Jakarta (Kompas: 07/01/07) A mother revealed that she was disappointed after enrolling one of her children to a senior high school in South Jakarta. She has spent tens of millions after her child passed the admission test. Now she is considering transferring her child to another school. Why? “I cannot stand the terror of violence in the school. Aside of the student suffering from stress; me too, I always wonder what will happen each day?” she stated.

Psychologist who is also chairman of National Child Protection Commission, Seto Mulyadi, warned, before choosing school for their children, parents should observe the teaching – learning process in the school in question. “Chose a child-friendly school,” he said. A child-friendly school includes physical and psychological aspects. In the physical aspect, parents should look into the condition of the environment, such as sanitation, traffic, noises, pollution and security outside and inside the school.

Where as psychological aspect concerns, among others, curriculum and relations among students. According to Seto, nowadays, many favorite schools equipped with various facilities only make their students suffering from stress. Psychologist from the University of Indonesia Farida Kurniawati also expresses concern. Schools are now competing against each other while ignoring students’ capacity.

After a school gets the status of favored school (unggulan), many students could not follow the lesson anymore. “Eventually, students needs extra tutorial outside the school. This means that the students have spent most of their time to study. They do not have time for any other activities,” Farida says. Seto added, juvenile crime, such as brawl, violence and drug are the impact of ‘pressure’ in schools. It is getting worse if the students’ family is not supportive. “When children are suffering from stress in school, many parents demand the children to show better academic performance,” Seto said.

Extra-curricular

Aside of academic aspects, parents should also observe the school’s extra-curricular activities. According to Seto, extra-curricular activities play an important role in nurturing children’s social intelligence. Farida also suggest parents to choose schools that could develop students’ talents, interests and capacity. Children should be involved in choosing schools.

“Even Kindergarten students should be taken to see the school and to be involved in making the choice,” Farida said. Seto concurred. Students have the rights to decide where schools to go, because they are the one who live with it. If the school chosen is problematic, students should still be given opportunity to try.