Crayon boy, five, 'under evaluation'

borg carmel

Nov 13th 2008, 14:05

I have a feeling that a boy of that age he has no intention to do such things to damage or harm somebody, on the other hand I wish the teacher speed recovery, But now I hope that all of the story will end now

Joe Xuereb (London UK)

Nov 11th 2008, 21:34

I cannot comment on this case as I do not know the full details and even less the child concerned. I was teaching in Malta in the late 1950s early sixties and the pupils, in Gudja and Hamrun, were unbearably naughty but considerably older than five years of age (Hello to anybody who may remember me). For a number of reasons I could not hack it so I left and forged a new career elsewhere abroad where I have been for almost the last half century (and before you do the maths, I am still in my middle sixties). Now, am I to understand by all this that in Malta, the behaviour of the little 'monsters' of my first work experience has filtered down and is commonly let rip, among five-year olds? Is Malta top of the league only in such matters (according to statistical data produced by a report in The Economist no less), of fifteen or so countries (I do not have the article to hand) Malta is at the top when it comes to young teenagers getting into brawls, abuse of alcohol (particularly spirits and wine and so on). What is going on?

a.mangion

Nov 11th 2008, 16:47

@Jeffrey Tabone
Clearly, you have never been in charge of a class full of children in your life sir.

Mark Anthony Sammut

Nov 11th 2008, 14:34

Stress on kids is being induced by the PARENTS and not the system!

Joe Borg Camilleri

Nov 11th 2008, 13:18

What does this five year old boy know about the implications of his action?

Or shall we now criminalise all children when they misbehave? Yeah, perhaps we should build a new jail for u-10 as well !!!!!! Guardians in this jail should wear full riot gear and use pepper spray when a child comes too close!!!!

Oh, come on......!!!!!!

Paul Borg

Nov 11th 2008, 12:53

This boy should have been evaluated long time ago when the school first reported his behaviour.

Now that the teacher have been hurt it seems that the evaluation process is being done at a faster pace.

First someone has to get injured to take action. And who is going to compensate the teacher for the loss of her eyesight?

Charles Sammut

Nov 11th 2008, 11:35

The teacher was sitting at HER desk!

So this boy walks up to her desk, pokes her in the eye and it is an accident.

The MUT should call an indefinite strike until the "Education Division" retracts this accident claptrap. No wonder anybody who is concerned about their children's education sends them to private schools, even at great personal sacrifice.

martin portelli

Nov 11th 2008, 11:20

What is unacceptable about this incident is that the boy's behaviour which had been the subject of concern for some time was not deemed ' challenging enough' for the psychological services to look into. It is no secret that referrals to the school psychological service are put on an interminable waiting list. There has been no remedy to the fact that the education division has a compliment of one school psychologist having lost the rest to private practice or private school in short better opportunities. Successful inclusion does not just mean placement + mandatory learning support assistant in mainstream settings. Inclusive education requires more than lip service it requires excellent support services. Unfortunately, shortsighted leadership blights the grand plan for inclusive education in Malta.

Michael Bonanno

Nov 11th 2008, 10:52

Without entering into this particular case, I cannot understand why everybody is pointing to the teachers and the education system, without even realising that the problem is coming from home. Parents must be the prime educators of their own children. The only problem is that parents do not have time for their children in this fast forward life we are living in, and are leaving the full responsibility and education on teachers and educators in general.

Henry Calleja

Nov 11th 2008, 10:50

Many are quick to put the blame on th educational system which, in my opinion , has nothing to do with such incidents. I think such incidents , and even worse ones, take place almost regularly. Simply because of hyperactive students, rowdy and temperamental pupils, most of them spoiled and pampered at home. When they realise that discipline and order frustrates them, they resort to all kind of mischief. And as we know most of these incidents take place in Government schools simply because they are bound to accept all types of students. In private and church schools they will surely get rid of such culprits immediately.

Bjorn Bonello

Nov 11th 2008, 10:33

This is a very thorny subject and it is clear that there is no easy solution.In a society where everyone wants to be right and nobody wants to be responsible for his/her actions,our social fabric is deteriorating, family values and respect fizzling and it is 'uncool' to be a good, wholesome person.Yet while everybody is busy being politically correct, our children are left wandering in the dark,with no direction and no notion of discipline.They are getting their education from TVs and consoles, where it is wonderful to be obnoxious and foul.This can happen to all of us,we have no control of our children outside our homes but parents around the world must pause and sit, talk and play with their children.Money, popularity and looks should not come before our own flesh and blood.

Ryan Galea

Nov 11th 2008, 10:15

Are you guys serious? Explain to me how a five year old can "acidentally" poke a teacher in the eye. Have any of you talked to student teachers lately? Kids today are out of controll. Going as far as tossing chairs at the teacher. "Oh I'm sorry miss, I accidentally threw a chair at you!" Come on!! I always knew teachers are unappreciated, but this is just sick! What if that teacher was a relative of yours? Mother, wife, whatever...would you still say "ohh he's just a child" get real people. Kids today are getting out of controll more then ever, and you know it, even though most of you will not admit it.

Sandro Pace

Nov 11th 2008, 10:12

Oh leave the MUT and the authorities to deal with it will you. We went through the same educational system and no one from my classmates deemed it fit to poke something into the eye of anybody.

Why is it that the system always has to be blamed for everything? That a pupil saw it fit to go for the eye with a crayon already exposes a risk problem not only to teachers but also to fellow pupils.

If we expect this as normal behaviour, where will it all end?

Jeffrey Tabone

Nov 11th 2008, 09:56

this is ridiculous! my nephew who is around that age is always up to mischief including at times poking people! that is why one has to be keeping an eye on children at all times. For the teacher to be caught unawares suggests to me that she would not have been able to prevent an accident to any of her students.

S. Camilleri

Nov 11th 2008, 09:53

@R. Cassar
The teacher was injured by a crayon - which implies that the activity being conducted in class was colouring - a fun approach to education that is suitable to a 5 year old.

Robert Cassar

Nov 11th 2008, 09:22

This is ridiculous! He is a kid .. what you expect from a kid?

Kids in Malta are facing enormous stress because of the OLD educational system that we have. The education department should look at alternative ways and curriculum should be realistic to bring a fun learning attitude.

Kids do not have any more time to play, they just come from school and start the tonnes of homework till the evening! What life is this? DO you not notice what is happening around us?