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MaltaToday
campaign | Growing pains
Growing
up in today's fast world is anything but child's play. Children
are bombarded with homework, exams and exposed to other pressures,
such as bullying or problems at home, from a worryingly early age.
In the first of a series of investigative reports, NADINE BRINCAT
finds out what John Bencini, the president of the Malta Union of
Teachers, has to say about dealing with childhood and growing up
The teacher's viewpoint
John
Bencini, MUT president
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With
such a large amount of a child's time being spent at school, teachers,
along with parents, play an important influential role on a child,
moulding their characters and helping them form their values. They
also have an idea what might be in the child's best interest, as
John Bencini, president of the Malta Union of Teachers, makes clear
and the difficulties they face.
One subject he feels strongly about is private lessons.
"Excessive and unnecessary private lessons do not leave the
child with time for recreation, which is also an important part
of growing up," he emphasises. "Modern society is running
the risk of bringing up robots, not children, in between television,
computer, Catechism ballet and football."
He highlights the importance of allowing children the time to play.
"They have too many academic subjects to study," he says.
"Children spend most of their time sitting down. This is why
the government, together with the MUT, will be introducing activity
teachers in all schools, which will give time to drama, physical
education, crafts and music, encouraging children to join in."
Mr Bencini explains that the concept of child participation has
also been given weight in the formulating of the National Minimum
Curriculum, which is set to be implemented in phases over the next
four-to-five years, admitting this was long overdue.
"In the NMC we have looked into this aspect of interesting
children and eliciting more active participation on their part,"
he says. "It is about time this takes place; at last we have
finally realised that at schools there are also children and not
just teachers."
Turning to another hot issue, the MUT president concedes that a
lack of co-ordination between teachers at secondary school can result
in students being over-burdened with homework, while younger children
should only take home a limited amount of work.
"If students are snowed under, they can panic and become demotivated,"
he says. "Emphasis should be placed on research and projects,
as well as traditional written work, since students enjoy this,
while an hour of homework at primary school level, is more than
enough."
He says that the MUT supports the philosophy of the National Minimum
Curriculum, which will be ensuring that a percentage of marks in
end-of-year performance, which has not yet been determined, will
be allocated according to assessment and projects, rather than exams.
He highlights the importance of parents playing their part and not
pushing their children too hard in this respect.
Perhaps somewhat controversially, Mr Bencini says teachers are sometimes
faced with problems because parents spoil their children.
"When there are problems at school, parents often do not support
the teacher, but take sides with their child," he explains.
"This creates animosity between the teacher and the students."
He believes there is still not enough of a link between parents
and teachers at school, saying that school councils still have some
work to do in this regard.
" The fact that sometimes, schools ignore the responsibilities
of parents does not help either," he adds.
He also questions whether children suffer in an environment where
both parents work.
"Although many people need two wages nowadays, the result is
that children get home after school at 3pm and do not find anyone
waiting for them at home," he says. "In addition both
parents are very busy and do not have much time for meaningful dialogue
with their children. Many parents do not take direct interest in
what their children do at school."
On the issue of bullying, Mr Bencini points out that the Education
Division has set up a structure in all schools to identify bullies,
but admits that it is not an easy job to find the perpetrators.
He also says that even teachers can be subjected to bullying, by
students – something that people don't think often about.
Turning to another bone of contention – heavy school bags –
Mr Bencini says that both the government and the MUT had discussed
this issue and have drawn up a series of regulations to control
the load children were being made to carry.
"The heads of schools are to ensure that these regulations
are adhered to," he stressed.
Regarding the unearthly hours that some children have to get up
at to catch the school transport, he admits this can be a problem.
"The transport system is limited, particularly since buses
and coaches have different routes, and some have to make pick-ups
early," he says. "The current system means that some students
get to school one hour before the start, with nobody there to look
after them."
Next
week: Child psychiatrist,
Joe Saliba, gives his views
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