The inspiration for this post comes from this article that I came across earlier today.
Regular readers of this blog know that I sit in my verandah for about an hour and a half every morning, observing among other things, what happens on the main avenue that abuts my garden fence.
One of the things that I have been noticing for years and have felt sad about, is the way young children are made to catch school buses every morning. I see seven of them every morning catching different buses before it is 7.30 am. The first one has to be ready and waiting for the bus at 6.45 am! Since there are four schools in our neighbourhood, I also see many children cycling or walking to school, besides mothers on two wheelers ferrying children to school. It is obvious that the children resent the early morning trysts and would rather be getting up later.
Though I am glad that I am not a parent having to face the task of waking up and getting the children ready for school at such an early hour, I have always wondered why the schools cannot start say an hour or so later every morning.
On being asked that question, a friend who has been a teacher for decades responded that it is to facilitate closing the schools earlier in the afternoons so that the children have enough time to play games. Should an hour later matter for that to happen?
My 6-year old grandson must catch a 7AM bus to get to school. As soon as he gets to school he is given breakfast. I m see n o issues with the time. In high school my first class started at 7AM – it was A period PE.Only issue issue I had with that was when it was swimming time and cold. My 16-year old granddaughter catches a 7:15 AM bus. , Damien is delivered home by bus at 2:35 daily, Ashley at 3::30.
I understand Shackman. I just wonder if the children like it!
I don’t think early rising is much of an issue for young children. However, and research supports this, once they hit teenage years they NEED THEIR SLEEP, god damn it. Is there anything more disheartening than trying to rise a teen from their deep sleep? There isn’t. Even MY mother disowned me in the morning, sending my younger sister with instructions to “go and wake YOUR sister”. She always succeeded and we’d be tearing down the road to catch the bus to school. When we missed it my gym teacher (she lived a village further up) when passing would give us a lift.
On the other hand, starting early meant we were home for lunch cooked by our mothers, and had the whole afternoon to ourselves. Whilst, and don’t talk to me about it, in England children are “kept” in school till three o’clock, having little left of the day to just do what children do. Namely play and enjoy themselves.
U
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The question Ursula is whether the children like this timing or would prefer getting up later.
In the winter that hour makes all the difference, because darkness starts about an hour after school lets out.
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Yes, in the Northern hemisphere, it could be a problem in the winter.
I agree (and research supports) Ursula’s comment. The problem is, young children have too much to do in their formative years! Too much of their lives is organized. Too many expectations need to be met. Life is long, as I now finally know, and I wish I hadn’t been in such an all-fired rush to grow up!
Children having too much to do is another topic altogether and one of these days, perhaps I should write a post on it. I need to carry out some research before that however!
I’d much rather be a retiree than a kid! 😀
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I was thinking exactly that this morning when I decided that I won’t spend my usual time on my morning exercises!
My boys had to be at the bus stop out bush by 7.30 am. We did not find it a problem, though it did mean rising early to make sure they had breakfast & were ready to go. Then again we rise early anyway before sun up.
There was usually time to play after school even though it is a long bus trip. When I was a kid I would be stripping off my school clothes as I came in the door, up to my room & change & straight out to play in the fields behind our house. I hated school, we were factory fodder.
Keith.
Yes, our times were different and perhaps my approach reflects my own experience as a school bus using student in junior school.
most of the schools here in New Zealand operate on a 9am – 3pm schedule; the public ones and they have set holiday breaks. But some I believe operate on different schedules but not having access to any children – do not know if they love/hate it.
when I went to school in a rural town, I think I left home about 7.30am to walk to school, quite a distance (all year round).
I was at boarding school in the secondary years, we were ruled quite differently…a lot of things had to happen before we went to actual school (in the same grounds) including going to assembly every morning…
It was definitely too early for me.
I am not surprised at all Kaitlin.