Metro newspaper *13-05-2011* metro.co.uk
Summary:
Stress for exams in combination with pressure of parents are driving many schoolchildren to alcohol abuse and self-harm, according to a new study. One in ten pupils will scar or hit themselves when the exams are drawing near, according to the ChildLine counseling service. 14 per cent of the schoolchildren admit that they grab the bottle because they struggle to cope with the exam stress and they are definitely not helped by the high expectations of their parents. Also 4 per cent of the children confess that they use drugs so that they can deal with their anxiety. Two-thirds of the schoolchildren do not get enough sleep and they are very afraid of missing out on University. Both parents and their children are worried about how they will manage during the exams and how to manage if they do not get the grades. ChildLine advises parents not to pressure their children and to leave them alone when it comes to household chores.
Opinion:
I can understand the worries schoolchildren can have when exams are drawing near and during the exams. It surprise me that a lot of schoolchildren are driven by alcohol abuse and drugs abuse and that they want to hurt themselves. That is a really big problem that should definitely be solved. I also think parents have a high role in all this. When parents give high expectations to their children the child could only get more nervous and this nervousness could lead to failing the exam. Parents should encourage their children in a could way for example by saying that it does not matter when they fail their exam when they did all the best they can. When a child did the best it can do, it could not have done it better than that. Both parents and their children have to appreciate that. Parents have to watch their children during the exams period so that they will not do stupid things like drugs abuse and they should form a listening ear for their children when they have these big fears for their exams. I also agree with ChildLine that parents should leave their children alone when it comes to household chores so that they can completely focus on their exams.
I think this is a very strange outcome of an investigation, I mean children harming themselves, drinking alcohol and using drugs because they have to do exams? However, I do agree with you that parent should encourage their children to do their best and that that is all they can do. I do think you should read your reaction again, because there are some mistakes in it. 'it surprise me' = 'it surprises me', is it not driven to alcohol and drug abuse instead of driven by? I also think it is a big role instead of a high role, 'encourage in a could way'? you mean 'good'? 'did all the best they can', shouldn't that be 'did all the best they could'?
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHi Relinde! I found this article very interesting when you talked about it in your Speaker's Corner. I do think that the pupils who are said to use drugs and alcohol before exams, have used that before when they had to face difficult situations. This article makes it sound like it is only because of the exams. I do agree with you that the high expectations parents have, only increase the stress.
BeantwoordenVerwijderen