reflective Journal
23/01/13 – Session 1 - Health and Wellbeing
The first session was enlightening for me as I never thought of health as anything beyond physical and mental well-
being. If anyone asked me if I was healthy I would think of only my mind and body and answer depending on how I was feeling. So it was good to know that there are other dimensions where health is concerned. This is a topic of interest to me. In my school, the teachers are encouraged to conduct HFLE classes during his/her supervision periods. The teachers are against this as they state that they were hired to teach a particular subject and feel that a trained HFLE teacher should be appointed to the school to teach this subject. I do not mind conducting HFLE sessions as I believe that it is extremely important and the students will show interest. HFLE is necessary because even though youth are aware of the consequences of the risky behaviour in which most of them are engaging, there are those who are unaware of the harm to which they are exposing themselves, therefore, they have to be properly educated so that their generation survives. Anything concerning their bodies, sex, friends, the opposite sex, food etc. is interesting to them so interest is there, it is just up to us educators to effectively teach them.
The first session was enlightening for me as I never thought of health as anything beyond physical and mental well-
being. If anyone asked me if I was healthy I would think of only my mind and body and answer depending on how I was feeling. So it was good to know that there are other dimensions where health is concerned. This is a topic of interest to me. In my school, the teachers are encouraged to conduct HFLE classes during his/her supervision periods. The teachers are against this as they state that they were hired to teach a particular subject and feel that a trained HFLE teacher should be appointed to the school to teach this subject. I do not mind conducting HFLE sessions as I believe that it is extremely important and the students will show interest. HFLE is necessary because even though youth are aware of the consequences of the risky behaviour in which most of them are engaging, there are those who are unaware of the harm to which they are exposing themselves, therefore, they have to be properly educated so that their generation survives. Anything concerning their bodies, sex, friends, the opposite sex, food etc. is interesting to them so interest is there, it is just up to us educators to effectively teach them.
30/01/13 - Session 2 - Understanding Me
The second class started off good then my internet connection began to give trouble. This is the issue I have with online classes – unreliable internet connection! I hope that I receive the recording as I missed most of the lecture. I only saw about two minutes of the video and the little that I saw reminded me about myself – especially when I was a teenager. As a teenager, I attended vacation camp (organised by the church) during the August holidays and looked forward to it yearly. Youth from all the Caribbean islands would attend this camp in Tobago and we bonded immediately. I enjoyed all classes and activities.............basketball, badminton, football, obstacle course, music, dance, art and craft............but the one I disliked was public speaking. I realised that most of the youth disliked it as we were uncomfortable standing in front of people delivering speeches. While giving my speeches I often talked quickly (due to fright) and sometimes even forgot what I planned to say. For me, watching everyone’s eyes on me made me nervous. I thought that they were examining me from head to toe. I only started to like it when the teacher added role play to the class. I thought this was very effective in making us comfortable and I use this technique in my classroom.
With practice the fear went, but I still do not favour being put in the spotlight! In the classroom it is different though. It just feels natural to go in front of children and talk to them or teach them, but once it is to give a report or a speech in front of a different audience, I have to remind myself that I have a job to do and not to think of what others will say or might be saying because the important thing is to deliver the message. Most of the times what we think people are thinking about us, is not even what they are thinking, so the key issue is to have confidence in oneself. As a teacher, I always tell my students to believe in themselves and not worry about what others think of us as we are all unique in our special way. In this way, they will have high self esteem, and this is what I strive to do – always uplift and encourage them to do their best, whatever is THEIR best. I once heard a teacher tell a student – ‘The elevator to success is out of order so you’ll have to use the stairs.....one step at a time’.
The second class started off good then my internet connection began to give trouble. This is the issue I have with online classes – unreliable internet connection! I hope that I receive the recording as I missed most of the lecture. I only saw about two minutes of the video and the little that I saw reminded me about myself – especially when I was a teenager. As a teenager, I attended vacation camp (organised by the church) during the August holidays and looked forward to it yearly. Youth from all the Caribbean islands would attend this camp in Tobago and we bonded immediately. I enjoyed all classes and activities.............basketball, badminton, football, obstacle course, music, dance, art and craft............but the one I disliked was public speaking. I realised that most of the youth disliked it as we were uncomfortable standing in front of people delivering speeches. While giving my speeches I often talked quickly (due to fright) and sometimes even forgot what I planned to say. For me, watching everyone’s eyes on me made me nervous. I thought that they were examining me from head to toe. I only started to like it when the teacher added role play to the class. I thought this was very effective in making us comfortable and I use this technique in my classroom.
