Who needs 3Rs? Pupils aged 4 get massage lessons
PUPILS in Scottish primary schools are to be given classes in massage.
Children between the ages of four and 12 will be taught a series of routines which aim to make them more relaxed and improve their levels of concentration.
But critics say the funding for the scheme would be better spent on boosting falling literacy and numeracy rates and addressing the shortage of teachers.
The initiative is being pioneered by East Ayrshire Council – which is spending £30,000 on the Massage in Schools Programme.
If successful, it could be rolled out across the country.
The SNP-controlled local authority is hoping to offer classes to 6,000 pupils at its 42 primary schools and is trying to recruit a massage specialist.
During the sessions, pupils remain fully clothed and touch only each other’s heads, shoulders and hands. Teachers and adults have no physical contact with pupils.
Teacher Isabel Fraser, acting chairman of the Massage in Schools Association Scotland, said: ‘It is a clothed, peer massage programme – it is only the children who massage each other. One person sits in front on a chair and asks the other face to face for permission. That is an important part of the programme – asking permission and saying “thank you”, respect.
‘Respect also brings about that ability to absolutely say “no” if they feel that they don’t want a massage, and that is perfectly fine.
‘Relaxation is certainly one of the benefits of massages, but we see improved concentration, co-operation, self-esteem – the classroom environment is certainly calmer.
‘It does help develop better motor skills such as their writing – they are more at ease because they are more relaxed.
‘It does have a very good track record for reducing aggressive behaviour and bullying. That is the main bonus schools have seen.’
The Massage in Schools Programme began in England in 2000, and has won support nationwide, including from academics. In the long-term children have it fitted into the curriculum at least once a week, for 15 minutes after lunch.
So far in East Ayrshire, sessions have been introduced fully to three primary schools and to various classes in five others.
A council spokesman said massage would ‘improve the health and wellbeing’ of pupils.
But Scottish Tory education spokesman Liz Smith said: ‘Many parents will be questioning whether this substantial sum of money is best spent on massage for fouryear-olds – rightly so. The primary focus should be on improving literacy and numeracy and on addressing teacher shortages.’
Primary teacher Dougie Mirfin, from East Ayrshire’s additional support needs service, has been teaching massage in classrooms and said it had a ‘positive impact’.
He added: ‘The children sit in pairs and choose whichever partner they want to work with.
‘They also have the option that if they don’t want to take part they can sit and observe.
‘There are different moves – the Eyeglasses, that is like drawing circles on the back. The Bunnyhops is using your thumbs on the person’s hand.’