GSAT is whack* – Jamaica Observer
GSAT is whack* – Jamaica Observer Mobile.
Holness said then that the GSAT, in assigning educational opportunities, was effectively assigning life chances: “Jamaica operates in a Darwinian education system ā survival of the brightest ā and we have grown accustomed to that… It is in our nature… So GSAT from Common Entrance from selecting the house slaves is just a way of awarding life chances.” And according to Holness, the only way to make the leap from field slave to house slave was to build more schools.
We do believe that the absolute shortage ofĀ placementĀ schools must be addressed as a part of any meaningful GSAT review
While the analogy was most unfortunate, the solution was practical and realistic. If we pin the problem with the GSAT to the fact that there is a shortage of schools ā June results of the 2011 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) required fitting 48,000 students into 30,000 spaces in the school term which started in September ā then perhaps we can save ourselves $10.3 million (or at least do something nice for our GSAT teachers with it) and then fix the problem for good.
And we wonder too, if parents, instead of negotiating for places in more “desirable” schools, would lend their energy and efforts to the upliftment of the school in which their children were placed what would be the result?
Will there be a meaningfulĀ outcomeĀ from the very expensive review and report?
Learn MoreIn the meantime, it costs about $500 million to build a high school from scratch. The last Government spent almost twice that ā $800 million ā on a road that is less than a mile long. If the minister of education, the Reverend Ronnie Thwaites, is tenacious enough to convince his Government and the Inter-American Development Bank to spend money on a review of something that has already been reviewed, then perhaps he can use his fund-raising skills to secure financing to build something that really needs to be built.
Fancy or Fretful
Itās Friday! Go get fancy.
I must be totally paranoid: I see 10 choking hazards right there š I need help.
Learn MoreGSAT review coming
GSAT review coming – News – Go-Jamaica.
Learn MoreThe overseas consultant is expected to work with the local team to conduct the review some time before July this year.
The GSAT review initiative is to be funded by the government and the Inter-American Development Bank.
Forget the spoonful of sugar…
Sometimes a spoonful of sugar just does not work!
Here’s some Great Ā āhow-toā advice from Troublesome Tots for getting medicine into your little one by using aĀ syringe Ā to minimize losses and more accurately estimate the need for re-dosing.
Learn MoreTime to Unplug the TV!
One study found that children who spent more than eight hours watching TV each week at ageĀ 3 were more likely to be obese at age 7. Having a TV in their bedroom ups their chances of being overweight even more, says Amy Jamieson-Petonic, RD, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
These guidelines will help your family maintain just the right amount of screen time.
- Limit TV and other media to less than two hours per day for kids ageĀ 2 and older. Do not allow television viewing for children less thanĀ 2 years of age, according to recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Keep TV out of the bedrooms.
- With the exception of an occasional family movie and pizza night, keep television sets off while eating.
- Sit down with your kids to help them select the specific TV shows they’ll watch, giving them some control and helping them make decisions. Watch with them when you can.
You canāt hurry love: Handling your childās Valentineās Day blues
Heart Hands
by Alexis Goffe
The unfortunate truth is: Valentineās Day is not a special day of love, flowers or chocolates for everyone. What is even more unfortunate is that the negative feelings of being unloved, not special, rejected, lonely or even unattractive on Valentineās Day can be experienced by our children. This truth can be extremely hard for children as early as prep/primary school. A guidance counsellor once told me that his granddaughter who is in Grade 2 was heard asking a male classmate, āDo you love me? Itās ok, I can handle the truth!ā Being hurt knows no age; or gender for that matter. We tend to think that Valentineās Day is a potentially challenging time for girls. However, boys are just as susceptible to these feelings as girls.
Here are four suggestions for handling your childās experiences around Valentineās Day:-
Listen
Find out if your child is experiencing any feelings surrounding Valentineās Day. Do they have plans? Are they planning to ask someone to be their valentine? How are they feeling about having a valentine or not having a valentine? During this conversation, listen to your child and listen well. Give them your undivided attention and create a space for your child to be open and honest.
Offer support
Once you know the childās thoughts and feelings surrounding Valentineās Day, thank them for allowing you into their world. Let them know how important it is to be able to tell safe people about their feelings in good and bad times. You can do two things at this point: i) Ask them how best you can support them or ii) Ask for their permission to give them some advice.
