Still no-one’s responsibility?

Ms. P.M Graham

Jul 29th 2012, 11:52

Allegedly, this young Russian student was still out at 4am and allegedly it was her body that was found after x amount of days.

Is there anyone actually to blame, because it is so human nature to pin the blame on someone, isn't it.

As a Host Parent I had to supply a conduct report and my house was visited by a school representative and scale drawings had to be presented to the Licensing Authority when I paid my License fee. (one weeks student accommodation), so in that respect the school I was with did their job well, what more could they have done?

As a Host Parent I actually LOVED the job and i think this letter I sent to my school actually sums it all up.

************
i wrote this over the last few weeks because I have heard so many not so happy stories from so many of my students regarding their host families. I don't know if it will help in any way :)

Here comes summer!!

Here comes lots of students all eager to explore our Island and if they can fit it in, for many, they will also be here to learn English.

I love being a Host mother to my many students with all that it entails. I like to think that their stay with me is a happy one and they go away with many fond memories of Malta.

Being a host Mother/Family isn’t always easy. There’s the cooking, the cleaning the laundry and of course their emotional well being to consider.


There’s the late arrivals and the early departures and the curfews to be considered. Curfews can be tricky for the more ‘playful’ students, but it’s important to be strict and fair. A few minutes late should never mean a locked door and a late bus or a sudden rain shower should never mean no evening meal.

I have house rules (Every Family should have them posted clearly) and those rules build respect between myself and my students. Respect is very important and respect for my home as their home for the time they are here essential.

I find it helpful to have a snack area that is replenished daily, because students are always hungry especially late at night. Drinks, chips, cookies, fruit and a fridge where they can make a late night sandwich. QUIETLY

One of my rules is that if it isn’t in the laundry basket it doesn’t get washed. They all have one so there is no excuse, but, if I see a lonely sock under the bed, I won’t ignore it. The fact they try is enough for me.

The wonderful part of hosting students is meal times when we can learn so much about our students and truly integrate them into our families. I hear of so many students who don’t eat with their Host family but separately and alone. That truly saddens me. Some nights I have 10 around our dining table which is hard work but the feedback I get from my students makes it all worthwhile.

There is much criticism of students in Malta which in turn gives the schools they are attending a bad name. It is up to the host Family to ensure that their students behave outdoors as well as indoors and if they don’t, don’t be afraid to pull them up on it. Respect for the neighborhood must be instilled from the start.

Hosting students can be so rewarding as long as you understand the definition of ‘family’ and welcome these people with open arms into your home.

********
I meant every word and the only reason I had to stop hosting was purely and simply the cost. I wasn't making anything. I did hear horror stories and I always encouraged my students to bring any of their friends home for a decent meal if they were not getting one at their Host Home and that happened way too often.

Back to Polina. The earliest this girl could have been reported missing was the following morning when she didn't arrive for breakfast. Why? Only once did I ever catch a student sneaking out after he had returned home on Curfew and his tail was grounded for the next 3 nights. 17 or not he was going to abide by my rules and the nice thing is we are still in touch :) as I am with the bulk of my students. I'm not saying Polina did this, but when Host Families eventually get to bed they know (or should) that their students are in bed, safely.

My school without exception would call me at the start of school if any of my students didn't turn up for class, so lets not generalize when speaking of Language schools.

Franco Farrugia

Jul 28th 2012, 09:37

Quoting The Sunday Times, 08 July (Ref.: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120708/local/London-Olympics-causing-host-family-shortage-in-Malta.427574):

Mr Cassar Torreggiani said the (Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations of Malta) was working on recommendations for the Malta Tourism Authority to review the current regulations governing host families so as to make them accountable for confirmed bookings they would have already accepted, in a similar manner to when hotels overbook....Schools offering higher prices to poach contracted host families are doing so without any regard for the impact on students, on the other schools and Malta as a destination and without considering the logistical problems of finding alternative accommodation, Mr Cassar Torreggiani said. The secretary is calling on the regulator to introduce some form of deterrent so host families would adopt a more professional approach where one language school is not dumped for another, avoiding logistical problems being created at the height of Malta’s peak season. ....Mr Cassar Torreggiani said the host family supply was already down compared with previous years and this was compounded by the situation in the UK. ...He said the federation was urging the government to run a campaign to encourage more families to use their spare bedrooms to host students. The result would be an increase in bed stock without any prohibitive capital expenditure. ...Hosting students began in the late 1970s when the language industry began to thrive. Although it is believed only 40 per cent of the 85,000 language students who come to Malta every year are teenagers, many, including adults, still opt to stay with a host family where they can practice the language in a family environment. “It’s still very profitable to host students. It’s like having an extra contributing member of the family for a short period,” Mr Cassar Torreggiani said. Host families receive an average of €100 a week for every student they host, having to provide them with breakfast, a packed lunch and dinner with the family in the evening. A host family cannot host more than four students at any one time.'

Sincere apologies to the readers for the rather long quote but I wanted to prove the following point: the Federation in question, is ONLY INTERESTED in making money. The message that the Secretary of said Federation is imparting is: Dear host families, let's make money! Nowhere in the article from which I am quoting, is there ANY REFERENCE to the responsibilities that host-families should, no, must, bare!

