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| Sunday, 3 November 2002 |
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Letters |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Please forward your letters to [email protected] in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.
I write this with reference to the article titled Tale of two cities from Buddhist Burma' by Mrs. Padma Edirisinghe based on her Burmese trip that appeared in the poya page of your newspaper of 20th October. In that interesting article she refers to the royal decree by King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe that limited the Siyam Nikaya ordination to the Govi Kula. But she and most of your readers are unaware of the fact that I who was ordained in the Siyam Nikaya recently published a notification calling for applications from those aspiring to become monks. These applications were called irrespective of caste distinctions. The notification appeared in the Dinamina (30-09-2002) Lankadeepa (30-09-2002) and Lakbima (30-09-2002). The response to this notice was enormous. About 85 have already sent in applications and these include even doctors and engineers. Why did I do this? One reason is that the immediate need of our country is peace and till the main spiritual leaders of the country that is Buddhist clergy remain divided this position will be a deterrent factor. Secondly due to the situation prevailing specially in the so-called border villages of the north and east many temples are empty of monks who have come over to safer areas in the South. In the meantime younger monks in these areas have got disrobed while yet others have been killed. Hence there is an urgent need to fill the vacated posts so that the villagers will have their religious leaders to guide them and perform their day to day religious needs like funeral rites. It is almost a disgraceful fact that in these unfortunate villages today there is not a single monk to perform even the pansakula (funeral rite). In the vacuum created new and extremist sects have entered this area through various devices and the helpless Buddhist villagers are falling victim to them. Ven. K. Wimalajothi Thera, A national policy for pre-school education The word 'implementation' seems to be the most difficult word in the vocabulary of the early childhood education establishments. Whatever ideas a government comes up with, it would be good to remember not to leave any loopholes where unscrupulous business people will wriggle their way through by means of clever legal eagles. Once again we like to appeal to Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of Education and the Minister of Social Welfare to bring about a change to the present chaotic state in early childhood care and development (ECCD). It is rather shocking to visit schools run by the "auntie Jane's of this world. Many excuses have been made as to the deplorable situation of the premises, the non-qualified staff, and indeed the lack of training and qualification of the owner herself, but nothing has been done to repair the damage. Indeed when damage is done to a child's education any right-minded educator knows it is irreparable. What does research say about early childhood education? It is believed that from the time of birth, all children are ready to learn. Learning does not mean the three Rs. Learning does not mean sitting for elocution exams. Learning does not mean competition at academic levels. Learning at this stage is the development of the social being. To get on with peers and the adult he comes into contact with at this stage in life. However, what we do or don't do as individuals, educators, and collectively as society can impede a child's success in learning. For example, if we do not provide adequate health care and nutrition for our youngsters, those children entering the public schools will already be behind their healthier, properly fed peers. Properly fed does not imply a diet of processed foods. This means the awareness of eating well-balanced meals at a tender age and growing up with this thought process. Curriculum development should take into account the many sources of curriculum: * Child development knowledge * Knowledge children need to function competently in our society. How can so-called "educators" know what's best for the children when they themselves have a doctored qualification or lack the experience of handling issues of parents and children in this new age? How can an educator teach other educators without the use of teaching aides? Trainees have complained that no material is used but they have to sit round a dining table and learn the art of guiding the destinies of little children - all for a smacking Rs. 25,000 (or more) for a six month course. What horrors await the new child entering an early childhood classroom in the New Year? Parents beware. The Association of Montessori Directresses does not arbitrarily give out membership to directresses. They have to fill in a certain criteria in order to be fully-fledged members. Therefore before you admit your child to a centre ask to see the following: The qualification of the directress (one year Diploma) Shanthi Wijesinghe, Sinhala