Burn,
homework,
burn
Photo of kids burning homework to celebrate
end of exams draws mixed reactions online
UP IN FLAMES:
The bonfire that Kiss92 Arnold Gay (inset) lit for his son
and the other children to burn their worksheets and assessment
books.
Report by JOCELYN
LEE
Phew! It's finally over.
And Kiss92 DJ Arnold Gay chose an unusual way to mark the end of
the PSLE season - helping his son to light a bonfire with his
school assessment sheets.
The 46-year-old also invited his son's friends and
his friend's children to throw piles of worksheets into the fire in
an incense-burning drum.
He said it started off as a light-hearted comment
when his primary 6 son was having a stressful time coping with
schoolwork.
"I told my son half-joking that I'll prepare a
bonfire for him to burn everything once his PSLE is over.
"I thought he would have forgotten about it but he
didn't, so I kept my promise," he said.
Mr Gay bought the drum for $5 to prepare for the
bonfire on a driveway outside his house in Katong last
Saturday.
His 12-year-old son asked a few of his close
friends from school to join him, while Mr Gay got some of his
friends to bring their children to take part.
In total, 20 children joined in.
"It was symbolic for the kids as they released
their pent-up frustrations from preparing for their exams. We could
see from the happy looks on their faces that they really
appreciated it," he said.
Mr Gay's friend, Mr Adrian Lee, whose two daughters
took part in the bonfire, felt it was a good idea.
STRESS-RELIEVER
The 46-year-old managing director said: "It's a stress-reliever
for the kids as they have had a tough time preparing for their
PSLE. It signifies a new beginning."
Mr Gay's way of celebrating the end of the exams
drew mixed reactions from netizens who left comments on the Kiss92
Facebook page after a photo of the bonfire was posted there.
Some agreed it was a good way to de-stress, while
others felt it was not an enviromentally-friendly method of getting
rid of the kid's worksheets.
Mr Gay didn't think there was anything wrong with
what he did.
"The things we burnt were stuff such as worksheets,
assessment books and homework that couldn't be reused again," he
said.
"Just seeing how happy the kids were to put
everything behind them made me feel that I would do it again."
On
Facebook
Some netizens' comments on Kiss92's
Facebook page:
Ong Lay Hua
Why burn? So not saving the earth.
Alwin Lee
What a way to de-stress. Time for a well-deserved break.
Irene Tan
I did something similar when my girls had their PSLE, expect we
didn't have a bonfire as (we) live in an HDB flat but we threw all
PSLE-related stuff into the rubbish chute.
Chan Wee Ann
Good way to clear all the trash and start your holidays.
Send right message to
kids
"I think it's harmless fun as long as the
parents convey the correct message to their children. However, if
the child feels that he doesn't have to study again, then the wrong
message will be sent out. It's a personal thing."
- Dr Brian Yeo, child psychiatrist and consultant
psychiatrist at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre
"If it is a one-off thing, and the parent
makes it fun, then it is okay. However, if it becomes a ritual,
then the parent is sending out the wrong message. The parent has to
tell the child that there are stresses in life, and teach them to
cope and manage them with the right attitude."
- Dr Carol Balhetchet, director of the Singapore
Children's Society Youth Service Centre
News, The New Paper, Tuesday, October 8 2013, Pg 26