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Subhan: Bombs hit near Ducks roll past Dynamic and shuttered UAE, Kings for 6-5 secluded 4 Egypt12 embassies shootout42 victory Max 23º Min 10º FREE www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 16342- Friday, November 14, 2014 NewNew turmoilturmoil afterafter FIFAFIFA clearsclears QatarQatar See Page 47 Local FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014 Local Spotlight LETTER TO THE EDITOR Why is women’s Let’s give them back their childhood rights still an issue? By Maimoona Firos [email protected] By Muna Al-Fuzai here is no system in the world or schools as cheerful and innocent tod- lot about saving trees, saving animals, any school in any country that is dlers soon turn into dull and inactive or saving the planet - what about ‘sav- Tbetter than its teachers. Teachers kids. It is like snatching childhood away ing children’? Aren’t we responsible for [email protected] are the lifeblood of the success of from them. Due to these pressures, their right upbringing? Will just sending schools. But what can the teachers do if playschool teachers also compel 2- and them to any school, pushing them the whole system is defective. 3-year-olds to write before entering towards rote learning make them bet- There are growing concerns among schools. To make matters worse, the ter human beings? Isn’t it our duty to omen’s rights is still an issue, and there’s the parents of children studying in lower kindergarten has adopted cursive instill in them a sense of responsibility no better example than the recent debate Indian schools in Kuwait. Even though letters instead of the normal uppercase and help them find their true purpose Wover Saudi women and their right to they are all CBSE affiliated, there are no letters (ABDC). in life? drive. Argument is an art that Arabs love to prac- proper inspections from the board. The They are even supposed to write As they grow older, emphasis is giv- tice, especially if it is about women’s rights. I came schools follow their own outdated cur- without a single flaw on a four-line en to rote learning. Competitions are up with this opinion by being forced to deal with riculum, giving preference to academics paper. If the child after a lot of effort considered healthy and they are alone. Sports and arts are totally doesn’t write perfectly (the teachers emphasized. Comparisons are made the same topics, discussions and ideas every single ignored and even discouraged. Because themselves are not perfect on five (when the whole world is echoing ‘each day since I was young. of low pay, most of the teachers rarely lines), then remarks are sent to the par- child is unique and special’). When they In the Arab world, women’s rights is a big issue show interest in the overall upbringing ents. Outdoor games are completely reach the secondary level of school, that nearly all men love to speak on their behalf. of a child. And the pressures of finishing stopped - these children are either sent they are strictly told not to participate in Haven’t we heard and learned enough about this the portions are so high that they forget for tuitions or forced by the parents any extracurricular activities or sports the true purpose of a teacher. themselves. They now develop the feel- (due to board exams). topic? For example, when it comes to a woman’s Three and four year olds are inter- ing of hate. The children who once It is high time we do something right to choose her favorite field of work and edu- viewed for admission in the lower loved books and pencils and who about this - either the Embassy of India cation, men still think they have the right to choose kindergarten. They are labeled ‘smart’ eagerly wanted to go to school now or the Ministry of Education has to and give an opinion, which they assume that the or “dumb’ based on this 5-minute inter- start hating the same things they once intervene and take appropriate steps to woman should follow. Some fathers or brothers view. If they do not answer to the loved. stop this. Education doesn’t need to be stranger (as the child sees the teacher) Our concern is: “Why is writing given reformed. It needs to be transformed. may not have a high school certificate, and yet they are declared unfit to attend the so much importance in the early The key to this transformation is not to think that their blood relation makes them entitled school or as in some teachers’ words, stages?” The children are never told the standardize education but to personal- to choose the right work for their “Your child is suffering from some men- true use of letters or are never told that ize it, to build achievement or discover- daughter/sister/wife, and that’s when the struggle tal disorder.” The ashamed and frustrat- they are actually sounds. The child will ing the individual talents of each child, begins. ed parents (who fail to recognize their definitely write on his/her own by the to put students in an environment own child) take all possible measures to age of 5 or 6. They don’t have to be where they want to learn and where I know some may think this is old-fashioned and pressure the child. compelled at such a young age when they can naturally discover their true men today have changed. This is not true, as there And those children who are labeled they have to be taught what is needed passions. are some conservative families who put themselves ‘smart’ and find entry into school have at that age. Did the ‘great minds’ in his- “Come - let’s give them back their in the shoes of their girls and decide everything for another great challenge - ‘writing’. The tory have excellent handwriting? If we childhood,” as Sir Ken Robinson said. them, even marriage. When a woman agrees to first year of the school means “writing, waste a child’s blossoming years in forc- NOTE: Firos is a qualified academician this, her rights become a topic for only men to writing and only writing!” And if the ing him/her to read and write, can we and a preschool teacher with over 15 child can’t write - he or she is alleged to bring out his/her inner talent? years’ experience in Kuwait. She runs an speak about. suffer from ADHD. The child is ridiculed, Instead of producing great minds, institution for preparing preschool chil- Recently, the Saudi social media had a heated punished and even slapped in front of we are busy making machines. Aren’t dren for kindergarten. She holds a degree debate over women’s right to drive. It is not an the child’s classmates. we responsible for our children, who in political science and a master’s in soci- issue anywhere in the world or even in this region, The children who entered the are the future of this planet? We talk a ology. except in Saudi Arabia where women are not allowed to drive. I logged onto one of the Saudi blogs and was amazed over the different com- ments that mostly opposed the right of women to drive, while only a few supported it. Unsurprisingly, most comments were made by men and only one or two were by women. Those who deny this right used religion, as they claim it denies women this right because of the consequences while driving. Some tried to justify their view by saying that what would a woman do if her car broke down in the middle of the road, or who would change the oil for her. And some even wondered who would give her the ticket if she violates traffic laws. Few supported women’s right to drive as it is better than hiring a male driver. And some others saw no harm to society for women to drive. So far, this issue is still under discussion and not over yet. Her right to drive is still in men’s hands. Some claim it’s societal rejection, while others say it is only a matter of time. There is a need to discuss why women’s rights is still an issue in our societies. Why most of her rights are being associated with denial by religious men. There are many questions but few answers and the latest Saudi debate is a living example. I think it is time to call intellectuals and media writers to add a new topic to their agenda, which is to free women’s KUWAIT: After years of lagging, Kuwait’s construction sector has started to pick up as the government begins to imple- rights from conservative thinking. ment several new mega-projects and tenders that have been shelved for years are finally being issued. Photo shows the construction of a highway overpass in Kuwait. Local FRIDAY, NOVEMEBER 14, 2014 Conspiracy Theories Crab mentality By Badrya Darwish [email protected] s it only in Kuwait or all over the world? People are the the ants’ or bees’ organizational and cooperation skills. same. Not in their looks or nationalities or language. But our friend the crab is totally on the other side. IThe world is diverse and it’s the creation of God that Crabs in a bucket will always pull each other down, people don’t look the same and don’t speak the same diminish their success and ultimately none of them will language and adopt differing ways of life. But I think we make it.

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