Timing of after-school activities queried

M Balzan

Oct 2nd 2010, 23:56

Poor children....
Children are meant to be brought up by their parents....they need our love...
Vera bla valuri ta xejn ha nispiccaw....x'relazjoni tfal mal-genituri jekk bilkemm jaraw lil xulxin...tal-misthija nissugerixxu dawn l-affarijiet....mux bilfors jikisru l-familji
Ma ninsewx li tfal huma generazjoni tal-futur...u li tizra tahsad...

Ruben Baldacchino

Oct 1st 2010, 00:02

What I find amusing is that some parents still find time to go to Tombla, watch soap operas that they discuss later for long hours at the Monti or at the grocer. Then they want that their children stay long hours at school, but thinking about it, they might have a good reason, I m sure that the new PBS schedule is much more interesting to watch rather then spending quality time with their family.

The group of people I described above is just a minority but exists, yet there is a majority of parents who fill their children s afternoon and evening schedule with a playstation, xbox or just send to drama, music, academic lessons so that they keep them away as much as possible from home.

We should listen to what the children really want and need, rather then trying to see who s going to babysit them, maybe most of the children want that mum and dad they never had since they were born and raised by their nanna..........

joe falzon

Sep 29th 2010, 21:37

CZarb and C Camilleri.....everyone talks about the need to attract women to the workforce....Doesn't anyone care for the fact that many teachers are women and that they have families that need attending. in other words, do you want to create difficulties for one group of female workers (teachers) to benefit other female workers (non teachers).....You people judge the war without never having been on the battlefield!!!! Pathetic! after school programmes should be open to volunteer teachers on a payment basis. Mr Zarb, your idea of having university students in working with students after school has potential --- it would provide university students in the teaching field with experience and give them financial assistance at the same time

Patrick Sacco

Sep 29th 2010, 21:35

What I find amusing in teacher-bashing comments made by a number of irresponsible parents is that they accuse teachers with this and that, but at the same time they want to 'dump' THEIR OWN children and their THEIR OWN responsibility on...teachers!

joe falzon

Sep 29th 2010, 21:12

@c. Camilleri--- you speak of french schools lasting till 4 and 6....why don't you tell the readers how long their lunch hours are? and most importantly you overlooked the fact that they have a 4-day week.....mothers don't need teachers to go and babysit (many have family members ready to do it for them) ---- what they need is to have jobs available for them! you're talking about teachers providing ''the garage'' so to speak when the prople don't have ''the car'' to park in the first place!!!!

joe falzon

Sep 29th 2010, 19:50

@c. Camilleri....where do you get your info on all the teachers in malta and gozo? are you going around spying on what each teacher does? I work in Gozo and I only know a handful of teachers who provide tuition which parents ask for in the first place. Private tuition is not forced upon anyone!! And don't come with the bull that the reason is because teachers don't do their work......Teachers carry out work at home, the extent of which depends upon the subject. Language teachers have a very, very rough game to play! so if a child has parents that both work night shifts, what do you propose then ---- a 24 / 7 school service? In Italy school end s at 1:15 / 1:30 --- they don't complain! Mr Fenech didn't even know that he was supposed to ask for a VAT receipt from his maid, I don't think he, or you, knows much about it! you're still singing the same tune Mr camilleri.....change your music

CZarb

Sep 29th 2010, 17:11

continued

Anyway longer hours does not mean more work for the teachers. The schools can employ part time teachers (or univ students) to help children do their homework + various activities can be created which won't involve teachers (sports, arts etc). Its a disgrace that in 2010 there are schools that still insist on the parent's participation to assist their kids in their various projects and homeworks. What happens if the children parents need to work or simply do not have the skills to do so?

CZARB

Sep 29th 2010, 16:51

The only people who do not complain with our nofs ta nhari schools are the teachers. Other common mortals have to juggle between work, study (some have to keep on updating themselves to remain competitive) and helping kids to do their homework. Leave days are then chosen strategically so that someone would be present at home when the kids are enjoying one of the many holidays strategically spread around the year. And lets stop with this work = luxury thing. Many work because they need it.

