No unnecessary stress, please.

Yesterday evening, I had this talk with a young teacher who was very passionate about her teaching. It is because of her passion that she felt very sad about the Malaysian schools of the day.

"The headmaster demands that teachers must produce 'A' students. Most parents agree with that. Teachers go into class pressuring the students to produce nothing less than an 'A'. Do you see that? Headmasters put pressure on the teachers, the stressed teachers put pressure on the pupils and pupils end up with all that stress at such a young age. Frankly, I would certainly not want to be a child in such circumstances. No wonder, I read somewhere young school children are committing suicide.

Hell! When everyone thinks results are more important that you and your health, is there anything left to live for? None, my dear friend! nothing!

These so called educationists who are willing to stress our children just to create a name for their school are no better than slave-drivers. And what is the purpose? For that, we have to take a look at education and its main purpose.

What is education? It ought to be a system in which a child is taught to learn. Yes, taught to learn. To be able to learn, to gather information for himself/herself and his/her career, that child should to be systematically introduced to listening, reading and writing. With the basics mastered to the best of the child's ability, education ought to show the child how to use the basics learned to enjoy, understand and be able to manage the tasks of gathering information or knowledge, recording and conveying such information as well as use the acquired knowledge for everyday living and to have a career.

The potential for such development is an individual thing, some being able to achieve more than others, some less. however, with the basics mastered, life can be lived to the full and opportunities for work will be there.

Some children may not achieve high academic levels as they may not be academically inclined. But not everybody needs to be academically inclined. There have been successful people in this world who are not academically inclined. Thus, it does not, in any way, mean that the child who does not do so well academically is in any way inferior to those who can do better.

Why do I say that? As everyone knows, everyone is an individual. As individuals, each has his/her own potentials and abilities. He/She may not be good at memory work but excellent at imagination and foresight, thus capable of planning well.

And that is the reason why I have always said that being only mediocre academically does not a failure make. Success can be found in many fields. And, as I have said, there are sufficient examples of academically not proficient people becoming successful in business. A very simple example is the man who built up the Honda business in Malaysia. There are many more, and those whom I have known personally, I have written about them in this blog.

So, everyone has his/her place on this planet. All can find his/her niche. With that we can have happier and better people in this world. Happier people can never come from pressured, stressed or depressed children.

Stress can lead to many problems affecting health. Stress can take a person to an early death. So, let us find ways to overcome stress, not add on to it. Let us, as parents, release some of the stress building up in our children. Schools are giving our children sufficient pressure, as it is.

Someone could be thinking: That's easy for you to say that. Well, I do not just say it. I never made my children go for tuition. I just ensured that they had the basics through reading and enjoying story-books. I merely encouraged them with lots of praise. I did that with my nephew too. I talked to them often on all the topics I found essential for their growth. Through story-books, they learned language. Ability to understand the teachers was the first step. Then, I ensured that they had enough sleep so as not to have a tired brain unable to stay attentive to what was taught. Nutritious food was, of course, just as important.

Those were the happy, enjoyable process of learning my children went through; definitely without unnecessary stress. Of course, there is a little stress from tests, examinations, homework and the competitive spirit. However, that is healthy stress which is essential for growth.