Wrong move by Ministry
SINCE early this year, most schools in Malaysia have adopted the one session school system whereby the schools start at about 7 in the morning and end at about 3 in the evening.
Now, instead of 35 minutes per period our children spend 40 minutes per period which, in my view, is a good thing as the time spent in school is optimised with learning i.e. formal learning.
However, the longer school session puts an onerous burden on teachers who now have become unofficial babysitters as one reader in your Forum recently correctly pointed out.
Most parents welcomed this approach especially after the Nurin incident and impounded by PM Datuk Seri Abdullah's proposal to extend school hours until four. But if not considered properly the proposal will further worsen our already pathetic education system.
Some schools under the one-school session have their recess at 1.20 for 40 minutes. During this "short" period, students as well as teachers will be having their rest or are they? Most students, especially those from lower income families, are loitering around because they do not have money to buy food.
I have seen with my own eyes, students actually having their "free" lunch from the tap! This is, of course, not healthy. They are supposed to have a proper meal for lunch not water from the tap.
Admittedly, the enforcement of the one-session school has been properly disseminated to the parents so that they will take necessary action by preparing meals for their children. However, sadly not all take heed. They might be mistaken that schools will provide free meals for their offspring.
More seriously, some students exploit the time to exact vengeance on other students. While others are having their rest, these unruly students incur havoc on others instead of resting for the second session in the afternoon.
Some schools, therefore, have to instruct teachers to baby-sit the students. After spending their time educating the students they have to continue babysitting them during the only time they should have their rest. When something horrible occur, all will point their fingers at teachers!
At about two, students will return to their classes and continue their study but are they really up to it? I am sure due to their age, 40 minutes are not enough for them to recuperate from the first session.
The second session in the afternoon ends up futile. Some might say that is better compared to if they are out of the school doing nothing or involving in detrimental activities. Again such opinion seems to support the idea that parents are not responsible, their only responsibility is to conceive children and providing them with adequate shelter, clothes and food. The rest is the teachers' responsibility.
At four, parents fetch their children home. All are tired by then, so everyone goes to sleep. Some are not bothered to be with their children because they have babysitters at home - and school - ticularly when my insights is publishedto do that for them. Some may say teachers deserve this because "their job is very easy while getting a fat salary".
Some may add they have to spend similar time working from 8 to 5 but they never complain. But, before we all agree to those points, are we all willing to teach, do clerical tasks, be a gardener, a cleaner, a prefect, a head class, a supervisor, a director, a servant, a baby sitter and many more arduous tasks at the same time from 7 to 4?
Many, I assume will say are you mad? We are not robots nor machines! Exactly!
I am a parent and before this I viewed being a teacher as the most relaxing job with a good pay. But after observing my children's school I wondered how could they willingly end up as teacher. They don't only use their voice but at the same time they have to use their physical and mental abilities. No wonder some teachers become mentally unstable along the way!
Besides, not all parents want their children to be in school most of the time as they, too, have some responsibility at home. What about those who are supposed to attend religious school either in the morning or afternoon?
As the national school's curriculum is different from religious school, parents cannot expect their children to be proficient in the Quran, etc.
Should we put the burden again on teachers, in particular religious teachers, as its their job anyway?
Before implementing the one-school session, our experts in the Education Ministry should have conducted a thorough study. Don't just use fully residential schools, urban schools and well-to-do parents as benchmarks.
Please consider those in rural areas which I believe make up the majority.
Do not just make a generalisation for all. Such act is not only unjust but can also be seen as having ulterior motive - one is the idea that parents really hate their children and want the teachers to discipline them.
Perhaps what triggered the PM to propose school periods to be extended until 4 was the Nurin incident. But bear in mind such incident happened during the evening well beyond school time! Do not suggest that teachers are also to be blamed for that!
Therefore, I urge the authorities to reconsider the implementation of such an inconsiderate scheme not only for teachers but our children. I dare to imagine that soon teachers will see their students as their enemies and tormentors and there will be even more mentally unstable teachers.
