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A 7-year-old who wanted to die'

Experts say majority of the teachers in the state are only trained in teaching syllabus.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Last month a seven-year-old second standard student of a city suburb school rushed out of his house in the morning refusing to go to school. “You will send me to school only if I am alive. If I am dead you cannot force me,” his words stunned the parents. Boy’s reaction was the culmination of a series of instances of harassment at his school. The worried parents took the child to Dr Jayprakash R, additional professor of Paediatrics and Child Psychiatrist. According to the doctor, it all started one and a half months ago. The child with respiratory problems, reached school late. Teachers insisted that he write class note. When his father who incidentally was heading PTA sought another student's note book to copy the notes which the teachers refused.

It snowballed into a controversy with differences surfacing even in the PTA-mothers meeting. When Principal’s wife spoke others objected. This was conveyed to the manager. Thereafter the problems of the child multiplied. Teachers tried to isolate the boy. On August 15, all children were given sweets and ribbon but he was left out. When he raised the issue, the child was suspended. After the intervention of the Childline, the parents were asked to write an apology letter. It was decided to send the child to school on the condition that teachers would not say anything to him but inform parents in case of any problem.

But when the child went to school, teachers started harassing him indirectly. They told other students not to talk to him and that his father would abuse them. The child was even told that his father would be arrested and sent to jail.
So terrified was the child that he refused to go to school. “I have told the parents to change the school. I advised them to persuade the child to attend the school and give the feedback tomorrow. “ The parents even took him for a tour to change his mind. He requires continuous counselling. “I am trying to bring him back to normal life, help him overcome the trauma,” Dr Jayprakash added. The matter has already been brought to the notice of Child Rights Commission, DPI and police.

Experts say majority of the teachers in the state are only trained in teaching syllabus. They don’t have much understanding about child psychology or adolescent psychology. There is something called adolescence impulsivity – the teacher ought to understand this and act accordingly. "In B.Ed curriculum child psychology is included just for name sake. It is 30 years behind the time and requires immediate updation," said a teacher.The teachers should be made aware about the functioning of brain. The prefrontal lobe maturation gets completed in late adolescence or early twenties. It is to control the impulsive behaviour, decision making, problem and situation analysis. “It is known as chief executive officer for decision making and problem solving. While the child needs to be trained in life skills, the teachers have to be made aware of child and adolescent psychology. The adolescents are in the state of emotional innocence and the teachers need to understand this," said Dr Jayaprakash.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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