Political billboards could be ‘negatively influencing’ our children

Parents and educators have expressed their concerns regarding the numerous billboards being put up by political parties representing opposing party leaders in a juvenile way according to Nationalist MP Edwin Vassallo.

In a statement made on Facebook on 22 October, Vassallo said a primary school teacher condemned these billboards as being very harmful to children's education.

"She told me that political parties should be ashamed of themselves because they are teaching our children negative things. She said these billboards should be removed immediately and it was a shame that it was started by the Labour Party and continued by the Nationalists," Vassallo said.

In a personal note, Vassallo said he was "shocked" by these words. "I never saw this reality from the perspective of a teacher. I believe she's right."

Commenting directly to MaltaToday, Vassallo said the teacher he spoke to was anxious that these billboards were sending out the wrong message to children.

"I know of one five-year-old who said 'I will close my ears like Gonzi' referring to the billboard of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi covering his ears. Children might not be understanding the actual message but because they have such a significant message, misunderstanding it could be even worse," Vassallo explained.

MaltaToday asked Vassallo if he agreed with the PN's campaigning strategies but he was not forthcoming with a personal opinion only saying that he was simply revealing what people are telling him.

"I am not in the strategy group so I don't know what the ideas are within the group. I was simply publicly revealing a message which struck me. It surprised me and I think people should know and be aware that as adults, these messages may not be affecting everyone in the same way," he said.

Vassallo was also concerned by adults who criticised the PN's campaigning as being harmful. "They told me that the PN should have stuck to their initial campaign of saying what they have done for the country and what they plan to do. I have been told the PN is simply responding to the Labour Party strategy and are stooping down to their level which is harmful," Vassallo said emphasising that he was simply publicising public opinions.

When asked to comment on Vassallo's statement, two psychologists were more concerned about adults' reactions to the billboards as being more influential on children if left unexplained.

Clinical Psychologist Roberta Zahra De Domenico found it curious stating it would largely depend on the age of the child and their exposure.

"Billboards definitely do not portray a civil way of expressing an opinion. One can perhaps argue that they don't give a good model of how to resolve differences but it is questionable whether young children can be influenced unless heavily involved in the adult world of politics. It would also depend on how their parents explain or react to the billboards," Zahra De Domenico said.

She added that adults' reaction or treatment of the billboards would influence the children rather than the billboards themselves. "Parents have a key role in educating their children and it is up to them how they teach their children about what these billboards represent."

Chartered Psychologist Henri Cassar on the other hand said children at primary schools would more than likely see the "funny or silly side" and not really understand the jabs behind the billboards.

"If they were more mature, they might be able to formulate an opinion and be negatively influenced by these partisan methods. However, in my opinion, I think there would be more of a negative effect on politicians rather than the children," Cassar said. 

He explained that no matter the level of confidence a politician might have, see their face mocked on a massive billboard can be disheartening and hurtful.

"It is a sad and unhealthy thing that the ruling leading class relate to each other by denigrating each other publicly on billboards. It's a lack of ethics and a bad influence teaching adults and children alike that this is the way to get ahead in life," Cassar said.