How HEALTHY Are Our Children? (An Article Made for New Straits Times)

The writer believes that a beautiful camaraderie makes life a wonderful journey.

Health is wealth. A healthy lifestyle is a contributing factor to students performing well in their studies. Thus, it is frustrating that many students in both primary and secondary schools are taking this matter lightly and that, they even enjoy leading an unhealthy lifestyle. I am currently serving my third school of my teaching career and this is what I observe every day.

The classroom environment is not motivating students to focus during the learning session and to build interest in subjects. Rubbish is everywhere. Tables and chairs are not neatly arranged, and the notice boards are not informative or properly utilized, let alone, decorated. Children will engage in the lesson less effectively to result in their low achievement in examinations. Filthy classrooms are not conducive to learning and invite boredom. In short, this is unhealthy.

When they go for a break, they tend to choose unhealthy food over balanced meals. Junk foods, crackers and carbonated drinks have become students’ daily fare in many schools. Even though they have been exposed with bad effects of consuming unhealthy food through motivational talks organized by schools, the useful information unfortunately falls on deaf ears. It is a guilty pleasure for them to indulge in those unhealthy snacks with artificial food additives and soft drinks that are high in sugar. Little do they know their frequent consumption of the unhealthy foods and beverages can cause more health problems that they ever realize.

 Apart from cleanliness and wrong food consumption, students are also unhealthy in their speech. The use of foul language becomes increasingly common among students when they share stories and discuss homework, and this is worrying. Teenagers are apparently more comfortable using swear words to their peers. If this continues, the next generation will grow up as people with bad manners and decency will become extinct. Worse comes to worst, Malaysia might be ranked lower when a research on politeness and courtesy is conducted.

This issue needs to be taken seriously to avoid having grown children following the trend. With the launch of Malaysia Education Development Plan (2013-2025) and the approaching 2020, we are responsible in helping our Malaysian students strive for excellence not just in their academic performance but also in terms of morality and attitudes. Parents need to practise smart parenting as they are the main educators of their sons and daughters. School authorities should brainstorm on effective strategies and plan special programs to decrease the number of students with unhealthy habits. The media also should attract students’ attention by promoting and encouraging healthy lifestyles on online platforms. Together, let’s do our part in producing quality individuals for the sake of our country’s future as that’s what a caring family member does.

        

 August 18, 2014