when needed, extra lessons can be given to those who have problems so they can catch up. In case the child still fails than the child may have to redo its year or even change direction instead of struggling hopelessly. This way children learn to work together with all kind of people and this will be very useful in their future work when they know not everyone understands everything as quickly as they do while solutions should be found if some have questions so the product will be better for everyone.

Because, yes, different types of people exist, each with a meaning:

• Natural strict persons exist. They only need to look and children (people) silence. This doesn't mean they are bad people as they can be very social but don't mess with them when you shouldn't;
• Gentle people who can be very good teachers when they are in front of a class that wants to learn but are terrible in bad classes;
• Those in betweens.

The first group in general has no problem to have order unless the situation is really bad. And although they are feared by many children, later many may remember them as good teachers.

The second group can be very good on condition they teach children who want to learn. However, when they stand in front of a bad class, either they stop and leave the school and try to find elsewhere a job or they change as they become depressed that can result in (failed attempt) to commit suicide or they flip and become people who are angry with everyone, even good children and may even become violent to stop being abused. This type of teacher benefits from a strict school management so children understand behave.

All types of people are needed and although heads of schools don't need to be from the first group as in good schools the position of head of school is sufficient to give them authority, of course, they have to demonstrate they are the boss or they will loose authority when children notice the head is insecure. An example was the reprimander of a boy by the French President and the boy immediately understood and reacted accordingly or he would have objected and make things worse. However, in failing schools children are not even impressed with the title and will disturb classes whereby a strict and almost dictatorial head is needed to scare pupils into obedience so they show also respect towards all their teachers, even when not full hearted. But, there is a final group of children who have respect for neither the position nor the person; these children may continue their dysfunctional behaviour as adults and may end up in the hands of the police, as youth and as adults.

Still, I do believe in the youth and only a section needs to be disciplined. But most have friends of whatever origins while this is not the case for many adults. And most young people think that people from other origins and continents should no longer be exploited but also be paid well so they too can live a good life. Indeed,a better future for everyone.

The same applies to the real life where strict leaders can be harsh for their own inferiors who can never do good enough or they are harsh towards employees who don't work as they should but who will also defend inferiors who work well.

But, people, strict or soft, can all choose to break laws, or worse, make laws to harm others; they are called criminals. Indeed, the really bad persons but also those who profit from weak leadership. Therefore, those who break laws should be punished as an example to others who only break rules when leaders are weak. And thus, in society you have the strong ones who choose to protect the public or those who choose to attack it while they fight together with other criminals against law enforcers and other criminals for a larger market and thus strengthen at the expense of others before they fall due to too many (in)fightings. There are also those who have ideas and work together with the strong to protect the public so society becomes stronger or those who pay strong criminals to do dirty work for them but when they can no longer pay the criminals will turn against their leaders who are unable to defend themselves and fall. The troubles are between the rise and fall of criminals. This rise can happen when good people don't dare to take action against the bad so the potential bad ones feel encouraged to act. An example is the red line of President Obama, his biggest error. Because he didn't act when he treated with action again Syria's president if he would gas his own people again, the gates of hell opened and Russia's President decided to help his Syrian ally. Since then, Syria's president is winning and soon countries may start to send back Syrian refugees, back to the person for whom they fled. If President Obama (and his European allies who are directly involved in this migration crisis) had done as he warned he would than the Syrian president may be gone while Russia was probably not involved and most Democrats and Republicans may have united behind their president. Of course, as Europe didn't show preparedness to help, the decision for President Obama was more difficult and thus he didn't take the risk and therefore the problem became big.

The music that closed that discussion was too ugly (for me) to try to find it on the internet.