With practice the fear went, but I still do not favour being put in the spotlight! In the classroom it is different though. It just feels natural to go in front of children and talk to them or teach them, but once it is to give a report or a speech in front of a different audience, I have to remind myself that I have a job to do and not to think of what others will say or might be saying because the important thing is to deliver the message. Most of the times what we think people are thinking about us, is not even what they are thinking, so the key issue is to have confidence in oneself. As a teacher, I always tell my students to believe in themselves and not worry about what others think of us as we are all unique in our special way. In this way, they will have high self esteem, and this is what I strive to do – always uplift and encourage them to do their best, whatever is THEIR best. I once heard a teacher tell a student – ‘The elevator to success is out of order so you’ll have to use the stairs.....one step at a time’.
06/02/13 – Session 3 - Supporting Behavioural Change
Many elements contribute to the actions and reactions of our students’ behaviour. Something which teachers take for granted is praising our students especially when it is deserved. By letting them know when they have done well, is enough to motivate them. Yesterday, one of my students in my Form class found a one-hundred dollar bill and came to me with two other classmates to give it to me because when they enquired, no one in the class claimed the money. After I investigated and found the owner, I told the three young men who came to me with the money how proud I was of them for being honest and not taking the money. They told me that they felt good because I told them that I was proud of them. Just praising them uplifted their spirits and I saw an immediate change in their behaviour for the rest of the day. They offered to assist me with taking the role and volunteered to collect the school feeding lunches for their classmates.
Encouraging them when they struggle in the classroom motivates them, as well as raises their self esteem. Bandura’s social cognitive theory suggests that in order to increase levels of self efficacy and confidence, we have to provide resources and show support. In my view, providing resources in the classroom can include computers, projectors and sufficient reading material. Students respond based on the teacher’s level of enthusiasm, teaching methods and management skills. I do not ‘buff’ nor insult when the students cannot answer a question, or answer incorrectly. This causes embarrassment, resulting in less effort from them.
I will admit that I talk to my students about changing their behaviour everyday (or almost every day). I understand that change does not happen immediately, but three years is a long time. They always say ‘doh worry miss, we will stop giving teachers trouble, we will change’, but the behaviour has improved for a handful of them and not the others. As I read the theories of behaviour change, I will be able to better understand and cope with their issues.
13/02/13 – Session 4 - Planning for Life Skills
This week has loads of literature to read on life skills. All of it is important for teachers and I find useful. It is important for us adults to assist the youth in developing life skills. In my view the area that educators pay particular attention to is the cognitive skills and do not emphasise the importance of other life skill areas. Our students need to develop
the social or interpersonal skills as they must be able to communicate with others in any arena. Observing and listening to the way students in my school communicate with each other is a strong indication that communication skills are lacking. A teacher sent a form five boy with some table cloths along with a message for me. This 16 or 17 year old walked ten steps and could not relay the message. ‘Miss sent these and said to tell you that.........um.........birthday.........and ..........miss I can’t remember’. A major issue is their attention span. This is why I always find creative ways to teach my lesson. When I have them in teams is when I have their attention for the entire 40 minutes, otherwise, after 15 minutes, their minds stray and focus diminishes. In my readings, skills can be developed through interactive teaching methods such as role plays, discussions and group activities. In my classes, I have used group activities and games where they are placed in teams. The competition drives them to challenge themselves and I observe an improvement in their class work. Every term I look for different and effective ways to teach, developing their cognitive and communication skills. The area I have paid little attention to is emotional coping skills – managing stress and their feelings and critical. Further readings will assist me to improve in this area. Some students relieve stress by participating in sports, music or drama. But not all students know how to cope with stress and this is where other activities can be developed for them. Students are humans too and stress can come from a variety of sources, it is learning how to cope that shows proper development. It was saddening to read that 15% of adolescents aged 15 to 19 years acquire sexually transmitted diseases and have very little knowledge about transmission, prevention and treatment. These are the youth I teach every day. This is why I wrote in my journal entry in week 1 or 2 that I believe that HFLE is a necessary subject to be taught in schools. These youth are at the time in their lives where their image and being accepted by their peers are very important to them. At this period in their lives they are less attached to their parents and are more attached to their peers. This is clear when during our parent day sessions, the parents are clueless as to what subjects their children are doing in school. ‘I didn’t know my child was learning to play the guitar’ is what a parent would tell me. Hmmm. Parents have to take a more active role in their children’s lives. I have also started to pay more attention to my students and offering my listening ear. This I have started since doing the youth development course. I learn so much about them every day. Adolescents do not think about the consequences of risky behaviour. We have to teach them to have strong personalities and not to partake in activities because they are pressured to do so. They must develop in themselves the strength to say no if they do not feel comfortable in a situation. Students in my Form class know that they must not be afraid of anyone as I have told them this on many occasions. They know to always respectfully say what is on their minds and not to let anyone negatively influence them. In order for the youth to be the effective leaders we want them to be, we must provide opportunities for them to develop life skills and give them support. Stress the importance of education. Once there is life, there can be development, so development is not only for the youth. As an educated adult, I am also working on my life skills.
