Spare a thought for the youths

Dear Editor,

I have some piercing questions regarding the state of education and youths in Guyana. All of a sudden, I want to vent my spleen. This ‘jolting to respond’ came about, after reading a letter, in one of the dailies. In summary, the writer is expressing “… concern about the heavy school bags being carried by primary students… some in backpacks and some in trolley bags.”

The writer revisits his era, when there was a timetable of the subjects for each day, with this being the guide, for what books to take for that particular day. He then explains that even though “The Primary Schools today, do have timetables for their students… they (the students) are (still) required to transport daily, all of their text and exercise books. Now for my response – and it has not a redolence of anything personal. These questions have been on my mind for quite some time now. As far as I can remember, students of primary schools never had time tables, at least not up to the Common Entrance (Grade Six) level. Also, back then, Common Entrance was three simple subjects, and the actual curricula for each were quite limited. Now I challenge the ‘ancients’ to take a peek at what is obtaining. The things these young children do, I did like in Form Three and onwards – No joke. I am sometimes shocked. I want to know the reason, for this vast input. But I take my hat off to them. They are more than coping.

Shift forward now to the ‘end of high school’ exams (then GCE and now CXC). These children sit like 15 subjects. Back then, it was like six and seven. This is bothersome to an extent, especially when there is Integrated Science, but no separate Physics, Chemistry and Biology. I think the University of Guyana must make an adjustment here. The pure and singular study of the sciences must not be compromised. And who am I to say?

So the ‘big bag’ is necessary. Also, if they carry all their books, then the teachers will be able to get them to utilise their free time better. What irks me a lot is the lack of up-to-date knowledge that educators manifest. In fact, in the United States, back trouble is being tied to backpacks and haversacks. This is really true. Canada is now trying to link youth problems with ‘too much academic work.’ The thesis here is that the youths are rebellious because they have been totally robbed of their adolescence, via too much ‘school work.’ This thought is worth considering. I am still searching for that ‘supposed disambiguation’ of discipline and abuse. There must be a line. And contrary to many voices, no one can really prove that ‘corporal punishment’ leads to aberration in behavioural patterns. It is all personal fabrications people are putting forward.

What I do know is that a crisis is facing Guyana – we are getting the best and the worst. This is really bad for education. There must be a good solid middle ground.

Yours faithfully,

Ryhen King