https://youtu.be/NFYOBwjz4T0?si=S8iYeapGxtsA3euv
0:48: Norman Lowell is stating that during Maltese lessons, foreign students choose to leave the official class and go to another class for Maltese for foreigners..During Conprehensions and compositions all the students are askedtoo stay in the official class. He is claiming that foreigners, due to the reason that they feel lost since they don't understand anything, disrupt the class
1:30 Lowell is concerned about the Religion subject since most students of different religion go to Ethics class. He states that this is a waste of time to explain either subject in b9th Maltese and English
2:14 "Another serious issue when childrenstartt secondary education, pupils form gangs for every nationality and religion and not only they don't integrate with Maltese, but act aggressive towards female teachers because of their culture norms.This can be noticed in Qawra,St.Paul's Bay, Marsascala, Pembroke and in every other state school where Maltese students are a minority".
What are your thoughts about Lowell's alleged findings?
by Accurate_Cut5596
2 comments
I am a parent of a child in a primary state school in one of the areas mentioned, so I can give my perspective. IMO he is sensationalizing everything and making stuff up, as you would expect from him.
0:48 In Maltese lessons, kids are grouped based on their Maltese fluency or nationality (not sure of the criteria). My child is Maltese and is grouped with other Maltese. The foreigners who do not speak Maltese have a different class, Maltese as a foreign language. There is no real disturbance, however the level of Maltese is quite low, even among the Maltese speaking group. The school provides extra lessons to compensate, but a language requires practice and exposure, which they do not get enough of.
1:30 My son attends Ethics as we are not religious. Lessons are in English and he finds them interesting. So far they covered topics ranging from friendship, health, family and community…etc.
Also a parent with a mostly English-speaking kid who attends ethics class. His school follows the same system, and there were no major disturbances either. In fact, I was really impressed last christmas when the Maltese induction class (all the students in which were foreign) sang two traditional Maltese songs! I thought it was really sweet, I’m sure it wasn’t easy for them. Regarding ethics, they cover a lot of topics which overlap with religion, without the trauma and Catholic guilt. Things like friendship, need vs want, kindness, equality, etc. So Norman Lowell can stick it imo, he’s always been like this haha