CHOOSING FRIENDS IN SCHOOL
As a child grows up, he/she attend school and play with his/her age mates. These playmates or peer groups have their own rules and regulations which members must obey.
A child learns how to behave in a group. He/she also shares in what other children have learnt in their families.
Children should, however, avoid playing with those who behave badly, as they could easily be influenced because bad company corrupts good manners.
The school plays an important role in the way a child acquires desirable values, attitudes, and skills in modern society. At school, the child is given an all-around education in physical development [psychomotor], attitudinal development [affective], and intellectual development [cognitive].
The school, under the guidance of a teacher, prepares the child to be a functional member of society. The school uses constant rewards and punishment to socialise the child.
DEFINITION OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIP
Human relationship develops from the knowledge and interaction with one another. Through interaction, human beings tend to understand one another, and this brings peace in their relationship.
When we live together and we do not understand each other, the relationship will break down.
Certain things help build interaction. In other words, there are things that you should know about the person that you are interacting with. They are as follows:
- Name
- Background
- Age
- School
- Religion
- Hobby
- State
- Nationality
- Likes and dislikes
- Interest, hopes and fears.
In the Bible, Abraham and Lot were relatives, and they understood each other. This explains why they came together and ironed out the quarrel that ensued between their servants that would have ultimately led to their separation.
We also have another example of a human relationship in the Bible where the genealogy (background) of Jesus was traced to Abraham in Matthew and Luke.
TYPES OF RELATIONSHIP
We have two types of relationships, namely family and business relationships:
- Family relationship: – This is subdivided into two; immediate and extended family relationship includes (a) Husband and wife relationship, (b) Parents and children relationship (c) brothers and sisters relationship. An extended family relationship includes: (a) You and your cousins, (b) you and your aunts, (c) you and your uncles, (d) you and your grandparents, (e) you and your in-laws
- Business relationship includes: (a) Relationship existing between business partners, (b) Students-teacher relationship, (c) friend-to-friend relationship, (d) master-servant relationship
FACTORS MILITATING AGAINST GOOD HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
The factors that militate against having good human relationships are as follows:
- Bad manners
- Laziness
- Indiscipline
- Theft
FRIENDSHIP
Friendship is a state of being emotionally attached to another person resulting from feelings of affection.
It also provides an opportunity for acquiring experiences, which would aid the process of developing a self-identity and enhance the ability to socialise, develop appropriate interpersonal communication and conflict management skills.
Through friendship, individuals come to know, trust and depend on each other for affection, acceptance and support.
FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE CHOICE OF FRIENDS
MUTUAL RESPECT: It means relating with others in ways that honour their personal values, decisions and choice, even if they differ from others.
HONEST COMMUNICATION: This is the sharing of truth and being able to talk about sensitive issues or negative behaviours without malice. Other factors include: COMMON INTEREST, AGE, GENDER, BACKGROUND, ABILITY TO KEEP CONFIDENCE.
QUALITIES/BEHAVIOURS THAT ENHANCE FRIENDSHIP: Trust, loyalty, honesty, respect, affection, understanding, sympathy.
(b) FRIENDS AT NIGHT [LUKE 11:5-13]: According to Jesus, he said, “which of you having a friend who decided to visit him at midnight and say to him, ‘friend lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him;
He will answer from within, do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything?
I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity, he will rise and give him whatever he needs”
(C) FRIIENDSHIP BETWEEN DAVID AND JONATHAN [I SAMUAL 18:15]. The friendship between DAVID and JONATHAN was extremely great.
The Bible says, when he (DAVID) had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
As a result of this, Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul. “Jonathan stripped off the robe which was upon him and gave it to David, and his armour, and even his sword and his bow and his girdle.
GENERAL EVALUATION
- What are the benefits of relationship in the school?
- State the importance of school to a child.
- State the types of human relationship
- What are the factors militating against good human relationship?
WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT
1.____ is a state of being emotionally attached to a person, resulting from feeling of affection. (a) Friendship (b) lust (c) infatuation (d) companionship
- The school prepares the child to be functional member of the following except ____ (a) home (b) society (c) garage (d) community
- The friend at mid-night was given what he need because he was__.(a) persistence (b) rude (c)highly demanding (d)dedicated (e)honest
- Jonathan loved David as his own____ (a) father (b) mother (c) soul (d) sister
- _____ encourages good relationship. (a) age (b) background (c) honesty (d) common interest.
THEORY
- Give four reasons why you must choose good friends.
- List five consequences of choosing bad friends.