School children, it seems, are not totally oblivious to the jueteng scandal hounding the Estrada administration, and school administrators find this "somehow alarming."
"Even classroom lessons of pre-schools are disturbed now. Toddlers clamor for the impeachment of (Mr. Estrada) when they hardly understand (the issue). When asked why, they claimed (their mothers said so)," said Eleazar Kasilag, vice president of the Federation of Associations of Private School Administrators (FAPSA).
In his school, the St. Nicholas School, Kasilag said teachers "could no longer answer some annoying queries of pupils (about jueteng) anymore."
Kasilag said some students even suggested that the parent-teacher association hold jueteng draws, instead of bingo socials, to raise funds.
A female pupil, he said, even asked if she could have Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson as ninong (godfather) so she could have more gifts this Christmas.
"More or less, children are starting to lose their respect for the government. Even kids who hardly can read and write now begin to understand (what is happening)," he added.
Kasilag said the corruption charges against Mr. Estrada should be resolved early.
"The President has to answer (the charges). Even pre-schoolers get easily swayed by different scenarios now unfolding before them," he said.