臺北市新住民專區網站英文版

By Tsai Chao-Hsien, Bin Jiang Elementary School Student Affairs Director

In every class, there are always children struggling with their studies, being quiet, and having poor interpersonal relationships. It is crucial to emphasize that these issues are not limited to specific new-immigrant families; they can occur in regular households as well. The child's loneliness might stem from their temperament, family upbringing, or interactions between parents.

New immigrants from Southeast Asia, especially those who enter marriages through marriage brokers, often find themselves having low status within Taiwanese families. More fortunate new immigrants might have understanding and caring husbands in Taiwan; children born into such families usually have fewer problems in character development. Conversely, unfortunate new immigrant women married into families where they receive no respect often lead difficult lives. Children growing up in such unhappy family environments face additional challenges in their learning and adapting to school.

For children struggling with learning and adapting to school life, schools should provide counseling and support to encourage them to actively participate in school and excel in their studies, preventing them from being scolded by their families. Schools and homeroom teachers should make every effort to provide opportunities for these children, such as participating in cleaning teams, serving as event emcees, joining track and field teams, or sports teams. As long as the child is not uninterested, they are encouraged to participate. By offering these opportunities for children to demonstrate their abilities, they will gain confidence, and their families will stop using scolding as a form of parenting.

In some families, when children face changes such as a family member leaving them or financial difficulties, their behavior can change dramatically. They may become silent, engrossed in electronics, neglect personal hygiene, or ignore their studies, etc. Despite intervention and care from counselors, the improvement in the child's behavior is often limited. Thus, it is common to see children who feel lonely wandering around the school campus without companions. In such cases, it is the responsibility of the appointed teachers to actively intervene, visit their homes, inform their guardians about the child's situation and school performance, and seek parental support for the child. If parents require assistance, teachers should help them find resources, enabling the family to get through their difficulties temporarily.

In the case of lonely children entering a higher grade or transferring to a new school or learning environment, both the old and new schools need to facilitate a smooth transition, both academically and in terms of counseling. The old school should request the new school to pay special attention to the lonely student. A change in environment might offer students a fresh start, enabling them to face life's challenges with a positive and optimistic attitude. Let them know that they are not alone on this journey called life; many people care for them. If they encounter any problems, they should not hesitate to consult their school teachers. Teachers and families can be their strongest support.