“Yesterday I’ve been to the first parents meeting of my life.” In this way begins the letter of Maria Dilovska from Sliven, mother of a 3-year-old girl who goes to kindergarten. “They were 23 parents, two teachers and one deputy headmistress.” Maria made use of their presence to raise the issue of disposable water glasses used by children in the kindergarten. She prepared in advance, as she says in Varna website with questions about hygiene, teaching young children about environmental care and more. “I explained to them that when all the glasses look like the same, this does not carry the individuality of the children. I said that using plastic cups is not modern and stops you to think about the future. I explained that I educate my child in ecology, environmental protection, values and habits but in kindergarten all of this is failing. The child will have two lines to follow and at such an early age this will be confusing. I disgraced them as if I were in court … but it didn’t work, I couldn’t convince them” Maria wrote in disappointment with the coordinator at Mission “I choose a disposable glass” in Varna. She added: “The director, as an act of respect, said he would look into the matter but he did not take the printed material. The teachers asked the parents to decide and they choose “disposable glasses” to not complicate the kindergarten’s operation. And they didn’t care, I don’t understand why. ”
At the end of the parental meeting they were asked for BGN 3 per month for wet towels and disposable glasses. “I was shocked about the wet towels. I immediately countered that they were supposed to educate children on habits, hygiene and environmental protection. They don’t care to wash them after eating, so they wiped them with wet wipes. ”
Maria Dilovska immediately made an elementary calculation: “Every child gets 4 wet towels a day, for only one class this means 1920 wet towels per month so nearly 20,000 per year. ” It’s the same for plastic cups. “Abnormal work!” Exclaims the woman. She adds: “Catering for children’s food is also in disposable tableware.”
Unfortunately, this problem doesn’t only affect Sliven but most of the educational establishments settled in Bulgaria. If something different is going on somewhere it is the exception and definitely not the rule.
“Now my child is qualify as different within the group and this burden on her psyche” finishes her letter Maria Dilovska, who is also an expert ecologist in Sliven Municipality. She is adamant: “We must push for a firmly change in both the approach and the legal framework. I wish it will not be difficult. ”
On the territory of Sliven municipality there are 33 kindergartens. Hundreds of Bulgarian cities have a similar problem, but few are the parents who dare to confront the vicious system that every day poisons the health of the children and educates them on the principle of use – throw.
Translator: Valentina Vagge