20/02/13 – Session 5 - Sexuality and Sexual Health
Today I learnt that the ideal Caribbean person may not even exist. I do not think there is anyone who has all the qualities of the ideal Caribbean person, although many believe that they are perfect in their own way. If I had to name one Caribbean person who I thought is closest to being ideal is Wendy Fitzwilliam. I have never met her personally but based on her contributions to the society and the Caribbean, I would say that she is extremely close. I think I will have this discussion with my class to hear who they think is the ideal Caribbean person. It will be interesting to hear their opinions. On the topic of sexuality and sexual health, there is so much to teach and learn. Our youth need to learn to respect their bodies and other people’s bodies as well. Parents still believe that the topic of sex should not be spoken about at the primary school age, but what they are unaware of is that their children are experimenting from primary school age and getting information from their peers (both true and false), and the media. Although there is proof that teenage pregnancy is on the rise, the topic is still not given adequate attention. Adults have to change their attitude toward sexuality and sexual health. Imagine that in an all girls school a short distance away from my school, a small group of trained persons from an organisation asked the Principal permission to have a discussion on sex with the students and the Principal refused. She stated that she did not want the topic of sex discussed with her girls in school. She obviously thinks that because it is a Catholic school, the girls are not sexually active. The girls do interact with boys as they attend after school classes together. This school Principal needs to face reality. Times are changing. Over the years, there are those who left due to pregnancy and some secretly go to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases. Adults should always be there to support them.
Since HFLE is not integrated as yet in my school, I have never discussed this topic with a class, but students who come to me individually, I listen and offer assistance where necessary. A fourteen year old girl asked me about symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases, as she was sexually active and had many questions. I never ignore my students and I encourage them to have discussions with their parents. I have learnt much on self image, social relationships, emotions etc. from the sexuality flower model, which all contribute to positive relationships with ourselves and others.
27/02/13 – Session 6 - Self and Interpersonal Skills
Dealing with self takes time and effort as we are such diverse beings. Adults have to work on personal issues before they can effectively assist the youth in dealing with theirs. A teacher who outwardly expresses that she does not like black children cannot help any child. This is my view, and a teacher did make this comment at my school. I have come to the conclusion after hearing other stupid comments from her and observing her actions that she has serious issues and does not belong in the classroom teaching children. I tell my students to accept themselves as they are because everyone is unique. Peer pressure, both positive and negative, accounts for children’s behaviours. Focus is mostly on what others think rather than what the individual/self thinks. We have to help our students understand the importance of accepting themselves the way they are so that they would maintain high self esteem. The need to behave and look like someone else is a phase that all students go through during their adolescent years which may affect their relationships with their friends and family. This is why they need to develop a healthy self-concept in order to cultivate healthy relationships with their friends, family members and teachers.
Many of my students say that the reasons why they behave the way they do is due to stress. They say their parents stress them out. As a teenager, I could not even think of telling anyone that my parents stressed me out. Times have changed. A girl in my form class went to the guidance officer because she was stressed out from problems at home with her parents. She revealed this to me when her parents were called to the school. I was impressed that she realised that she needed help and took initiative by seeking the help from an adult. I see the students under pressure close to exam time, and I have tried to help them find ways of coping, or avoiding this pressure. I suggested a weekly study timetable, The students decided to form groups and worked on this weekly study timetable. This is to avoid the ‘cramming’ close to exam time as they know that parents and teachers expect them to perform well. This only benefitted some of the students as the weaker students could not cope with it weekly. I have to identify other ways of helping them cope. I wish that I had scheduled time in school to have HFLE classes with my form class. This would benefit them a great deal.
Self and interpersonal relationship skills are vital skills that we need to develop because we do not live alone in a box, we socialise and live among others who we form relationships with. We socialise daily and form either short or long lasting relationships. What I thought was interesting was the point that stated that ethnic and cultural differences can add variety and richness to relationships. I totally agree, because life would be so boring if we were all the same.