Validate feelings
This is one of my favourites. Let your child know it is ok to feel down if they do not have a valentine. One of the best ways to normalize their feelings is to tell them a story of a time you experienced similar feelings and how you handled them.Ā It is important not to trivialize your childās feelings or categorize it as ābeing young.ā Legitimize their feelings as much as possible.
Encourage family time
Times of loneliness for our children are prime opportunities to reinforce the love you have for your child. Planning family activities on Valentineās Day can be a great way to lessen negative feelings and strengthen the family bond. Possible activities include watching a movie, having a special family dinner, playing a game, creating an arts and craft project or seeing a play.
Parents must provide an environment of love, acceptance and warmth for their children. Show them the type of love and respect you want them to expect, demand and experience in their future relationships.
We know children may want to find love and find it quick. So parents, take this opportunity to remind your child that – while they canāt hurry love, they will just have to wait and it doesnāt come easy – the love you have for them is already present and everlasting.
Alexis GoffeĀ is a counselling psychologist at Caribbean Tots to Teens. He can be reached at alexis@caribbeantotstoteens.com
Learn MorePreparing for the Doctors Visit 2: What to carry
What to carry:
Doctorās Documents (The Docās docs)
Be sure to walk with all of your āDocās docsā.Ā It is important to keep all documents related to your childās health together in a waterproof āziplockā style bag. Each child should have a clearly labelled bag of their own. These bags must be stored in a safe place with easy access.
The bag must contain:
1)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā The Child Health and Development PASSPORT is a must!
- If your child was born before Sept 2010, then theirĀ immunization cardĀ is necessary,
- Ā If your baby was issued aĀ health passportĀ at UHWI include that too. Since it is quite big you might need to fold it and use a bigger bag to contain it completely.
2)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Any casualty card, docket number orĀ appointment cardĀ for any hospital or clinic to which the child has been. This will make it much easier to co-ordinate care and prevent unnecessary retesting.
3)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Any unfilled or repeatĀ prescriptionsĀ and a list of allĀ current medicationsĀ (if you donāt wish to bundle them all up and carry them with you) the information on the boxes is quite valuable: strength of medication, dose and frequency may all require adjustment to improve response. Walk with everything!
4)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Insurance cards:Ā this is a great way to make sure you donāt mix up Daddy and juniorās cardsā¦ not an uncommon occurrence.[[MORE]]
The bag may also include:
- Copies ofĀ resultsĀ for previously done tests, or a note with the date, facility attended and impression of the test.
- Summary notesĀ from any other physicians seeing your child, especially if they have a chronic illness.
- AĀ notebook: with all your questions jotted down from at home. This will also allow you to record important points from the visit: scheduled instructions, flag signs of concern, points for follow-up, and other tips. Some āTechiesā keep this lists on their smart phones šĀ
- Pictures or a videos of anything that has triggered your visit, made you concerned or is simply hard to explain. This can beĀ anythingĀ from a funny sound, an unusual lump, a strange bowel action. Never be shy to share it with your doctor. A picture is worth a thousand words.
TOYS
You are the childās primary playmate during the wait AND during the office visit when you are trying to communicate with the doctor. Be prepared! Carry two or three sturdy, under-used toys to increase the appeal of āre-discoveryā when they are revealed in the waiting room. An old handbag, with a few small toys tucked inside, can be an excellent waiting-room distraction for toddlers and other young children.
If your child is old enough to read, a book may hold their attention, giving you just enough time to speak to the doctor before they interrupt you.
An ill child usually appreciates their own comfort toy to hug and hold.
FOOD AND CLEAN āUP
Children should not be allowed to have snacks while waiting. It is best not to eat or drink forĀ one hourĀ before coming to the doctor. This will make the examination more comfortable, especially while lying flat. In an acute illness, especially trauma, your child may have to be āstarvedā even longer. This is to ensure safe administration of strong pain-killers or sedation if, for example, suturing (stitches) or wound cleaning is required. Save the food and drink for after the visit. Hide it where they cannot help themselves to it.
For babies and toddlers take any food and changing items that you would normally travel with for a two hour trip.
Regardless of your childās age, it is best to carry aĀ change of underwearĀ and a plastic (waterproof) bag. Many children have accidents while at the doctorsā office. Having a change of clothes will help to minimize the stress of a mishap.
Nobody likes to have to go to the doctor,Ā but if you are prepared,
the whole visit can be a truly helpful, healing experience
Ā and aĀ learning opportunity Ā for all involved.