Luis Gutiérrez Rojas participated in the educational innovation think tank “Educating with Humor in Schools,” organized by the Association of Business Owners of Southern Spain (CESUR) through its corporate social responsibility brand, CEYS (Circle of Economy and Society). The event was attended by dozens of Seville-based teachers, business owners, and representatives from public entities. Luis holds a degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Navarra, is a specialist in Psychiatry at the Jaén University Hospital Complex, and earned his doctorate in Psychiatry from the University of Granada, graduating summa cum laude and receiving the Extraordinary Doctoral Award (Granada, 2011). He currently practices as a clinical psychiatrist at the Granada Health Technology Park. In addition, he is a member of the Spanish Society of Biological Psychiatry, president of the Andalusian Group for the Study of Bipolar Disorder (GETBA) (www.getba.es) and founding partner of the speakers agency Human Speakers (www.humanspeakers.net).

Can laughter and humor be included in schools? How can this be done?

It’s not so much about constantly making people laugh or anything like that; rather, it’s about having a positive attitude in the face of adversity. Unfortunately, a certain tone of complaint and gloom has taken hold in schools, as if there were “nothing to be done.” This discouragement only leads to teacher demotivation. The important thing is to have feasible, achievable goals, and, if possible, goals agreed upon with other teachers. Ideas that can be implemented and that improve school conditions. Those who focus on a task don’t worry about what they can’t change.

What are the benefits of taking life with a good sense of humor?

Good humor is synonymous with stability, peace, tranquility, and mental health. A person in good spirits inspires confidence, makes life more pleasant for others, and reduces stress levels and cellular inflammation. It’s not about having to smile as if it were an obligation; good humor arises in people who have found a good reason to strive.

What are the keys to not losing that sense of humor?

We must try to distance ourselves from negative news, which sells the most and fills the news broadcasts. Turn off your phone, forget about WhatsApp, stop visiting dozens of newspapers, and connect with life. Have a plan that motivates you, dedicate your time to making life more pleasant for others, and don’t waste a single second of your precious time spreading slander.

What key points should parents keep in mind when raising their children?

The most important thing is knowing what is right and not letting our children be the ones in charge at home. The home is the first place where children learn to obey and be disciplined. Parents are the ones who know what needs to be done. A family is not a democracy. I know these messages sound strange nowadays, but it’s the truth. In families where children clearly understand the rules they must follow, these children are more stable, free, happy, and well-balanced. One of the key elements is knowing how to exercise authority appropriately.

How can you deal with a tantrum, five failing grades, or a serious problem with good humor?

We can’t afford to be inactive when faced with serious problems. The most important thing is to analyze the causes of the failure. Giving a severe scolding or imposing excessive punishments is usually of little use. If my child is failing or misbehaving, what’s the reason? Is it a personality problem? Do they have learning difficulties? Are they having relationship problems? There are a thousand possibilities. That’s why we must coordinate our parenting with our child’s teachers, who can provide important clues to pinpoint the problem. If we don’t address the root cause, the problem won’t be solved. Knowing how to solve a problem will put us in a good mood, while not knowing what to do will paralyze us.

Is this generation of parents prepared to face the difficulties?

There’s a bit of everything. I think our generation has tremendously positive aspects. Generally, the father figure is much more involved in the family than it was just a few years ago. The problem is that some fathers want to remain perpetual teenagers and have serious difficulties taking responsibility. Being involved in the family from the beginning prevents all sorts of serious problems in the future.

In Spain, the teaching profession is held in low esteem. Is that a problem for a country?

Of course it is. The best way to enhance the prestige of teaching is by motivating teachers. Teachers who strive to improve, who are involved in projects, and who dedicate all their time to thinking about how to change things never become depressed. Those who throw in the towel allow a chronic sense of lament to fester within them, which brings discredit to the profession. We doctors love to tell young people to pursue medicine. Teachers must assert themselves by showing society that their role is essential.

79% of Spaniards believe that parents have lost respect for teachers, why do you think this is happening?

Because we live in a society characterized by a tendency to blame others and avoid even the slightest self-criticism. Parents’ WhatsApp groups are overflowing with derogatory messages directed at teachers. Parents don’t seem to realize that if they lose respect for teachers, their children won’t either, and this will have a catastrophic impact on their education. When in doubt, parents should always side with the teacher, and if they need to offer criticism or ask for information, they should do so privately and face-to-face. If I don’t believe teachers are the best people to educate my children, it’s unlikely my children will believe it either.

How do you rate education in Spain?

Much better than people think. It’s normal for us to compare ourselves to other countries and end up saying that our system is a disaster when it’s not true. In our country, we have top-notch schools and teachers. I believe that to improve education, we don’t need grand political agreements (usually all those measures come to nothing). What we need to do is let teachers do their job; they are the professionals. Let’s stop putting obstacles in their way; they already have enough on their plate.

What is the role of parents and families in the education of their children?

We are the protagonists, the ones responsible, and the ones who must lead the way. When a child is struggling, the family bears primary responsibility. If a family is functional and instills values, the child will grow up well-mannered, even if they don’t attend the best school or have a less-than-ideal teacher. To improve education, we must restore parental authority.

What values, knowledge, skills, or abilities should students have at the end of their educational stage in order to speak of an adequate educational system?

Tolerance, reflection, the ability to exercise abstraction and imagination. Emotional intelligence, respect for differences, problem-solving skills, and self-awareness. Everything that fosters critical and rational thinking (not criticism), everything that no screen will give us.

To have an adequate education system, students need to read much more.

Knowledge is ephemeral, it changes at breakneck speed; in the jobs of the future, we will not be asked to know anything, but rather to have the ability to learn.

What practical solutions exist for reforming Spanish education together? What is the solution to the high rate of grade repetition in Spain?

We must champion the role of vocational training. Thousands of students are forced to study until an age when they have already demonstrated their inability to continue, or they are thrown into universities that grant worthless degrees. We must respect the teacher’s judgment and guide students toward a professional future that aligns with their psychological and mental capabilities.

What measures could be taken against school failure?

There are many, but I will mention three: creating a study environment in the family, allowing teachers to guide the student, and motivating students to discover the joy of knowledge.