06/03/13 – Session 7 - Eating and Fitness
Food and Nutrition was one of my favourite subjects in Secondary school. The classes were interesting. Although I do not eat much, I enjoy food. I try my best to eat a healthy balanced diet, but due to changes in my lifestyle, sometimes it is difficult to maintain. Working during the day and then school at night, I am always tired when I get home so I eat whatever I put my hands on. The only decision I have maintained is the decision to not drink soft drinks. This I decided about 10 years ago. I have not had a soft drink for the past ten years or more, as I made up my mind that soft drinks was in no way beneficial to my body. Only filling it with endless sugar, and decaying my teeth. I have serious issues with my teeth because as a child, I ate sweets whole day (my parents were unaware). It was only when my mouth was in pain and filled with cavities, that my parents realised how much junk I was eating at school. I spent all my money on snacks and my dental experiences to this day are not pleasant, so I decided that when I have children, I will ensure that they are eating healthy foods and pay special attention to their eating habits. As parents it may be difficult to control what children eat at school, so they have to do their best and educate at home on healthy eating habits. Exercise was not an issue for me because I grew up climbing trees, riding, roller skating etc. I spent all my time being very active outdoors. As an adult I love sports and I prefer to walk than drive.
The children at school eat junk all day. Fried foods for breakfast, snack and lunch. Their parents give them money to purchase food as they do not have time to prepare food daily at home. I do not allow soft drinks in the classroom, only water. Although I dissuade them from drinking soft drink, I know that they still purchase it. The Ministry of Education school feeding programme has made an effort to supply healthy meals as occasionally the students receive fruits along with cereal for breakfast. Recently they started supplying muffins and other conveniently packaged cakes and shortbreads. Hot lunches are provided, but many times the food is wasted because the students claim to not like the meal on the particular day. School feeding foods such as pizza does not go to waste, as it is a favourite. The only students who appreciate whatever is provided are the ones who are financially unable to purchase food and deserve to be on the school feeding programme.
How can we get the students to adopt healthy lifestyles? In order to change the eating habits and lack of exercise in the students, teachers and parents have to practise what they preach. How can we say ‘eat healthy’ and ‘exercise’ when we full our faces with KFC and do not make an effort to exercise? Children observe our actions. When the parent is too tired to cook, the easiest thing to do is purchase fast food. Children growing up in these households tend to continue this pattern into adulthood unless there is a health crisis forcing them to change. I have learnt that the best action is to start adopting healthy lifestyles in children from pre-school age (or even before), so the advertisements advertising the juicy fried chicken would not tempt them to eat it daily. I am not saying that fried foods should be totally eliminated from the diet, but it should not be regular meal. Children must have the knowledge to make the right decisions concerning eating and fitness and that everything in moderation is best. In secondary school, all students are doing Food and Nutrition so at least the information is being taught to them, it is up to them to make the correct choices.
13/03/13 – Session 8 - Managing the Environment
One cannot stress the importance of keeping our environment clean and safe. If we want to live in a healthy environment, and our future generation as well, each person is responsible for doing his/her part. I think that teaching our children from young to not litter is very important because children who litter become adults who litter. It can be difficult to train an adult to do the correct thing when he/she grew up with wrong habits. One of the major reasons for the major flooding in our country is due to excessive littering. It is sad that people can live comfortably among so much rubbish all around them. I visited Singapore a few years ago and littering is against the law. The citizens obey the law there because I did not see any litter at all on the streets and the country was extremely clean. Alcohol consumption, urinating and spitting in public and are also against the law. Chewing gum is not allowed. While in the plane before landing in the country, the flight attendants told the passengers to dispose of all chewing gum before getting off the plane. If only we could have laws like this in Trinidad!
In our schools, students sit in the classroom, eat breakfast and lunch and leave the empty food boxes and juice boxes on the tables and on the floor. The good thing about my school is that most teachers refuse to teach in dirty classrooms so the students have to clean the classrooms before the subject teachers arrive to teach. Students should not have to be told to throw away their rubbish, especially teenagers. In some classrooms, the rubbish remains on the floor until the cleaners clean early the next morning. Some of the students even put their books and stationery on the floor, walking on them and stepping over the books without concern. A student from my previous form class threw some of her soft drink on the floor and when the teacher in the class at the time told her to get the mop and clean up her mess, she replied that she does not clean at home, only the maid cleans. She was very disrespectful when saying it and she could not understand why the teacher was making her clean the mess when the school has cleaners. This is how her parents trained her – to be a spoiled brat. Cleaning up after oneself is plain cleanliness.
