Estonian Chancellor of Justice: Children need courage, not constant fear
Estonia's Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise marked the start of the school year by warning against turning education into a race that leaves children afraid of falling behind, stressing that parents too should avoid competitive pressure. She said the state must ensure new education rules actually work and that children retain time for rest and extracurricular activities.
In a piece published for the start of the new school year, Estonia's Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise warned against letting education become a constant race in which children fear falling behind or failing to get into high school. She wrote that learning begins with curiosity and a desire to explore the world, and that this is where the joy of learning lies.
Madise noted that recent changes to the organization of education have disrupted school life more than they should have. She said adults must create an environment where children can learn, develop and discover their abilities while still being children — just as parents should remain people rather than turning into competitors in a performative parenting contest.
State must ensure new systems function
If changes leave a child uncertain about which school they can continue at, or if technical problems disrupt exams, then something has not gone as it should, Madise wrote. When the state changes rules and introduces new systems, it must also make sure they work — the school community deserves peace and certainty.
The Chancellor of Justice stressed that children need courage to make an effort, not paralyzing fear. An exam or test may go badly, and that is part of learning — trying, making mistakes, and trying again. Education must not become a race where one poor result means falling behind others or missing out on high school. More importantly, how well someone copes with pressure must not become a measure of success for either the child or the parents.
Room needed for rest and extracurricular life
While learning requires effort, that workload must remain reasonable, Madise wrote. The right to education is not limited to the right to attend school — children also need time for extracurricular activities, sport, rest, play, friends, family, and simply time to be. Extracurricular activities and sport teach cooperation, perseverance, responsibility and how to handle losing, and are often where children discover their talents and genuine interests.
Madise added that such opportunities should be accessible to every child, including those in areas with sparse public transport or whose parents cannot drive them to activities. She said solutions can be found in every municipality if the actual needs of children, young people, parents and activity organizers are heard and taken into account.
