Carmel Micallef, Fgura
Make lateral thinking, PE core subjects
I thank my parents for having sent me to De La Salle College. In the early 1980s we were lucky to have lateral thinking being taught to us. Prof Edward Debono gave the world a masterpiece that helps us think deeply and see with a different perspective ("laterally").
Lateral thinking is about reasoning that is not immediately obvious and about ideas that may not be obtainable by using simple step-by-step logic. In my opinion, this subject is of utmost important for children, especially when they become adults, as it helps them develop their mind and ability to think creatively, or "outside the box".
At De La Salle I was also lucky because sports and exercise were always given much importance. Current reports have shown that Maltese school-age children excelled in the global obesity scenario. Therefore, I suggest that Physical Education (PE) lessons at school should become a compulsory and daily or nearly daily subject.
The school leaving certificate should not be issued to school leavers unless they have participated in regular physical activity programmes throughout the scholastic years. This does not mean that they have to win any medals or trophies. Only then will parents start pushing their children to take regular exercise and sport more seriously.
Daily physical activity at school also boosts their intellectual abilities. Through play and sports children become more self-confident and stay away from bad and risky habits such as smoking, alcohol, unhealthy diets and violence.
The problem that I visualise however is this: How can such important subjects be introduced in school when school days are so short?
As major subjects such as mathematics, English and Maltese are not thought of as after-school services, so should lateral thinking and regular PE lessons be given their due importance.
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Joseph Ellul
May 26th 2009, 08:10
It seems that this lateral thinking and education is not an item to discuss on the internet. No ones seems to be interested in this item. Maybe there are no more children in Malta.
Christopher Ripard
May 25th 2009, 18:42
Dear Carmel
Lateral thinking is simply the biggest 'con' of the 20th century. It doesn't really exist and in reality. Creative thinking has been with us ever since man discovered fire, iron, the wheel etc. etc.
God help Malta if what you wish for comes true!!
Joe Grech
May 25th 2009, 16:37
P.E. / Sports activities should certainly be given maximum importance at school. But I have serious doubts as regards the efficacity of ''lateral thinking'' , ''creativity thinking'', etc. presently taught in schools and at University. I do not know how this subject got there - but got there it did!
I believe that at University Edward deBono, the great thinker-businessman, (or rather his employees) run one series of ''lectures'' after another about ''creative thinking'' for the prospective graduates. (This certainly happens in Engineering but I cannot say if it occurs in the other fields of study - the Minister for Education will hopefully inform readers accordingly).
I had the occasion to go through the material that was used. It was quite commonplace if not downright pathetic. Could the authorities at University go into this issue to determine whether this subject producing the desired results? We cannot just be mesmerised by the mere mention of Profs deBono the great lateral thinker - what matters in the end is: are we throwing away taxpayer money by making our University students do ''creative thinking'' when this may not be quite as efficacious as it is said to be?
P.Pulis
May 25th 2009, 15:27
@Mr Micallef
As a teacher and head of dept. of physical education, I wish to correct certain misconceptions about Physical Education (limited to State Schools).
P.E. is a core subject at all levels of education (Primary and Secondary). Regarding the Secondary Section, Forms 1 and 2 have two compulsory lessons per week while Forms 3,4,5 have one lesson/week. Of course this is not enough and discussions are taking place to review this situation. P.E. is also offered as a SEC 'O' level subject. Students who opt for the subject have 4 extra lessons (theory and practical).
Besides these there are various extra -curricular activities during breaks. These cover a wide range of sports activities, from Games to Martial arts. In certain Colleges (such as where I teach), Form 1's have the last two lessons on Friday deicated to 'Activities',including sports activities.
Peter Carabott
May 25th 2009, 13:20
And there we go again. So it is now the fact that school days are ... as you are putting it ... short that we have smoking, alcohol, unhealthy diets and violence!!! Give us a break. Why is always the fault of teachers and education in general for all the shortcomings of sociey?
adrian aquilina
May 25th 2009, 12:48
schools in malta need to start helping kids grow up to think for themselves and not repeat what is in a book.schools must start teaching kids too think and not how to pass exams as it is now.
being able to think for yourself,individuality,are all absent from maltese society..its the person who is differant that does the extraordinary. all the great people were individuals with the ability to think for themselves not people who just learnrd and copied from a book.without the alternative society we would not have a modern,progressive world
Galea. L
May 25th 2009, 12:05
Good suggestion.