~ Marcel Proust
(edited 18 July 2008 - Oops it's one week, not two weeks. A whole load of boys have now gotten hold of her... eh.... mobile phone no. Her dad thinks it can only mean one thing - again going over the sms limit of her phone plan. Sigh.
And guess what? Apparently boys no longer ASK for your phone no. They ask to see your mobile phone. Then while they're fidgeting with your gadget, they send a message to their own phones to capture your no! How creative is that?)
For the next two weeks, my daughter will be attending another secondary school as part of a local exchange programme for some school councillors (school prefects). I think it's a fantastic idea! Although she won't be wearing their school uniform, she'll be expected to attend all their lessons and be subjected to whatever homework the teachers there dish out. She has no lack of male friends made through other avenues like church and school co-curricular activities but still I think it'll be a good eye-opener to attend classes in a co-ed school after years as a convent girl!
Having taught in both single sex mission schools and co-ed government schools, it is my personal opinion that the mission schools do not have to spend so much time on behaviourial correction (I may be wrong but please don't shoot me, lah). The kids in mission schools may not be exempted from misbehaviour but from what I have experienced, in comparison to the government school environment, it is bland green pepper to lethal chilli padi.
Having said that, make no mistake that either set of teachers are better off or better. They all work hard. Well, I mean they are expected to work hard. (I'd be lying if I said I haven't met lazy teachers!) They have to apply different skills to suit their different co-horts. Whatever their motivation, I take my hat off to those who have stuck it out long after their teaching bonds have expired.
Back to the subject of my daughter's exchange programme. She sort of panicked (She seldom panicks - very much like her Dad; cool and calm, kinda bochap, everything-also-can type) and told me that her own school tests were coming up and she'd be missing them because of this exchange programme. Her test marks are to be included in the final exam - so how?
She then said she was expected to do her own school's homework (for the two whole weeks of school missed) as well as her host school's homework - so how?
How? How?! Firstly, I wondered if the school knew that she'd be missing her tests because she would be M.I.A. (poor coordination on whoever's part). Secondly, was she expected to complete her homework from lessons missed (Huh? Play catch up based on what? Private tuition?). Her host school may not be teaching the syllabus in tandem with her own school's so she'll have a lot of catching up to do upon her return.
I don't bother my kids' schools or teachers much. I'm not one of those whiny, 'complainy' parents who often bang their fists and expect the rights due to them because I've been on the other side of the coin and know full well what teachers have to put up with.
From the teachers, all I ask is fairness.
So I told her to JUST GO AND ENJOY her two week exchange programme and not bother about her tests and homework. She's supposed to, amongst other tasks, interview the principal, come back to her own school and give a presentation to the whole school about her experience.
I told her to behave (because she was respresenting her school), think smart and do a good job and to learn from this priceless experience.
Basically, if being away from her own school results in her losing the test marks from her own school and failing some subjects, then so be it.
If poor planning or coordination resulted in such a situation, I'd handle it as a parent when we cross the bridge. Tests are not everything. Exams are not everything. Results are not everything.
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