Vicente: Involve kids in sports during free time

Thursday, February 2, 2012

JUST recently it was announced that incoming grade one students for the school year 2012-2013 would enjoy a shorter time of school hours from six hours to just only four hours with the aim to make education “less stressful” and “more enjoyable” for the young learners. I see the point of the adjustment with the belief that in order for these children to really learn they must enjoy first the process and long hours of study.

With this new development in the Department of Education, it has come to my attention that a previous proposal to shorten school hours of elementary and high school students was already made. This proposal was posted by several sectors, including youth organizations, with the objective of making the educational system more suitable for the students. But the proposal did not state concrete alternatives on what the student will do with their extra time other than the goal of “spending more time with their families.”

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Well the objective being sought may be noble but let us also try to study the present lifestyle of this generation. After school who does he want to be with; where would he preferably go or preferably be; and what is the first thing he will attend to?

Here are the possible and remarkably true answers to those questions; Friends: 1a. boyfriend or girlfriend; 1b. computer game buddies; Computer shop: 2a. regular tambayan; 2b. mall; 2c. room all alone; Cell phone: 3a. Facebook/ Twitter; 3b. Internet; 3c. go on a date.

With the growing concern of the youths uncalled for routines after school, the issue of shortening their time in school to give way for quality family time could have its adverse outcome. But then again with the foresight of the untoward possibilities, probable solutions could be sought to address them.

May I suggest for a study to be made to encourage parents and their children to engage in sports? It will be like shooting two birds with one stone, students and their parents doing worthy activities with the extra time given at the same time bonding as a family.

Many are thinking this suggestion would entail more expenses for the family paying tuition fees and stuff for the sports activities. But this could be resolved if the initiative of involving every Filipino family in sports comes from the barangays. If there are any expenses, it would be minimal and but a small price to pay to make sure your child continues learning even after school. Barangays are great venues to develop sports programs for the families.

This idea came up when I had a talk about the issue with one of my friends who observed in Japan there are shorter hours in school but activities are lined up to enable families to bond. Once again, as we try to improve our way of life, I say that in anything, sports can always be a means to attain a goal.

If the DepEd will indeed implement shortening class hours, the first question to be answered is will the extra hours be put into good use?