'Eagle never teaches eaglets to fly too early'

'Eagle never teaches eaglets to fly too early'

Soeryo Winoto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

There can be few issues as important to parents as the
education of their children. Parents the world over want to
provide their children with the best possible education, to give
them every opportunity to succeed in life.

But how young is too young to send children to school? That is
a matter of some debate, with experts divided over the issue of
preschools and play-groups.

An eagle would never teach its eaglets to fly too early, says
veteran psychologist Sartono Mukadis.

"Sending children to preschool is -- actually --
(psychologically) torturing them. How can children under the age
of five remember all the things teachers give them every day?"
Sartono said. "I am among those who oppose such an educational
system."

In education, we know that there is a law of readiness, he
explained.

"When children are not yet ready to follow lessons and accept
information and such, they will be passive or look unintelligent.
And we as parents must not force children to try and understand
(lessons or information). Whenever they are ready, things will be
naturally smooth."

Preschools and play-groups have been mushrooming in big cities
across the country, indicating the enthusiasm with which people
have greeted them.

"It's a matter of business, not education," said Sartono. "The
market is there because many parents are consumeristic. They are
proud to send their children to preschools. The higher the
tuition, the prouder they are."

"Many people cynically say that it is the parents who enjoy
preschool, not the children," Sartono said.

Some preschools and play-groups "teach" their students English
and the basics of arithmetic, just to demonstrate their
"sophistication" and to attract more customers, he said.

And many of the schools located in prestigious residential and
business areas charge parents a huge amount of money for their
children's "education".

"Preschools and play-groups are not schools. It is just a
coincidence that such institutions -- or whatever they are -- use
the word 'school' in their names. They are just places where
children spend their time playing and learning to interact with
people from outside their families," Sartono, who is based in
Batam, Riau, said.

He recalled that then minister of education and culture Fuad
Hassan issued a decree that elementary schools are not allowed to
give students "entrance exams", like reading.

"This means that pre-elementary-school-age children should not
learn anything (English, reading, arithmetic) before beginning
their formal schooling at the age of seven."

According to Sartono, giving children "advanced" lessons
prevents them from picking up the basic things that they should
be learning based on their age and ability.

"Let things proceed step-by-step. Many people just think about
the final results, ignoring the normal learning process," he
said.

However, noted child psychologist Seto Mulyadi says children
can learn and follow lessons if they feel comfortable.

"First, the teachers must be aware of what children that age
want. Create a good mood and atmosphere, make them happy before
giving them 'lessons'. If the right conditions are created,
children will follow the 'lessons' easily and will enjoy them.
The point is not what the teachers teach the children, but how
they teach them."

Preschools and play-groups, he said, must offer good education
programs and concepts.

Seto, known as Kak (Brother) Seto to the children he works
with, said there was no taboo against teachers at preschools or
play-groups telling stories of "foreign figures" or teaching
children "foreign cultures or habits", but they should bring the
children back to their own soil, where they do their daily
activities.

"Children must learn politeness. They should now how to
apologize and say thank you. It is very important to teach them
such basic things about daily life."

Preschools are established for two reasons, according to
Seto.

"First, the idealism and awareness that children at that age
need professional and proper guidance to develop. The second
reason is business," said Seto, who is the chairman of the
Mutiara Indonesia Foundation, which manages a number of play-
groups and kindergartens in Jakarta.

Speaking of business, he said, the public is the ultimate
determiner of which preschools and play-groups survive and which
fold.

"They have the right to choose what they think is best.
Nothing wrong with that. The accreditation of play-groups and
preschools is done by the market. Those which are not qualified
will gradually be phased out."