Labouring the point

An article in today's Postimees claims that the rules thought up by public servants from the Ministry of Social Affairs governing what children can and can't do in schools and orphanages are so removed from real life that they are turning them into lazy, cheeky little arseholes incapable of looking after themselves.

Or words to that effect. The article, which turned out to be something of a political vox populi and took two whole journalists to write, highlights the ridiculously finnicky lengths officials would have things taken to - if anyone took any notice of them - as well as the contradictions inherent in them which make you question whether they really are placing child safety first.

Followed to the letter, the regulations would prohibit children from doing just about any cleaning up after themselves, and would send them home (or not even let them out the front door in the first place) if a wind whips up on winter days. They wouldn't even be allowed to make gingerbread men at Christmas.

Lea Tikenberg, the child protection officer from the Haiba orphanage in Harju County, points out that not only are children shielded from anything approaching everyday responsibility, they are also very aware of what they can't be forced to do. "They tell you that you're there to do the work, not them," she said. "But I've been here for five years, and a bit of work never did any of these kids any harm."

Of course, those who support the rules do so claiming that they are there to prevent children from being used as little more than slave labour. Chancellor of Justice Allar Jõks has pointed out that this is not unheard of. "Unfortunately we've seen lots of cases where children have had to get down and scrub the toilet bowls and the like."

Others have highlighted the contradictions in the rules: children are not allowed to wash their own dishes, but are allowed to make themselves a cup of tea or boil themselves an egg.

Former Education Minister Mailis Reps says that the Ministry of Social Affairs is living on another planet - clearly one where they are a lot less resilient when it comes to the cold. She remains as critical today as she was while in office of the weather rules. "If the wind's blowing from the wrong direction, there are places in Estonia where the kids won't be going to school for months," she said.

Fellow former minister Paul-Eerik Rummo, once responsible for the population's affairs (as it were) and having visited a good number of orphanages in his time, has the last word. He feels the regulations should be changed so that the kinds of things kids are asked to do is within the bounds of normality - for as he says: "It was astounding to see 15 and 16-year-olds who have never peeled a potato in their life."

http://www.postimees.ee/301007/esileht/siseuudised/292388.php