My school entered a recycling competition a few years ago. The school that collected the most plastic bottles to be recycled would be the winner. The students were excited about the competition and were determined to win. We collected the most plastic bottles to be recycled, so we won. I was not surprised because the students in my school drink so much juice and soft drinks, we were collecting hundreds of bottles a day. Of course parents and teachers participated by bringing plastic bottles from home as well. School furniture was made out of the recycled plastic. I have visited my family in London and they recycle everything over there. They have labelled bins for plastic, glass bottles, paper and cans. If anything is in the wrong bin, the garbage truck leaves it so residents there make it their duty to recycle. This is good practice as the whole family is involved. Children are encouraged to practice proper recycling habits in the home and at school too. This is an area I think we need to get serious about here in Trinidad.
03/04/13 – Session 11 - School Health
Thinking about it now, I do not believe School Health is thought about much in my school. Not much effort is being made to improve the health of the students as the cafeteria is allowed to sell anything, such as fried pies, chicken and chips, soft drinks and snacks. The only thing they are not allowed to sell is chewing gum. These foods do not positively benefit the body in any way and the students love to purchase these foods, because according to them, these foods taste good. They do think about the effect these foods have on their teeth and bodies. Not only are the students guilty, but teachers as well. The Ministry of Education’s school feeding programme makes an effort by providing fruit on a regular basis. The breakfasts and lunches vary, but most of the times the meals are satisfactory.
I believe that promoting proper hand washing and oral health are paid more attention in primary school than secondary school. Maybe it is believed that by the time the student attends secondary school, they should by that time developed proper hygiene practices. I do not observe the students practicing proper hygiene as they do not use soap when they wash their hands. They also have this habit of using a rag to wipe their face, mouth and hands, and this same rag is placed on their desks and even the floor sometimes. The only time the school engages the teachers and students to make the school a healthy place is when there is a virus in the air. When there is a virus or ‘red eye’
spreading, posters are stuck all over the school about the importance of washing hands, with the proper way of doing it. They are also told to use hand sanitizers as they are just as effective as soap and water. After the virus dies, everyone forgets and goes back to their unsanitary ways. Students do learn about healthy lifestyles in subjects such as physical education, food and nutrition and biology, but only some of the students really absorb the information and make the necessary adjustments to their lives to promote proper health.
Last month, for the first time, students were given free eye testing at the school. I am not sure if it was organised by the Ministry of Health or Education, but it was successful as all the students willingly got their eyes tested and they were given information on ways to ensure that they keep their eyes healthy. The school does have an important role to play in ensuring that students are healthy as students spend the majority of the day in school and this is the place where professional instruction is supposed to take place. When the child learns the correct thing in school, he/she can then inform the parent at home about appropriate meal choices, and healthy practices. This is why education is always more effective when the parents, teachers and the community work together for the betterment of the child.
Many elements contribute to the actions and reactions of our students’ behaviour. Something which teachers take for granted is praising our students especially when it is deserved. By letting them know when they have done well, is enough to motivate them. Yesterday, one of my students in my Form class found a one-hundred dollar bill and came to me with two other classmates to give it to me because when they enquired, no one in the class claimed the money. After I investigated and found the owner, I told the three young men who came to me with the money how proud I was of them for being honest and not taking the money. They told me that they felt good because I told them that I was proud of them. Just praising them uplifted their spirits and I saw an immediate change in their behaviour for the rest of the day. They offered to assist me with taking the role and volunteered to collect the school feeding lunches for their classmates.
Encouraging them when they struggle in the classroom motivates them, as well as raises their self esteem. Bandura’s social cognitive theory suggests that in order to increase levels of self efficacy and confidence, we have to provide resources and show support. In my view, providing resources in the classroom can include computers, projectors and sufficient reading material. Students respond based on the teacher’s level of enthusiasm, teaching methods and management skills. I do not ‘buff’ nor insult when the students cannot answer a question, or answer incorrectly. This causes embarrassment, resulting in less effort from them.
I will admit that I talk to my students about changing their behaviour everyday (or almost every day). I understand that change does not happen immediately, but three years is a long time. They always say ‘doh worry miss, we will stop giving teachers trouble, we will change’, but the behaviour has improved for a handful of them and not the others. As I read the theories of behaviour change, I will be able to better understand and cope with their issues.
