Orientation colors the first day at school

Rizky KD Ntoma, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The first day of a new school year kicked off on Monday with the beginning of a three-day orientation/hazing ritual for junior high and high school first-year students.

Dozens of parents accompanied their children to school, causing traffic jams in certain areas particularly in Mayestik and Cipulir, South Jakarta.

During the orientation, first-year junior highers were ordered to wear their elementary school uniforms while high school freshmen had to wear their junior high uniforms.

The boys have to wear dunce caps while the girls' hair had to be done up in pigtails with colorful, gaudy ribbons.

They were also ordered to march in the schoolyard during the heat of midday while older students mocked them mercilessly.

"I really enjoyed it (the orientation) and didn't take it too seriously when the older kids were yelling at me," said one new student at state-run Junior High 19 in Mayestik, South Jakarta.

Teachers and adminstrators said that the purpose of the orientation was to build solidarity and teamwork among the new students.

Pembangunan Jaya Bintaro Junior High School vice principal Firdaus said that the orientation was essentially an introduction for teachers, staff and older students to get acquainted with the new class.

He also said that a lot of parents were in favor of the activity although some considered it emotionally disturbing for young children.

"There are some parents who disagree with this. But we explain to them the purpose of the orientation and guarantee no (physical) harm will come to their children," Firdaus claimed.

A teacher at Kartika High School in Bintaro, South Jakarta, said that during the orientation, the new kids would be taught proper school etiquette, marching and school regulations.

"Since we don't want something bad to happen, such as a senior verbally or physically abusing freshmen, teachers are assigned to monitor the orientation," said another teacher.

A mother, who accompanied her daughter to SLTP 19, said that she did not mind the mild hazing because it was organized by the school.

"I don't mind my daughter going through the ritual as long as it's harmless, unlike in the past when there were reports of new kids getting really depressed," she said.

"Nowadays, I see that teachers also take responsibility to observe the orientation and never leave it entirely to the seniors. It is more under control and I'm sure my daughter enjoys it," she said.