Indeed, the Schools in question MUST be forced to see the light; they must be forced into accepting moral responsibilit for the students they 'import'.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is that.

Jonathan Camilleri

Jul 27th 2012, 21:54

Shoving more regulations down teenagers' throats will not necessarily oblige them to abide by them, since most of them are actually here on holiday.

I think that the protection should be provided in the form of increased physical security from the Police. There are some things which are beyond one's control as well, and, although unfortunate, one cannot really prevent crime, suicide, or, bad behaviour from happening.

Nanette Brimmer

Jul 27th 2012, 20:57

I have only one comment..... as a parent not as the EFL Teacher that I am.... and I direct this comment to all parents.
If you had decided to send your teenage daughter overseas to "further her education", and assuming that this was her first unsupervised trip.... you opt to get her accommodation with a host family - this seems a lot safer than hotel accommodation on her own.... would you not want to make sure that the host family is a responsible one? You are, after all, entrusting them with the life and well-being of your daughter. These are complete strangers. Would you not want some kind of reassurance - any kind - from some authority who, you presume, has vetted this family and deemed it fit to be responsible for your daughter's welfare while she is in their care?
I certainly would.
I would expect them to be even more "strict" than I would be.
And if you were aware that this family would allow your daughter to be out on the streets, in a foreign land, clubbing and probably consuming alcohol.... would you still entrust your daughter to them?
Don't tell me that there aren't ways of vetting families. I had a 14-year old Belgian student in my class - a stunner - blonde and blue-eyed, and she could easily have passed for a 17-year-old. When I got to know that she was out till 4.00 am, I reported it to the school DoS and the family was reprimanded and struck off the list of host families.
Hosting students has become a lucrative business and some (not all) host families only care about the cash and not so much about the responsibility. It's an extremely responsible position - one I certainly would not undertake for any amount of cash....

John Neville Ebejer

Jul 27th 2012, 19:26

Would do us a good service if a good reportage on the student's scene in Malta. Some feedback by those directly involved. Get us different views of tutors, supervisors, host families, parents and those involved in security in Paceville area for example.

Statistics of teen deaths and alcohol consumption here and in other European cities. This could be of benefice to all. I would let the identification of responsabilities to the Authorities.

Would leave out also such statements as 'we maltese..' 'all our supposed prudishness..' 'Maltese teens..' there is a miryan of different mentalities and maltese out there - unless one basis his assumptions of all others on oneself, that is.

Franco Farrugia

Jul 27th 2012, 13:46

You are not including the fact that this may be a situation where nobody is responsible. It seems, nowadays, that we speak of young people's rights without speaking about responsibilities! And THAT is the main problem, THAT is the main harm that we are inflicting on these young people!

Why is it that necessarily someone is responsible for this young person's death? I still don't know the circumstances around this tragedy. DO YOU? I DOUBT IT. So, why do you come ranting on about someone being responsible for this death?

Please, don't come telling me that this person was not able to think for herself and to make her own decisions.

Please, don't get me wrong. I DO NOT the circumstances of this tragedy - but neither do you or anyone else. In fact, up to this moment of my writing this comment (Friday, 13h43), her identity is still, so far, unknown. So, we are just commenting on what could have been, and not what did, in fact, happen.

When you go swimming at St George's Bay at 7am, you see the bay still full of young people - some of whom are asleep in couples, on the sand. Most of them are not adults but teens. This thing is prevalent everywhere and the schools in charge simply must take stock of the situation.

By way of conclusion, I find it most unfair that intelligent comments are submitted, with the only intention of bringing about improvement in the country and among society in general, and yet, what happens is that they are either left unpublished, or published rather late so the effect is gone. Or else, they are simply ignored. Pity.

Victor Rodenas

Jul 27th 2012, 12:39

Usually they do something when somebody gets killed,perhaps now a boundary wall will be built.In Gzira about 50 mts . away from the bridge ,towards Sliema, cars do U- turns when they cannot do so.Now when somebody gets killed they will do some barriers.It will be too late.

tony abela

Jul 27th 2012, 11:58

In the case of Polina and from what I saw on the media, somebody must be responsible for leaving such a hazard for the general public, whether it is children, youths or adults with a walkway such as a pavement without proper protection on its side which expose anyone to a shear drop of at least 12 metres or more.

Polina's accident anywhere else in the western world would have resulted in a court case for damages and compensation.

It's a disgrace to the central and local authorities whoever is responsible from that pavement and its area.

J Farrugia

Jul 27th 2012, 11:16

Romina, i agree with a lot that you have written but at the end of the day, you are responsible for your actions, i grew up in the UK and at 14 i was doing things most adults wouldn't even dream of ,shooting SLR rifles and doing 24 mile yomps across the moors with a 24 kilo back pack and many many other things which build you as a person, another thing i thank is my parents for is the way they brought me up with the motto look after yourself as there maybe a time that you can only rely on yourself. You cannot go round trying to point the blame at people(even though some do deserve a damn good wake up call) last thing we need is a nanny state.

Peter Murray

Jul 27th 2012, 11:15

Since when as the elusive "assuming of responsibility"ever been available here Ramona?As the buck is on a relentless not-so merry go round in MALTA and stops nowhere.