13/02/13 – Session 4 - Planning for Life Skills
This week has loads of literature to read on life skills. All of it is important for teachers and I find useful. It is important for us adults to assist the youth in developing life skills. In my view the area that educators pay particular attention to is the cognitive skills and do not emphasise the importance of other life skill areas. Our students need to develop
the social or interpersonal skills as they must be able to communicate with others in any arena. Observing and listening to the way students in my school communicate with each other is a strong indication that communication skills are lacking. A teacher sent a form five boy with some table cloths along with a message for me. This 16 or 17 year old walked ten steps and could not relay the message. ‘Miss sent these and said to tell you that.........um.........birthday.........and ..........miss I can’t remember’. A major issue is their attention span. This is why I always find creative ways to teach my lesson. When I have them in teams is when I have their attention for the entire 40 minutes, otherwise, after 15 minutes, their minds stray and focus diminishes. In my readings, skills can be developed through interactive teaching methods such as role plays, discussions and group activities. In my classes, I have used group activities and games where they are placed in teams. The competition drives them to challenge themselves and I observe an improvement in their class work. Every term I look for different and effective ways to teach, developing their cognitive and communication skills. The area I have paid little attention to is emotional coping skills – managing stress and their feelings and critical. Further readings will assist me to improve in this area. Some students relieve stress by participating in sports, music or drama. But not all students know how to cope with stress and this is where other activities can be developed for them. Students are humans too and stress can come from a variety of sources, it is learning how to cope that shows proper development. It was saddening to read that 15% of adolescents aged 15 to 19 years acquire sexually transmitted diseases and have very little knowledge about transmission, prevention and treatment. These are the youth I teach every day. This is why I wrote in my journal entry in week 1 or 2 that I believe that HFLE is a necessary subject to be taught in schools. These youth are at the time in their lives where their image and being accepted by their peers are very important to them. At this period in their lives they are less attached to their parents and are more attached to their peers. This is clear when during our parent day sessions, the parents are clueless as to what subjects their children are doing in school. ‘I didn’t know my child was learning to play the guitar’ is what a parent would tell me. Hmmm. Parents have to take a more active role in their children’s lives. I have also started to pay more attention to my students and offering my listening ear. This I have started since doing the youth development course. I learn so much about them every day. Adolescents do not think about the consequences of risky behaviour. We have to teach them to have strong personalities and not to partake in activities because they are pressured to do so. They must develop in themselves the strength to say no if they do not feel comfortable in a situation. Students in my Form class know that they must not be afraid of anyone as I have told them this on many occasions. They know to always respectfully say what is on their minds and not to let anyone negatively influence them. In order for the youth to be the effective leaders we want them to be, we must provide opportunities for them to develop life skills and give them support. Stress the importance of education. Once there is life, there can be development, so development is not only for the youth. As an educated adult, I am also working on my life skills.
20/02/13 – Session 5 - Sexuality and Sexual Health
Today I learnt that the ideal Caribbean person may not even exist. I do not think there is anyone who has all the qualities of the ideal Caribbean person, although many believe that they are perfect in their own way. If I had to name one Caribbean person who I thought is closest to being ideal is Wendy Fitzwilliam. I have never met her personally but based on her contributions to the society and the Caribbean, I would say that she is extremely close. I think I will have this discussion with my class to hear who they think is the ideal Caribbean person. It will be interesting to hear their opinions. On the topic of sexuality and sexual health, there is so much to teach and learn. Our youth need to learn to respect their bodies and other people’s bodies as well. Parents still believe that the topic of sex should not be spoken about at the primary school age, but what they are unaware of is that their children are experimenting from primary school age and getting information from their peers (both true and false), and the media. Although there is proof that teenage pregnancy is on the rise, the topic is still not given adequate attention. Adults have to change their attitude toward sexuality and sexual health. Imagine that in an all girls school a short distance away from my school, a small group of trained persons from an organisation asked the Principal permission to have a discussion on sex with the students and the Principal refused. She stated that she did not want the topic of sex discussed with her girls in school. She obviously thinks that because it is a Catholic school, the girls are not sexually active. The girls do interact with boys as they attend after school classes together. This school Principal needs to face reality. Times are changing. Over the years, there are those who left due to pregnancy and some secretly go to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases. Adults should always be there to support them.
Since HFLE is not integrated as yet in my school, I have never discussed this topic with a class, but students who come to me individually, I listen and offer assistance where necessary. A fourteen year old girl asked me about symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases, as she was sexually active and had many questions. I never ignore my students and I encourage them to have discussions with their parents. I have learnt much on self image, social relationships, emotions etc. from the sexuality flower model, which all contribute to positive relationships with ourselves and others.