language 6000 years old ? The article on Ayurveda surgery of 4th century BC in Sunday Observer of October 1 by Asif Hussein states that Sinhala language was more than 6,000 years old. In Sunday Observer of October 10, he writes that king Buddhadasa (4th century BC) always carried a knife on his person to be ready to perform surgery at anytime. According to Asif Hussein king Buddhadasa performed caesarean operation on a Chandala woman seven times and on all seven occasions both mother and child were saved. Asif Hussein continues thus: King Buddhadasa split open a young man's skull and removed a frog dwelling therein and put back successfully the separated parts. He does not say whether king Buddhadasa did the operation while the subject was under anaesthesia. Modern medicine prohibits more than two caesarian operations on one woman and those who have to be operated has to be when the patient is under anaesthesia and in the immediate presence of the anaesthetician. I dismiss Mr. Asif Hussein's claims that Sinhala language was 6,000 years old as fiction . Dr. S. K. Vadivale, How to raise children drug free As cigarettes and alcohol are widely available in this society and socially accepted, there is a chance that your child will some day think of trying them. That's why it is essential for parents not only to set a good example but also explain why drugs are forbidden. Often people think children should be much older to learn about the dangers of smoking drugs and alcohol. But experts say children can develop attitudes from age three, so, it would be wise to raise your children in the direction of drug-free future as early as you think they can recognize you. The pre-schoolers can understand discussion about the dangers of addiction as kids have a tendency to agree with their parents during their early years. Teaching children to cope with problems, encouraging them to be persistent, helping them in finding a healthy hobby, exposing them to a wide variety of activities they might enjoy, create an open atmosphere where they feel comfortable with you. The best way is to arm yourself in this battle to save your children with early accurate education and by instilling positive values they can fall back when they are out of your sight. A youngster's attitude about drugs is often shaped by those of his parents. If parents smoke cigarettes, consume alcohol, take illicit drugs or any other drugs to combat stress, their children are more likely to use drugs. Many children smoke, drink or try drugs because of peer pressure. If children have healthy social skills, establish friendships and are assertive and confident, They are less likely to be pressurized by their peers. So from an early age, give them opportunities to make friends. It has been shown in studies that nicotine is a 'gateway drug'. It means teenagers who become smokers are more on risk to use drugs. So, early prevention is best, keep them away from smoking at first. A. Abdul Aziz, Proposals for education reforms When considering the present education system in Sri Lanka, a special feature observed is that no patriotism for their country is inculcated in the current student population as a result of the national history of their country being removed from the school curriculum. This is an unfortunate situation that will have grave repercussions on the future of the country. We have a written history of over 2,500 years and it is a very unfortunate situation if the descendants of such a nation have no knowledge of the role their ancestors played in moulding the country. As far as I am aware, Asian countries such as China and Japan have given a prominent place to teaching the history of their respective countries in their school curriculum. Japan was devastated during the last World War and it is a fact that its younger generation was able to reach the apex of development of their country during a very short period because of their willingness to work hard fuelled by their patriotism. Even during the period of colonialism an efficient education system was brought about through the intervention of the Maha Sangha such as Rev. Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera and the revival of Buddhism. I propose that we should reintroduce the teaching of national history and literature into our school curriculum. In order to get their children pass the year 5 scholarship examination, thereby to win a place in a popular school, parents burden the minds of their children with an unbearable work load from the year 1 itself, denying them the opportunity to enjoy their childhood. This procedure creates an exam-oriented mentality, stunts the creative ability and the general intelligence of the children and denies them their childhood. Children have to prepare for the scholarship examination, the G.C.E. (O/L), the G.C.E. (A/L) et cetera and they have no leisure to enjoy anything else until they are adults. I believe that in a long-term context, this would have and adverse effect on our youth. Children confined to classrooms, private tutories et cetera throughout the whole day have no social awareness and fail in their spiritual qualities and, as they have been used to a competitive environment, they