Let’s get rolling!

by Sajitha PREMATUNGE

Luggage dragged along carelessly on the tar or carried with equal tiresomeness in the searing mid day heat. Picture a bunch of tired tourists? Guess again, January 5 marks the beginning of a new school year, bringing with it the familiar sight of starched white uniforms and tiny blue shorts. But their `luggage’ have become so heavy lately that their school bags have had to adopt wheels! Apart from the physical exertion the hurdles these `little people’ have to jump over to get to school in the first place, are countless.

And no one knows it better than little Aruna’s parents. His mother explains that in spite of the gruelling preparations they made before the test and parent and child’s interviews last year, little Aruna lost his chance of entering a `Colombo school’. “We practised hard for the test and provided everything the schools asked for, from residence verification documents, credentials, deeds to telephone bills. But she explained that Aruna missed his chance by just one mark. Aruna’s mother said that he went to montessori over a one- year span, starting from age four. “I quit my job and taught him at home.” She explains that she felt no need to over exert her child at the tender age of three unlike some other parents who believe that sending their kids to montessori early on, would somehow secure them an enrolment in a `big Colombo school’. “I don’t think children of that age are cut out for that sort of discipline” says the mother. For the time being Aruna’s parents are content with the school he ultimately entered and eagerly await the scholarship exam.

On the other hand, Oshadi Vimansa’s mother, Sarojini Galpaya, seems to have had it easy. Being an old girl of the school, enrolling Oshadi was no hassle. Oshadhi seems enthusiastic enough about going to school for a first timer. Her mother says that little Oshadi was never lazy to go to montessori and believes that school will not be much different. As quite explicit by Oshadi’s behaviour newcomers are quite broken in, come the first day at school. Unlike the good old days when we cried hours on end by the grilled windows looking for our parents, Hema Bambarenda, Head Mistress of Visakha Primary, Colombo, claims that the tot freshers rarely cry! Two and at times even three years of montessori life have made them immune to such `petty sentimentalities’.

However, Hema Bambarenda explained that such exertion is completely unnecessary because the same curriculum is repeated during the first year at school. “It won’t make a difference even if you don’t send your child to montessori.” And do not underestimate grade one teachers, says Hema Bambarenda, all grade one teachers have been trained to deal with all types of cranky kids. She reiterates the importance of not over exerting kids at young age. The kids, consequently, don’t have any written work the first year. “And teachers become their second parents.” Angelic teachers, all play and literally no work could make any child happy. But what if the child doesn’t want to go to school in the first place? Medical doctor and bestselling author Dr. Priyanga de Zoysa thinks the prevailing system is more helpful in breaking the ice. Pre exposure through interviews and orientation programmes help the child to become familiar with the new environment. As Dr. Priyanga De Zoysa explained the new system permits parents to stay near the classroom, would the need arise.

I have heard a certain principal once insisting that every child however young carry his or her own two wheeled weight! so to speak. So is the presence of parents detrimental to the child’s personality development? “Absolutely not,” claims the doctor. A little nudge goes a long way, depending on the child’s capability to adjust.” Consequently, any temporary anxiety can be remedied thus. He further explained that such behaviour is not unnatural. It’s the teachers’ and parents’ duty to make the transition from home to school as smooth as possible. Although persistent fear of school is extremely rare, it’s not unheard of. “Out of a class of forty this could happen to only one or two children.”

Here’s a tip for parents. If your child is anxious and scared of going to school after ten days there is something bothering the tot. Don’t take it for granted, pinpoint the cause and remedy it. It may be a little-too-strict-teacher or a bully. If it’s the former then parents have all the right to interfere. Dr. De Zoysa pointed out that according to circulars issued by the Department of Education corporal punishment even in the name of discipline is totally prohibited. He said that parents should verse themselves in these circulars before sending their child to school, since circulars govern the conduct of teachers as well as children. “There should be a healthy dialogue between parents and teachers.”