27/02/13 – Session 6 - Self and Interpersonal Skills
Dealing with self takes time and effort as we are such diverse beings. Adults have to work on personal issues before they can effectively assist the youth in dealing with theirs. A teacher who outwardly expresses that she does not like black children cannot help any child. This is my view, and a teacher did make this comment at my school. I have come to the conclusion after hearing other stupid comments from her and observing her actions that she has serious issues and does not belong in the classroom teaching children. I tell my students to accept themselves as they are because everyone is unique. Peer pressure, both positive and negative, accounts for children’s behaviours. Focus is mostly on what others think rather than what the individual/self thinks. We have to help our students understand the importance of accepting themselves the way they are so that they would maintain high self esteem. The need to behave and look like someone else is a phase that all students go through during their adolescent years which may affect their relationships with their friends and family. This is why they need to develop a healthy self-concept in order to cultivate healthy relationships with their friends, family members and teachers.
Many of my students say that the reasons why they behave the way they do is due to stress. They say their parents stress them out. As a teenager, I could not even think of telling anyone that my parents stressed me out. Times have changed. A girl in my form class went to the guidance officer because she was stressed out from problems at home with her parents. She revealed this to me when her parents were called to the school. I was impressed that she realised that she needed help and took initiative by seeking the help from an adult. I see the students under pressure close to exam time, and I have tried to help them find ways of coping, or avoiding this pressure. I suggested a weekly study timetable, The students decided to form groups and worked on this weekly study timetable. This is to avoid the ‘cramming’ close to exam time as they know that parents and teachers expect them to perform well. This only benefitted some of the students as the weaker students could not cope with it weekly. I have to identify other ways of helping them cope. I wish that I had scheduled time in school to have HFLE classes with my form class. This would benefit them a great deal.
Self and interpersonal relationship skills are vital skills that we need to develop because we do not live alone in a box, we socialise and live among others who we form relationships with. We socialise daily and form either short or long lasting relationships. What I thought was interesting was the point that stated that ethnic and cultural differences can add variety and richness to relationships. I totally agree, because life would be so boring if we were all the same.
06/03/13 – Session 7 - Eating and Fitness
Food and Nutrition was one of my favourite subjects in Secondary school. The classes were interesting. Although I do not eat much, I enjoy food. I try my best to eat a healthy balanced diet, but due to changes in my lifestyle, sometimes it is difficult to maintain. Working during the day and then school at night, I am always tired when I get home so I eat whatever I put my hands on. The only decision I have maintained is the decision to not drink soft drinks. This I decided about 10 years ago. I have not had a soft drink for the past ten years or more, as I made up my mind that soft drinks was in no way beneficial to my body. Only filling it with endless sugar, and decaying my teeth. I have serious issues with my teeth because as a child, I ate sweets whole day (my parents were unaware). It was only when my mouth was in pain and filled with cavities, that my parents realised how much junk I was eating at school. I spent all my money on snacks and my dental experiences to this day are not pleasant, so I decided that when I have children, I will ensure that they are eating healthy foods and pay special attention to their eating habits. As parents it may be difficult to control what children eat at school, so they have to do their best and educate at home on healthy eating habits. Exercise was not an issue for me because I grew up climbing trees, riding, roller skating etc. I spent all my time being very active outdoors. As an adult I love sports and I prefer to walk than drive.
The children at school eat junk all day. Fried foods for breakfast, snack and lunch. Their parents give them money to purchase food as they do not have time to prepare food daily at home. I do not allow soft drinks in the classroom, only water. Although I dissuade them from drinking soft drink, I know that they still purchase it. The Ministry of Education school feeding programme has made an effort to supply healthy meals as occasionally the students receive fruits along with cereal for breakfast. Recently they started supplying muffins and other conveniently packaged cakes and shortbreads. Hot lunches are provided, but many times the food is wasted because the students claim to not like the meal on the particular day. School feeding foods such as pizza does not go to waste, as it is a favourite. The only students who appreciate whatever is provided are the ones who are financially unable to purchase food and deserve to be on the school feeding programme.
How can we get the students to adopt healthy lifestyles? In order to change the eating habits and lack of exercise in the students, teachers and parents have to practise what they preach. How can we say ‘eat healthy’ and ‘exercise’ when we full our faces with KFC and do not make an effort to exercise? Children observe our actions. When the parent is too tired to cook, the easiest thing to do is purchase fast food. Children growing up in these households tend to continue this pattern into adulthood unless there is a health crisis forcing them to change. I have learnt that the best action is to start adopting healthy lifestyles in children from pre-school age (or even before), so the advertisements advertising the juicy fried chicken would not tempt them to eat it daily. I am not saying that fried foods should be totally eliminated from the diet, but it should not be regular meal. Children must have the knowledge to make the right decisions concerning eating and fitness and that everything in moderation is best. In secondary school, all students are doing Food and Nutrition so at least the information is being taught to them, it is up to them to make the correct choices.
