Orientation colors the first day at school<\/p>\n
Rizky KD Ntoma, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The first day of a new school year kicked off on Monday with the
\nbeginning of a three-day orientation\/hazing ritual for junior
\nhigh and high school first-year students.<\/p>\n
Dozens of parents accompanied their children to school,
\ncausing traffic jams in certain areas particularly in Mayestik
\nand Cipulir, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
During the orientation, first-year junior highers were ordered
\nto wear their elementary school uniforms while high school
\nfreshmen had to wear their junior high uniforms.<\/p>\n
The boys have to wear dunce caps while the girls' hair had to
\nbe done up in pigtails with colorful, gaudy ribbons.<\/p>\n
They were also ordered to march in the schoolyard during the
\nheat of midday while older students mocked them mercilessly.<\/p>\n
"I really enjoyed it (the orientation) and didn't take it too
\nseriously when the older kids were yelling at me," said one new
\nstudent at state-run Junior High 19 in Mayestik, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Teachers and adminstrators said that the purpose of the
\norientation was to build solidarity and teamwork among the new
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
Pembangunan Jaya Bintaro Junior High School vice principal
\nFirdaus said that the orientation was essentially an introduction
\nfor teachers, staff and older students to get acquainted with the
\nnew class.<\/p>\n
He also said that a lot of parents were in favor of the
\nactivity although some considered it emotionally disturbing for
\nyoung children.<\/p>\n
"There are some parents who disagree with this. But we explain
\nto them the purpose of the orientation and guarantee no
\n(physical) harm will come to their children," Firdaus claimed.<\/p>\n
A teacher at Kartika High School in Bintaro, South Jakarta,
\nsaid that during the orientation, the new kids would be taught
\nproper school etiquette, marching and school regulations.<\/p>\n
"Since we don't want something bad to happen, such as a senior
\nverbally or physically abusing freshmen, teachers are assigned to
\nmonitor the orientation," said another teacher.<\/p>\n
A mother, who accompanied her daughter to SLTP 19, said that
\nshe did not mind the mild hazing because it was organized by the
\nschool.<\/p>\n
"I don't mind my daughter going through the ritual as long as
\nit's harmless, unlike in the past when there were reports of new
\nkids getting really depressed," she said.<\/p>\n
"Nowadays, I see that teachers also take responsibility to
\nobserve the orientation and never leave it entirely to the
\nseniors. It is more under control and I'm sure my daughter enjoys
\nit," she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/orientation-colors-the-first-day-at-school-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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