Clay in The Potter's Hands

Today's news 15 Oct 2006

Just browsed through the Sunday Times, read the whole article on "Time-out" measures meted out by some overly harsh Kindergarten teachers.

Time-out in a dark room? Ridiculous. Why don't these teachers try being locked in a dark room themselves? Why do to little kids things you will never imagine someone doing to you or your very own littles (include any little children you do know)?

Boils down to .... anger management. This type of teachers need to attend such courses, or maybe just simply leave the preschool profession.

As a preschool educator myself, I can't stand hearing teachers shouting at children like a loud speaker, lest talk about harsh punishments. This is the main reason I will never consider placing my own children in the Kindergartens near my block. No way. It is so irritatting to little ears to hear adults shouting across the rooms for full three hours, or more if in a child care setting? Don't these teachers (shouters rather) feel tired? And at the end of the day, these teachers can justify their loudness by pushing the reasons to the naughtiness of the children.

Have these same teachers ever ask, why, just why, their students do not follow their instructions at first call when they tell them to do something using their speaking voices?
Have the same teachers ever reflect why?

Loudness doesn't mean authority.
Loudness doesn't gain respect from little children.
Loudness doesn't necessarily means you are a strict teacher and thus effective.

Loudness simply mean you do not respect the little ones you are talking to.

Loudness means you have a problem, not the children.


In teaching, volume of voice is important. The tone is also crucial. And the body language speaks loud. Btw, think we all know, eyes can kill too.

It is good that as educators, we do not become our students' nightmare. If we have reach that point, maybe we can consider taking a break from being a terrorist at our workplace.

Emotional trauma leaves deep and unresolved scars in little hearts.


Just Jess

posted by Jesselyn Ng @ 7:52 AM