13/03/13 – Session 8 - Managing the Environment
One cannot stress the importance of keeping our environment clean and safe. If we want to live in a healthy environment, and our future generation as well, each person is responsible for doing his/her part. I think that teaching our children from young to not litter is very important because children who litter become adults who litter. It can be difficult to train an adult to do the correct thing when he/she grew up with wrong habits. One of the major reasons for the major flooding in our country is due to excessive littering. It is sad that people can live comfortably among so much rubbish all around them. I visited Singapore a few years ago and littering is against the law. The citizens obey the law there because I did not see any litter at all on the streets and the country was extremely clean. Alcohol consumption, urinating and spitting in public and are also against the law. Chewing gum is not allowed. While in the plane before landing in the country, the flight attendants told the passengers to dispose of all chewing gum before getting off the plane. If only we could have laws like this in Trinidad!
In our schools, students sit in the classroom, eat breakfast and lunch and leave the empty food boxes and juice boxes on the tables and on the floor. The good thing about my school is that most teachers refuse to teach in dirty classrooms so the students have to clean the classrooms before the subject teachers arrive to teach. Students should not have to be told to throw away their rubbish, especially teenagers. In some classrooms, the rubbish remains on the floor until the cleaners clean early the next morning. Some of the students even put their books and stationery on the floor, walking on them and stepping over the books without concern. A student from my previous form class threw some of her soft drink on the floor and when the teacher in the class at the time told her to get the mop and clean up her mess, she replied that she does not clean at home, only the maid cleans. She was very disrespectful when saying it and she could not understand why the teacher was making her clean the mess when the school has cleaners. This is how her parents trained her – to be a spoiled brat. Cleaning up after oneself is plain cleanliness.
My school entered a recycling competition a few years ago. The school that collected the most plastic bottles to be recycled would be the winner. The students were excited about the competition and were determined to win. We collected the most plastic bottles to be recycled, so we won. I was not surprised because the students in my school drink so much juice and soft drinks, we were collecting hundreds of bottles a day. Of course parents and teachers participated by bringing plastic bottles from home as well. School furniture was made out of the recycled plastic. I have visited my family in London and they recycle everything over there. They have labelled bins for plastic, glass bottles, paper and cans. If anything is in the wrong bin, the garbage truck leaves it so residents there make it their duty to recycle. This is good practice as the whole family is involved. Children are encouraged to practice proper recycling habits in the home and at school too. This is an area I think we need to get serious about here in Trinidad.
03/04/13 – Session 11 - School Health
Thinking about it now, I do not believe School Health is thought about much in my school. Not much effort is being made to improve the health of the students as the cafeteria is allowed to sell anything, such as fried pies, chicken and chips, soft drinks and snacks. The only thing they are not allowed to sell is chewing gum. These foods do not positively benefit the body in any way and the students love to purchase these foods, because according to them, these foods taste good. They do think about the effect these foods have on their teeth and bodies. Not only are the students guilty, but teachers as well. The Ministry of Education’s school feeding programme makes an effort by providing fruit on a regular basis. The breakfasts and lunches vary, but most of the times the meals are satisfactory.
I believe that promoting proper hand washing and oral health are paid more attention in primary school than secondary school. Maybe it is believed that by the time the student attends secondary school, they should by that time developed proper hygiene practices. I do not observe the students practicing proper hygiene as they do not use soap when they wash their hands. They also have this habit of using a rag to wipe their face, mouth and hands, and this same rag is placed on their desks and even the floor sometimes. The only time the school engages the teachers and students to make the school a healthy place is when there is a virus in the air. When there is a virus or ‘red eye’
spreading, posters are stuck all over the school about the importance of washing hands, with the proper way of doing it. They are also told to use hand sanitizers as they are just as effective as soap and water. After the virus dies, everyone forgets and goes back to their unsanitary ways. Students do learn about healthy lifestyles in subjects such as physical education, food and nutrition and biology, but only some of the students really absorb the information and make the necessary adjustments to their lives to promote proper health.
Last month, for the first time, students were given free eye testing at the school. I am not sure if it was organised by the Ministry of Health or Education, but it was successful as all the students willingly got their eyes tested and they were given information on ways to ensure that they keep their eyes healthy. The school does have an important role to play in ensuring that students are healthy as students spend the majority of the day in school and this is the place where professional instruction is supposed to take place. When the child learns the correct thing in school, he/she can then inform the parent at home about appropriate meal choices, and healthy practices. This is why education is always more effective when the parents, teachers and the community work together for the betterment of the child.