Many parenting skills have to be learnt. Although we certainly can learn from mistakes and experiences, we should not rely on instinct. We definitely cannot use the methods that our parents used because children's capabilities and mentality change with every generation.

I strongly feel that these talks/seminars/workshops should be made mandatory for teachers. As a parent of two pre-schoolers, I have come across too many teachers who utilise unacceptable means to reprimand and punish children.

Just last week, it was my six-year-old's turn to lead in the pledge during assembly. Mind you, this is in front of more than a hundred children.

To me, it was good enough that he was willing to face the crowd and lead the pledge. He was particularly nervous that day, and fumbled in the pledge.

Instead of encouraging him to do better next time, his teacher told him 'diu lian' (Mandarin for 'an embarrassment'). This, despite the fact that he had led the pledge well on two previous two occasions. I talked to my son and made sure he did not keep the incident at heart.

A teacher has too many responsibilities these days. However, it is a teacher's responsibility to continue to motivate a child, not to talk down to the child.

I am sure that many parents will agree that teachers' words mean a lot to our children, so when they say something untoward or harsh to them, it affects them for a long time.

Yvonne Chung Yee Wen (Ms)