Why We Need To Stimulate Our Children

OVER a long period of time I have seen many letters and many SMS’s concerning education, especially those dealing with Grade 10 and Grade 12 and the lack of opportunity to repeat. I do not recall seeing any correspondence which suggests a remedy for this deplorable situation.

Surely a much higher pass rate and far fewer failures should be the aim of education.I would like to make the following suggestions:-1. The teachers for Grade 1 and Grade 2 should be very well trained, well qualified and well able to teach at this important basic level.They are the ones who establish the foundation and give the children a sound basis on which to build the rest of their education. Without this solid foundation the children will struggle to the end of their schooling and many failures will result.2. I question whether the children in our schools are taught study skills. Here are a few things which they should know:-a) the FULL use of dictionaries (meaning of words, spelling, pronunciation and stress, part of speech, related words)b) how to use encyclopedias, to skim or scan and find the information they needc) How to use the contents pages and index pages of any reference bookd) how to study graphs and diagrams of all kinds and extract information from theme) How to use maps (street, town/city, country, continent, world) and understand the references to such things as longitude and latitudef) how to use a library, especially the reference sectiong) how to write their own notes on any topic they study3. Children need to be taught how to think for themselves, to ask questions and find answers, to use logic and reasoning to work out answers.Of course, learning these skills is not sufficient on its own. The students must be stimulated and motivated into using them, and that stimulation and motivation must come from their teachers, parents and the environment. Is there enthusiasm for learning among our students? Or is it more a dull, heavy plod towards Grade 10 and Grade 12?E J MiltonVia e-mail