Parents' attitude causes stress among young children

JAKARTA (JP): "What's your name?"

"Annisa Maria Ulfa."

"How old are you?"

"Six."

"What kindergarten are you from?"

"Lestari."

This question-and-answer session took place between a student and a teacher during an elementary school admission test at a private elementary school in East Jakarta.

Annisa answered all questions calmly. She showed no signs of nerves. She was smiling, even when faced with a tough question.

In the same room, a boy the same age looked nervous. His fingers kept twirling the end of his shirt. He was slumped over the table, his chin resting on its edge, his eyes looking into the teacher's eyes. He tried to concentrate on every question.

Other students were taking similar tests, both oral and written. The written one included writing, drawing, coloring, math and Indonesian. Each student was asked similar questions, including their names, their parents' names, siblings' names, their addresses and were also asked to read. Some read well, others stumbled over the words, but quite a few only knew the alphabet.

Pupils participating in examinations are either quiet, anxious, indifferent or on the brink of tears. Some pupils cry during tests. Parents are allowed to accompany their children and once the children get used to the atmosphere, the parents are asked to leave the room.

Annisa's parents told her that she should pass the test but was encouraged to be brave and not to be afraid of making mistakes.

"The evening before the test I told her to play some video games, to read some reading passages, to color drawings, to fold paper into various shapes. The morning of the test we exercised," said Annisa's mother.

Andi's parents were different. They told him he had to get a high mark for his admission, higher than others. He was the nervous boy mentioned above.

Andi's parents had made him anxious. He carried the burden of expectation. His parents did not realize that motivating their child in that way did not help him: it made him lose his composure.

The principal of a prominent elementary school in Rawamangun, East Jakarta says that pupils suffer from stress because of their parents' attitude.

"The parents mean well, but take the wrong approach. They should not burden their children by ordering them to be number one. If left alone, children will complete the test well," he said.

Schools hold admission tests to limit the number of applicants.

"There's nothing wrong to select pupils with an above average IQ at the same time. In this manner we can also maintain the school's reputation for intelligent and disciplined pupils," the principal explained.

In lesser private schools in Klender, East Jakarta, tests for elementary school admission are also held. An examiner says that although his school is not among the better ones, it wants to improve standards.

"With this test we can gradually attract intelligent pupils and raise standards. If we admit all pupils, when will we become a quality school?" he asked.

-- Fitriyanti Djoni