Textbooks make bore children to tears: Expert<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia's education system has failed to develop reading habits
\namong children due to its uncreative teaching methods, a child
\neducation expert says.<\/p>\n
Children tended to ignore reading books because they thought
\nthey were the same as school textbooks, Agus Moeliono, from the
\nBandung-based Institute for Research and Development of Child
\nEducation, said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"Textbooks here forcefeed the children with the government's
\npoint of view. They are not made to encourage children's
\ncreativity or imagination. Have we ever found here a textbook
\nwith an illustration of purple cows?\" he said on the sidelines of
\na children's event held by the British Council in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The country's education system requires students to pass
\nexaminations rather than build their knowledge on life in their
\nown ways.<\/p>\n
Teachers looked down on students who had different opinions
\nfrom those stated in the textbooks, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Teachers here tend to give conventional question and answer
\ntype homework to students instead of encouraging students to
\nexplore their opinions about something,\" said Agus, adding that
\nthe conventional method was not suitable for children, who liked
\nchallenges.<\/p>\n
No wonder, he said, most children preferred to watch
\ntelevision programs rather than reading books nowadays.<\/p>\n
Siva, 10, from an elementary school in Kebayoran Baru, South
\nJakarta, admitted that she does not really like reading. She
\nprefers watching television because it is easier to follow the
\nstory.<\/p>\n
Another child, Malik, 8, from Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, said
\nthat he loved books with pictures, especially cars and animals.
\n\"I don't like textbooks because the pictures are small and not
\ncolorful.\"<\/p>\n
While most people think that children only like comics,
\nunknown to many, it is not only comics that children like to
\nread.<\/p>\n
During the children's program, several children brought their
\nfavorite books, which ranged from fairy tales to scientific
\nbooks.<\/p>\n
\"I saw a strange insect when I was playing in the rice field
\nin my village. I later found a book which tells me about the
\ninsect. That's why I like this book a lot,\" said Usman, an 11-
\nyear-old student from Pelabuhan Ratu, West Java.<\/p>\n
Agus encourages parents and teachers to provide children with
\nbooks which have attractive illustrations.<\/p>\n
\"Forget about the conventional curriculum. Give children
\nimaginative books instead of old-fashion books which offer good
\nmorals. Let children find their own values,\" Agus said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/textbooks-make-bore-children-to-tears-expert-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}