IT MAY be politically right for Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan to announce that schools may be closed if the heat wave persists, but is that all that politicians can think of doing?
Could the minister first tell us why in a tropical climate must our schoolchildren be dressed as though they are in a temperate country?
Dressing should suit the climate. Our school boys used to go to school in shorts and short-sleeved shirts.
This is the most comfortable outdoor wear for boys in the tropics. Furthermore, this allows much freer movement as children don't sit still when outdoors.
They want to run about and play, whether formal games or informal games of their own. The girls used to be in simple baju kurung or pinafores, without vests and jackets.
Prefects used to wear a badge. Teachers used to be without ties and jackets, and some even in shorts with stockings.
Nowadays, they have to wear long pants, neckties and vests. Prefects may have to wear long sleeves and jackets.
This makes for a lot of "style", but what is the purpose of all this overdressing of our schoolchildren? Even teachers are required to wear ties.
To make them more disciplined? But there is so much indiscipline. To create the perception that our schools are as good as those in Europe, Japan, and similar places? But results do not prove this.
Providing all the "overdressing" stuff – neckties, vests, jackets, long pants for boys – is surely a big money earner for certain parties.
So that some business people can make money by providing all these unnecessary apparel for schoolchildren, parents have to fork out the money and children have to suffer discomfort in this ever warming climate.
Face the facts and address the issue head on. Make schoolchildren and teachers dress suitably for the tropics and keep the schools open.
Go back to the days when schoolchildren used to be dressed most suitably for school. Think of the children's comfort and not of those supplying all the unnecessary stuff to and make up today's school uniforms.
We should be teaching our children to dress comfortably and not stylishly. Get rid of ties, long-sleeves, vests and jackets. Teachers should set the example. This may not go down well with some parties and even some parents, but let's be practical.
Ravinder Singh
Penang
Could the minister first tell us why in a tropical climate must our schoolchildren be dressed as though they are in a temperate country?
Dressing should suit the climate. Our school boys used to go to school in shorts and short-sleeved shirts.
This is the most comfortable outdoor wear for boys in the tropics. Furthermore, this allows much freer movement as children don't sit still when outdoors.
They want to run about and play, whether formal games or informal games of their own. The girls used to be in simple baju kurung or pinafores, without vests and jackets.
Prefects used to wear a badge. Teachers used to be without ties and jackets, and some even in shorts with stockings.
Nowadays, they have to wear long pants, neckties and vests. Prefects may have to wear long sleeves and jackets.
This makes for a lot of "style", but what is the purpose of all this overdressing of our schoolchildren? Even teachers are required to wear ties.
To make them more disciplined? But there is so much indiscipline. To create the perception that our schools are as good as those in Europe, Japan, and similar places? But results do not prove this.
Providing all the "overdressing" stuff – neckties, vests, jackets, long pants for boys – is surely a big money earner for certain parties.
So that some business people can make money by providing all these unnecessary apparel for schoolchildren, parents have to fork out the money and children have to suffer discomfort in this ever warming climate.
Face the facts and address the issue head on. Make schoolchildren and teachers dress suitably for the tropics and keep the schools open.
Go back to the days when schoolchildren used to be dressed most suitably for school. Think of the children's comfort and not of those supplying all the unnecessary stuff to and make up today's school uniforms.
We should be teaching our children to dress comfortably and not stylishly. Get rid of ties, long-sleeves, vests and jackets. Teachers should set the example. This may not go down well with some parties and even some parents, but let's be practical.
Ravinder Singh
Penang