Dear Teachers,

Summer holidays are over. Time to get back to work. Before you know it, kids will be all over you. During the next nine months, they will be seeing as much of you as they do of their parents, most probably more. You are the most important people they will meet in their young lives. Your dedication will surely have an influence on their whole lives.

So, in between all the ‘National Curriculum’ stuff, obtuse angles, adjectival phrases and clauses, I thought I would suggest a few lessons for character building and deeper knowledge.

English Literature

Somewhere between Shakespeare and Milton, you might find some space to tell them to read some of the Nobel Prize Winners in Literature. Tell them how these people believe in a better and more peaceful world. Undoubtedly, they must have heard and seen enough of wars as we have never been short of these. Ask your students if they believe in themselves. It’s just possible that a future President might be in your classroom.

Geography

Pull out a map of the world and show them how we have managed to change the face of the earth – for the worse. Explain to them how borders are constantly being shifted and nationalities displaced because of the sheer greed and selfishness of the human race. Tell them about what once was and now isn’t and never will be again.

History

No doubt, your curriculum will include the fact that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the end World War Two. But try and slide in a brief on the rise and fall of empires. But, above all, make them analyse the causes and the results and don’t forget to emphasise that warfare and militarism never ensured peace. Tell your students about the effects of natural disasters. Talk about the destruction that was created as a result of nature’s fury. Your goal here is to make them appreciate that we are all more alike than different, how we are all connected. You help them learn that we are all one.

Social Studies

The present situation in the world is that more and more people are killing other people – using one excuse or another. Even children are killing each other. Is the over-development of the mind the cause of this growing problem? The mindset of some people makes them behave like robots, with no feelings and no conscience. So, tell them that peace does not happen by itself, nor by accident. Train them and help them to raise their level of consciousness and to first establish peace within themselves. Such spiritual training will enable them to love and have compassion for others. Encourage them to fight intolerance and hatred where they see them.

Health

I’m sure you’ll tell your students about the need to eat good and proper food, while the school tuck-shop dishes out more junk food. Ask them who is to blame for childhood obesity! Explain the World Health Organisation’s global anti-obesity plan. Don’t fail to stress on the devastating effect the global HIV/AIDS pandemic has had on children’s right to education, particularly for the estimated 14 million children worldwide who have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS.

Culture

While I believe that it is good and proper to acknowledge and accept other foreign cultures, I regretfully note that our own cultural heritage is being neglected – starting with our own language. You have to ensure that your students understand that racial, national, ethnic and religious hatred can lead to horrible tragedies.

Finally, to be clear, I know you can’t do it all but I know that there are too many parents who fail to recognise how important their role is in the education of their children. Quite often you are the only hope.

Have a good and fulfilling year.

Joseph M. Cachia

VITTORIOSA