Now, instead of 35 minutes per period our children spend 40 minutes per period which, in my view, is a good thing as the time spent in school is optimised with learning i.e. formal learning.
However, the longer school session puts an onerous burden on teachers who now have become unofficial babysitters as one reader in your Forum recently correctly pointed out.
Most parents welcomed this approach especially after the Nurin incident and impounded by PM Datuk Seri Abdullah's proposal to extend school hours until four. But if not considered properly the proposal will further worsen our already pathetic education system.
Some schools under the one-school session have their recess at 1.20 for 40 minutes. During this "short" period, students as well as teachers will be having their rest or are they? Most students, especially those from lower income families, are loitering around because they do not have money to buy food.
I have seen with my own eyes, students actually having their "free" lunch from the tap! This is, of course, not healthy. They are supposed to have a proper meal for lunch not water from the tap.
Admittedly, the enforcement of the one-session school has been properly disseminated to the parents so that they will take necessary action by preparing meals for their children. However, sadly not all take heed. They might be mistaken that schools will provide free meals for their offspring.
More seriously, some students exploit the time to exact vengeance on other students. While others are having their rest, these unruly students incur havoc on others instead of resting for the second session in the afternoon.
Some schools, therefore, have to instruct teachers to baby-sit the students. After spending their time educating the students they have to continue babysitting them during the only time they should have their rest. When something horrible occur, all will point their fingers at teachers!
At about two, students will return to their classes and continue their study but are they really up to it? I am sure due to their age, 40 minutes are not enough for them to recuperate from the first session.
The second session in the afternoon ends up futile. Some might say that is better compared to if they are out of the school doing nothing or involving in detrimental activities. Again such opinion seems to support the idea that parents are not responsible, their only responsibility is to conceive children and providing them with adequate shelter, clothes and food. The rest is the teachers' responsibility.
At four, parents fetch their children home. All are tired by then, so everyone goes to sleep. Some are not bothered to be with their children because they have babysitters at home - and school - ticularly when my insights is publishedto do that for them. Some may say teachers deserve this because "their job is very easy while getting a fat salary".
Some may add they have to spend similar time working from 8 to 5 but they never complain. But, before we all agree to those points, are we all willing to teach, do clerical tasks, be a gardener, a cleaner, a prefect, a head class, a supervisor, a director, a servant, a baby sitter and many more arduous tasks at the same time from 7 to 4?
Many, I assume will say are you mad? We are not robots nor machines! Exactly!
I am a parent and before this I viewed being a teacher as the most relaxing job with a good pay. But after observing my children's school I wondered how could they willingly end up as teacher. They don't only use their voice but at the same time they have to use their physical and mental abilities. No wonder some teachers become mentally unstable along the way!
Besides, not all parents want their children to be in school most of the time as they, too, have some responsibility at home. What about those who are supposed to attend religious school either in the morning or afternoon?
As the national school's curriculum is different from religious school, parents cannot expect their children to be proficient in the Quran, etc.
Should we put the burden again on teachers, in particular religious teachers, as its their job anyway?
Before implementing the one-school session, our experts in the Education Ministry should have conducted a thorough study. Don't just use fully residential schools, urban schools and well-to-do parents as benchmarks.
Please consider those in rural areas which I believe make up the majority.
Do not just make a generalisation for all. Such act is not only unjust but can also be seen as having ulterior motive - one is the idea that parents really hate their children and want the teachers to discipline them.
Perhaps what triggered the PM to propose school periods to be extended until 4 was the Nurin incident. But bear in mind such incident happened during the evening well beyond school time! Do not suggest that teachers are also to be blamed for that!
Therefore, I urge the authorities to reconsider the implementation of such an inconsiderate scheme not only for teachers but our children. I dare to imagine that soon teachers will see their students as their enemies and tormentors and there will be even more mentally unstable teachers.
Watan Marhaen
Teachers are not B.A.B.Y S.I.T.T.E.R.S
http://www.wangrakyat.net?reff=caeser76
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