become victims to cruel and dangerous, thoughts. Therefore, the educationist should address their minds to create a system of education that keeps away the exam-prone mentality. It is mentioned in the Mahawamsa under Chapter 7 that Buddha, before His Parinibbana, had stated that Buddhism would not take hold in Bharatha, the birthplace of Buddha, and it would be established in Sri Lanka. A rich culture and a national heritage have been created through Buddhist philosophy donated to us by King Dharmashoka by sending his son Arahath Mahinda to our country. A few centuries later, it became the life-blood of the Sinhala nation and the country came to be known as "Dharmadweepa". Temples, stupas and the bo-tree became the crown-jewel of the Sinhala Buddhist. Thanks to this culture, Sri Lanka became prosperous and was known as the granary of the East. However, unfortunately, this two-fold glory deteriorated and "Dharmadweepa", nurtured by pristine Theravada Buddhism, is becoming a hotbed of ever increasing crimes. It is clear that social cruelty generated through the degeneration of culture has become the cause of this, and the divide and rule policy introduced by the British too is responsible for this calamity. S.D. Bandaranaike, The train commencing from Aluthgama Railway Station at 6.40 am provided good service to the commuters.'Samudra Devi' express train which follows this train runs express on more railway stations including Wadduwa.The former train which stops at Wadduwa at Moratuwa and Dehiwala thus delaying and disappointing the commuters. Why should this train run slow at these railway stations as there are so many trains starting from Panadura railway Station to Maradana. Those who are responsible for the regular train service should be aware that these two trains are run for the benefit of the commuters.Adjusting the times of these trains would only lead the commuters to face unnecessary hardships and inconveniences as they will not be able to reach their workplaces in time. It is desirable if the authorities concerned take immediate action to allow this particular train to run express from Panadura onwards stopping at Lunawa and Ratmalana only and to run express beyond Bambalapitiya, as it was earlier. Walter Wijenayaka, Allah Subhanahu wata'la says, "Oh, You, who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you may attain piety" (Holy Qu'ran Al-Baqarah, 2:185). Fasting is one of the pillars of Islam. From the scientific point of view, many religions have adopted fasting. It has actually emanated from an Arabic word, "Sown" which means not only avoiding food and water, but also possessing self-control over one's various habits. Its aim is to gain 'Taqwa' in one's soul. Taqwa means to inspire one's soul and prevent performing wrong things. Fasting embellishes one's soul, character and body too and thus plays a salubrious role in one's life. According to science, one's body is considered as a biological machine. This machine acts as an open system, in which exchange of materials and energy takes place within its surroundings. Continuous activity brings defects in this machine. To avoid it, servicing and overhauling is required. It is fasting only which provides this overhauling to one's body machine. Fasting is considered as a 'Bio-Chemical metabolic Exercise'. It maintains the level of hormones in the body. Excess fat which is stored in one's body, while fasting furnishes most of the fuel required for cellular activity. One's digestive system relaxes during this period and so the body develops the habit of working without food and water.Finally fasting develops self control and makes one conscious so as to avoid doing wrong things. Thus fasting is a must in Islam. It is a continuous process and is in fact one of the five pillars of Islam. Fathima Innath, I read with interest Sunday Essay by Ajith Smmaranayake in the Sunday Observer of 20th Oct. Below the picture of Bush and Shakespeare, the following words appear, "The whole world is moving in the direction of English as a language of Cosmopolis not because Shakespeare wrote in it but Bush speaks it". In this context it is relevant to find out what Shakespeare's views on leaders or kings who threatened others or lesser mortals. In his play, Measure for Measure, one of his characters, Angelo, gets power, that's too much. He is too harsh towards his subjects. Isabella comes to plead for her brother's sins for which Angelo threatens with death. Isabella finding her argument not effective shifts her arguments to high, moral grounds and points out that man can only expose his own littleness when he tries to play the tyrant. To quote, 'Man proud man, It is said that Measure For Measure is one of the most brilliant of Shakespeare's comedies, but the laughter is bitter. It does not deal with men as they would like to but as too many of them are and it can be called a comedy chiefly because it has a happy ending. It is hoped all threats and denunciations of Bush who speaks the language that the Bard 'spake' would not engulf the world in a tragedy but end in comedy and it will be All's a Well that ends well. M. Thowfeeq Hassan, |
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