I would like to refer to the letter School hours and holidays by Maria Camilleri (TMID, 30 June).

Ms Camilleri should invest a morning by coming to any school and watch the students for the duration of the whole school day. It is evident that she does not know what she is talking about.

I love my job as a primary school teacher. Being dedicated, I spend long hours after school preparing new activities and challenges for my students. That is, after having corrected piles of copybooks. When Ms Camilleri speaks about “supervising” the students while teachers “correct” the students’ work, is she keeping in mind how difficult today’s children have become? Each year, we teachers have a good number of students under our care and every time we are alarmed at how worse the situation with these children has become.

These poor children spend the majority of their day passing from one carer to the next (very often grandparents), having very little or no time at all to bond with their parents. Do we realise the craving that our children have for their parents’ genuine affection? Apparently not. We are more keen on finding new ways on how to “dump” our children in a secure environment rather than providing this same environment ourselves.

I call on all teachers to speak and write about reality in schools today. Parents need to be made aware of how important it is that they bring up their children themselves and transmit to them values which they ought to have themselves.

I have personally worked with plenty of exemplary parents during my scholastic years. Mothers who have forfeited their careers for the time being, to stand by their children and provide the support which they need throughout their childhood. I really admire these parents who live in sacrifice for the love of their children.

Dear Ms Camilleri, it’s not as simple as you say. The problems are too deep-rooted to suggest quick and accommodating solutions. The problem is not where to “keep” children while parents work, but “how” we should transmit the love for our children.

Rosanne de Giorgio

Birkirkara