The Dread That Haunts Mothers, Especially - Drug Addiction | VIII

Sufficient number of drug de-addiction centres with trained staff is absolutely essential to help addicts,but we have to develop a strong system which would help in prevention. Many suggested that parents, teachers and friends can play a very significant role. Our education system too needs to accommodate some features right from the school level. Of course higher education institutions will also have to pay attention to these issues.

 

 

With the scientific and technological developments economic picture too has changed drastically. Social norms have now accomodated the progressive features. Education gained importance and with liberalisation the horizons expanded. A new aspirational class became reality,dreams became big, people are ready to work very hard to make it a reality. Avenues to work in the fields which probably were not known in our country are opened. A couple of generations really worked with great determination which helped evolving and expanding the financially sound class. Along with all these things,the new challenges emerged, the demand of new roles is felt,the education system is trying to balance the situation. The new features are to be utilised to modify as per the new demands. A very experienced teacher gave a detailed account of the what is to be incorporated into the system.

 

 

In many homes or families, the situation is that, parents achieve almost everything working really very hard. So may be children have hardly anything to strive for,they get whatever they want or wish to have. They lead a sort of good and comfortable life.

 

Some goals are to be set up at every stage,there has to be something to work for. Parents will have to tread carefully,they should be able to help child give a goal higher than what they have provided. It is not just about the empirical goals,like good marks or some degree or admission to some prestigious institution. Some awareness about the life goals is to be created which can make a person work with all the might to achieve something where social good is also a component of the life scheme. Empirical goals cannot absorb one through out the life.

 

The national educational system has given many opportunities to engage children in a meaningful way. Education would need to have active participation of children,they just cannot be passive listeners most of the time. Of course teachers need to change their focus and style of imparting knowledge. It should be education by exploring,it gives the sense of achievement at every step.

 

Subjects like art, craft music or even physical exercise should not be ignored,the time allotted to these subjects should not be used to complete the syllabus of other subjects. These areas too have career opportunities, children should be given time to spend on these enjoyable activities. It breaks the monotony.

 

Usually the dialogue between the teachers and students focuses on what a child is unable to do in the class, even the discussion with parents have same focal point. Instead of this, the interaction need to find the points where children perform very well,or what are they good at. Probably this would help to build the personality.

 

The point is explained with one example. Small educational activities like picnic should be used to get children acquainted with the things which they do not get to know in the routine schooling. Reducing them to visit to a resort develops wrong sense of enjoyment.

 

 

Developing emotional quotient ought to be emphasised, children should be trained to deal, understand and recognise their emotions and other's emotions also. Even their social behaviour should correspond to their chronological age. Such discussions and opportunities are to be offered to children.

 

The teacher feels the areas like finance or laws basic nursing skills,self defence environment are to be introduced seriously . Even life skills need to find sufficient space in the education system.

Our national policy of education can accommodate all these points if worked honestly.

 

Such points would shape the personality of a child,and help children think independently and to an extent rationally.

 

 

An active social worker expressed her opinion and stated that the problem of addiction has many layers. Making people aware of the fact is absolutely essential, people have to be alert to be able to identify the problem at an early stage when there is a chance to check it. Questioning about the strange behaviour is necessary,they should be ready to confront the child. This should not be avoided under any pretext.

 

There is a need to have an informal discussion on various points or topics at home. Such interactions help shaping the views and opinions specially of teenagers. There are going to be several factors outside home which would definitely influence a child,but objective approach has to be built at home. It will render a sceptical lens ( an expression used by the social worker to describe it aptly) to weigh the options,one would be able to judge the situation or perceive it properly. As parents, it is the duty to nurture such abilities.

This problem needs sustained efforts,just destroying drugs does not end the problem. Our agencies like police need to work relentlessly,no doubt, but if it has to be irradicated,all the factors need to work together and very carefully,it is the battle of nerves. The evil forces would consistently try to tempt people to indulge into drugs and to weaken the resolve,but we as a society cannot give up at any cost.