Children spend an immense amount of time in school. It is our duty to make this wonderful place of learning safe and enjoyable for them. To do the same, Indian Academy of Pediatrics had formulated a 5 point action plan, which was published in March 2011, Volume 48, Number 3 issue of the Indian Pediatrics journal.
These are the 5 points of action, as given by Dr. T.U. Sukumaran, President of IAP-2011:
1. No physical punishment in school: The physical punishment may do more harm than benefit. However in unavoidable situations, the child may be punished by other non-physical methods.
2. Avoid excess baggage: Excess weight of the school bag may lead to backache, neck pain, school phobia etc ("The School Bag Syndrome"). The ideal weight of the bag should be less than 10% of the child's body weight. Bag weight can be reduced by many methods: (a) The age of admission for KG class should be 4 years and first standard 6 years, (b) in lower primary classes bag weight can be reduced by having a provision for keeping books in the school (c) for different terms we can have separate textbooks (d) a file system is an effective method in higher classes.
3. Provision for adequate number of toilets: There should be at least one urinal per 60 students and one latrine per 100 students, with provision for daily cleaning.
4. Provision for safe travel: Travel to and from the school should be safe. Travel in two and three wheelers should be discouraged and overcrowding to be avoided.
5. Well equipped class rooms and adequate play grounds: The number of students in a classroom should be limited to 40. The class room should have enough space (10 square feet/student or 400 square feet/classroom) and there should be appropriate furniture and proper ventilation. The school should have an adequate playground and a minimum of 4 hours per week to be allotted for sports and cultural activities.
These five simple provisions are still not provided in many of our schools. Schools play a major role in the successful upbringing of a child and should facilitate a healthy childhood.
Disclaimer: These 5 action points are published in the journal Indian Pediatrics as cited above. I do not have the copyright to them. I am merely trying to popularize them among more people.
These are the 5 points of action, as given by Dr. T.U. Sukumaran, President of IAP-2011:
1. No physical punishment in school: The physical punishment may do more harm than benefit. However in unavoidable situations, the child may be punished by other non-physical methods.
2. Avoid excess baggage: Excess weight of the school bag may lead to backache, neck pain, school phobia etc ("The School Bag Syndrome"). The ideal weight of the bag should be less than 10% of the child's body weight. Bag weight can be reduced by many methods: (a) The age of admission for KG class should be 4 years and first standard 6 years, (b) in lower primary classes bag weight can be reduced by having a provision for keeping books in the school (c) for different terms we can have separate textbooks (d) a file system is an effective method in higher classes.
3. Provision for adequate number of toilets: There should be at least one urinal per 60 students and one latrine per 100 students, with provision for daily cleaning.
4. Provision for safe travel: Travel to and from the school should be safe. Travel in two and three wheelers should be discouraged and overcrowding to be avoided.
5. Well equipped class rooms and adequate play grounds: The number of students in a classroom should be limited to 40. The class room should have enough space (10 square feet/student or 400 square feet/classroom) and there should be appropriate furniture and proper ventilation. The school should have an adequate playground and a minimum of 4 hours per week to be allotted for sports and cultural activities.
These five simple provisions are still not provided in many of our schools. Schools play a major role in the successful upbringing of a child and should facilitate a healthy childhood.
Disclaimer: These 5 action points are published in the journal Indian Pediatrics as cited above. I do not have the copyright to them. I am merely trying to popularize them among more people.
