A Taichung City kindergarten recently came under fire for allegedly confining children in small, dark spaces, forcing them to mimic animals during meals, and taping their hands and mouths, among other accusations. Chiayi City also reported an incident where an educational caregiver mixed up children’s name tags, causing a parent to pick up the wrong child from school.
The continuous mishaps from childcare facilities have left parents disappointed and questioning the integrity of these centers.
Early childhood education lays a crucial foundation for future education. At this young age, children are inspired intellectually, motivated to learn, develop good habits and establish the right morals.
When teachers use their positions effectively, they play a vital role in helping children build strong physical and mental health, shaping them into responsible citizens.
On the other hand, improper or abusive discipline inevitably affects children’s physical and mental health, hindering their learning and intellectual development.
The frequent occurrence of child abuse incidents in kindergartens largely relates to institutions’ operational philosophies and teachers’ poor emotional management.
Operators that view kindergartens as business opportunities rather than educational facilities prioritize making profits, subjecting educators to few work benefits and long work hours, and skimping on necessary safety and teaching equipment.
Underpaid and overworked teachers are likely to have low morale, and when faced with sometimes difficult or disobedient children, they might easily lose control of their emotions and lash out at the children. This is where teachers’ self-awareness comes into play.
Children in kindergartens are like fledgelings; only through care and patience from their caretakers would they learn the proper skillsets they need.
Those who are frequently scolded, yelled at or subjected to violence likely grow up traumatized and avoidant, which is detrimental to their learning and development.
A visit to a kindergarten brings into view joyful children hugging their principal, highlighting their strong intimate bond. Female teachers can be seen with a loving smile on their faces, patiently guiding the children to assemble toys.
The value of early childhood education lies not in grandiose infrastructure, impressive licenses or peculiar teaching methods, but in a safe and friendly environment, sensible management, and most importantly, enthusiasm, love and care from teachers.
Only with good student-teacher interactions can a trusting relationship between parents and teachers be established.
Ultimately, the key to good child education lies in the dedication of the operators, and the love and patience of the teachers.
Shiao Fu-song is a lecturer at National Taitung University.
Translated by Wang Yun-fei
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