What do parents say about school holidays?

What do parents say about school holidays?

JAKARTA (JP): Many parents want their children to continue
learning, even during long holidays. But some parents say school
holidays should not be used for studies.

Diana Nasution, a popular singer with three sons, said: "What
do we do on school holidays? For the last few years I have taken
my sons to my uncle's house in a fishing village on Bangka island
in South Sumatra. We have also taken them to their grandfather's
home in Ambon, Maluku.

"I hope my sons can learn that many people work hard for their
livings. I also expect that they will appreciate their parents
more because they have worked hard for them.

"That kind of holiday makes it easier for my sons to adapt to
new environments. They don't complain about a lack of facilities
in poor villages like Bangka and Ambon. They can experience
something different from what they get at home.

"My eldest son is studying at a college in San Diego, the
United States. I see he can easily adapt to his new environment.
I think it was because I often took him to new places during
school holidays.

"If I have enough money, we go abroad to places like
Singapore, the United States or Australia. But we should save
money before going abroad."

Lt. Col. E. Aritonang, a Jakarta police spokesman, said:
"School holidays should be used as a holiday for students. No
study. But it's better to offer them activities that can broaden
their knowledge.

"I used to accompany my son to museums or to Borobudur temple
in Central Java. It did not cost much but it was very useful.

"We went fishing when we were still in Palembang, South
Sumatra. If I couldn't accompany him fishing, he went fishing
with his friends. Sometimes my only son and his friends went to
our garden house in Bogor, West Java, to fish in a pond behind
the house.

"On another holiday, I took my son to his grandfather's home
in a village in North Sumatra. We saw farmers gardening and
planting vegetables. It was very interesting for us."

Rizal, a student at a senior technical high school, who lives
in Karet Tengsin, Jakarta, said: "I cannot think about school
holidays right now. I have to help my parents rebuild our house
that was razed by fire. It really was a disaster for us and our
neighbors. We could not salvage our belongings. (The fire razed
at least 300 houses on May 19). Last year, I spent my school
holidays with my friends camping on a mountain in West Java. I
saved money for a few weeks before going camping."

Umar, an angkot (public minivan) driver in Cirebon, West Java,
said: "My financial situation has meant that none of my three
children have ever spent school holidays traveling since they
were born. They just stay home, playing with each other and
chatting with their parents. Even paying their monthly tuition
fees has always been a problem for me, let alone giving them
money to go on holiday. Just to let you know, my second child --
a girl at junior high school -- often comes back from school with
tears in her eyes just because her teacher reprimands her about
delayed fees. As a father with a daily income of between Rp
10,000 (US$4.10) and Rp 15,000, this hurts me a lot. That's why
my first priority is to pay their school fees, not holidays.
Sometimes my children, particularly the girl, complain about
their holidays."

Hadis Hadiahnegara, an officer at the Jakarta Education
Office, said: "I usually have special holiday programs for my
only child, who is 22 years old and studying at a university.
Every school holiday, we take her to visit her grandparents and
relatives in their villages in Sumedang, West Java. My main
objective is to let her learn about society and culture in the
kampongs. So, she will know where she comes from and I hope it
will have a positive impact on her future. Other students and
parents may see this as an unpopular itinerary. I don't care and
my daughter never complains about it."

Lusia Sutanto, president of the Santa Lusia study course,
said: "If a holiday is long enough, I send my children to home-
stay programs in countries like Germany, the United Sates and
Australia, provided, of course, I have enough money. I think such
programs are very useful for broadening my children's knowledge
and improving their language abilities.

"If I don't have enough money to send my children abroad or if
there is not enough time, we just spend the school holidays going
to villages. But we should thank God that we can afford all of
this. We also help other people so that they can also be happy
during the school holidays."

Inke Maris, who owns a public relations office, said: "My
children Yuma, Arman and Renatta will spend their school vacation
abroad while taking some short courses.

"Arman will go to the United States, Yuman to Singapore and
Renatta to Australia.

"Yuman and Arman are university students while Renatta is a
high school student.

"I let my children decide where they want to spend their
vacations. They prefer going abroad to Bali and Bandung, West
Java."

Arbin Ichwan, a director at the mobile telecommunications
operator Telkomsel, said: "My daughter Ibra Ufauwid, who is at
secondary school, will spend her school vacation with the family.

"But this does not mean I will not allow my daughter to spend
her vacation with her friends. I have to know who her friends are
and where they will stay.

"I will first contact Ibra's friends' parents if they want to
spend their vacation in mountains. (jun/lnt/bsr/10)