A Darmanin

Sep 29th 2010, 16:43

The minister should spend a month in a school himself before saying such things. Me being a teacher can say that at 2.30pm the kids are utterly exhausted after a day at school - you can imagine the teachers! The teachers' salary is as it is because of the number of hours we work - IF the school hours are extended so should the salary! However, I think most of the teachers will opt for another occupation!

c. camilleri

Sep 29th 2010, 16:04

@ Henry Calleja. We are saying that there is not reason for our Schools hours to be so short .
Our Teachers are getting paid for working half the workings hours of other workers in all categories. And this is ridiculous and intolerable. If fact many teachers do additional work at home in private tuition or broadcasting.

Tanya Briffa

Sep 29th 2010, 16:01

I have long been an advocate for longer hours at school - not for the kids to learn more academically, but for them to come home without homework and to have more time for what we unfortunately call extra-curricular activities - though why sports and art and culture should be Extra to the curriculum beats me. The benefits would be twofold: Quality time after school with the parents - sorry but when homework ends up in a crying/screaming match between a harassed parent (usually a mother) and a bored kid, that's not quality time. The second benefit would be that our educational system would finally be producing all rounded individuals, happier, healthier and with more direction in which to focus their energies.

And to the first few commentators - tparlawx fil-vojt guys, criticising just for the sake of it is immature, as well as being an insult to all the persons you are slagging off without knowing what their life is really like. Tiggudikax halli ma tkunx iggudikat.

Henry Calleja

Sep 29th 2010, 15:55

In short most of you are saying that schools should extend their hours so that many wives could go out to work. This means that teachers would act as baby sitters during the extended times! Halluna!

c. camilleri

Sep 29th 2010, 15:37

As pointed out by various speakers one of the problems which hinder mothers from joining the work force is the ridiculous short school hours and unnecessary long summer holidays.
If this problem is tackled by bringing school hours more in line with those of the workers than it would be more convenient for mothers to get a job and meet the needs of the family as they both be home at the same time. As pointed out recently in an other paper our school day is one of the shortest in Europe with France schools finishes between 4pm and 6pm whereas in Italy schools also open on Saturdays. Having more school hours help the students too as the curriculum will be spread over longer period of time and not as presently crammed which is put so much pressure on the students.

Ray Buhagiar

Sep 29th 2010, 15:05

A culture of high competition at school that focuses on individual competitiveness is unhealthy, because this creates anxiety and frustration. My suggestion is that school hours should be extended by 1 hour, do the academic work Monday to Thursday and the extracurricular activities on Friday. The lack of sports activities on a weekly basis is creating an unhealthy generation which is going to adversely affect future health care services.

Our policy makers should look at other countries, like Sweden, for inspiration. Of course the adoption and diffusion of policies should be modified to the local context. But we definitely need a reform as the Maltese goes 'mill-qiegh'

ASpiteri

Sep 29th 2010, 12:33

so start advicing ur kids to behave badly at school and as a punishment they can get an after school on daily basis. then, mummy can work longer hours in order to buy u playstations, trendy clothes and daily mcdonadls kids meals!

Jackie Montalto

Sep 29th 2010, 11:46

One of the main problems is the ridiculously long summer holidays. In a few years grandparents will be working too and not around to take care of their grandchildren, both in summer and during the rest of the year.

We know that Malta has the shortest amount of school hours per year in Europe, and more school hours could equal less pressure of homework and the reduction of stress for schoolchildren. When both parents and children come home in the evenings this could be spent as quality time together rather than the present situation of circa 1.5 hours of homework plus extra curricular activities and private lessons. The quality of education also needs to be improved.

This issue needs to be tackled seriously if the government wants to encourage women into the workforce.

MT Caruana

Sep 29th 2010, 11:36

Hmmmmm and I wonder, what do the teachers think of this!!!

Ramon Casha

Sep 29th 2010, 11:11

So now they'll go directly from school lessons to catechism lessons and then straight on to ballet lessons. Each of which has regular examinations of course.

I'm reminded of the imagery accompanying Pink Floyd's "The Wall"

Vince Calleja

Sep 29th 2010, 10:21

What is the Minister proposing here! To have school end at 2.30 pm and children go straight to other activities until 6.00pm? At what time should we then start enjoying our children? What about who run these other activities and their working hours? And the current housewives will have more thime for their own for coffee mornings, hair styles, nails etc. Those who don't want to work, will never be convinced to do so! Try have a look and a chat with all the women behind the school gates at 12.00noon (2 hours before school closing time!!!)