Letters to the Editor

The frustration of the teachers

In the last days of January, in addition to the serious problem of the train derailments and, finally, the storm, we have observed that our country has a problem with schools. A study paints a devastating picture of the deterioration of coexistence in classrooms.

The demotivation experienced by the teaching profession is a cause for particular reflection. They feel, more than in neighboring countries, that their work is not valued, that they waste time on bureaucratic procedures, writing reports that no one reads, and they helplessly witness the increase in disrespect from boys and girls, and even aggression committed by students' families.

However, I believe it is important to acknowledge that significant progress has been made in recent decades. This progress will only be sustained if the various stakeholders involved, starting with families, work together.

If Spanish reality demonstrates anything, it is the need for a consensus that upholds the irreplaceable social function of schools.

Jesús Domingo Martínez

Girona

Move objects

Due to renovations at my house, I've had to move furniture and, above all, objects that had been there for years, and locks that had been there statically, covered in dust and seemingly invisible. But when I had to move them, one by one, and clean them, I discovered the perhaps psychological companionship they offer me! Each thing—be it a seashell, a stone, an old photograph, a coral tree, etc.—that has been in front of me day after day for so long reminds me of different moments in my past life, with different stories... A great emptiness has settled over me. I didn't expect it. I thought their presence wasn't very important! I've discovered how difficult it is to let go of everything you love, whether it's alive or... dead!

Albert Altés Segura

Lance

Mental boundaries

Human beings have gone from living in caves to exploring Mars, but the code of our humanity seems not to have been updated. We have perfected how to live, but we continue to struggle with the reason for coexistence. Selfishness persists because, historically, it was a tool for survival; however, today we struggle to understand that global cooperation is the new condition for subsistence. Despite living in an interconnected world, selfishness continues to erect invisible borders: we are moved by what happens to our neighbor, but we become indifferent to those who cross the sea in search of a dignified life.

No one chooses where they are born, but this geographical chance unfairly determines the generosity we will receive from others. The deepest impulses—hunger, fear, or hope—know neither maps nor flags. Focusing on origin or skin color is merely a smokescreen, an excuse to silence our ethical responsibility and avoid acknowledging that the suffering of others is, in reality, our own.

We can never speak of true human progress as long as our solidarity is conditioned by geography or purchasing power. Conquering outer space is of little use if we are still prisoners of mental boundaries that prevent us from recognizing the suffering of others as our own. True progress should not be measured by the speed of processors, but by the moment when aid to those in need and justice are applied with the same impartiality to all people. Only when human dignity ceases to be a matter of postal code or lineage can we say that we have learned the art of living together and look to the future with the certainty of having built a world truly worthy of being inhabited.

Mari Carmen Lozano Pareja

Badalona