Every combustion engine emits carbon dioxide, and the deadly carbon monoxide, plus other toxic carcinogenic fumes. The carbon dioxide in the atmosphere acts as a glass shield by trapping the heat inside. This is known as the “greenhouse effect”. This in turn leads to a “climate change” or, as it is now known, “global warming”, with the possibility of catastrophic disasters such as floods, if the remaining polar ice continues to melt!

Now that school educators are on holidays we can all notice how clear and stress-free the roads are in the morning rush hours. You see hardly any traffic police patrolling or controlling our traffic.

In my humble opinion, a parent quitting smoking is much more effective than repeatedly saying, “my son, smoking is very bad for your health”. Therefore, with the same basic principle of leading by example, wouldn’t it be wise for the majority of teachers, and other employees such as facilitators, start making use of the school transport provided? After parents, teachers can have a strong influence on our children. Sometimes simple words such as “switch off and use public transport” may not be very effective, even if repeated every day until pupils become brainwashed.

Pupils have eyes to observe, and seeing their teachers making use of the school transport facilities certainly gives them a much more positive message towards protecting our environment. In other words, teachers can certainly be role models in protecting the environment, and lessening traffic congestion.

I refer to an article that appeared in The Times (6 March), entitled Why children must play outdoors, in which Commissioner for Children Sonia Camilleri said that school transport remained a no man’s land, where the duty of supervision was placed squarely on the driver. She was referring to bullying on school transport. Wouldn’t it be a blessing if school employees kept a watchful eye on these children as well, while going to school and returning home?

Or am I asking too much?

Carmel Micallef

Fgura