Last Primary School Report Book Slip of the Year

John came home and showed me his P6 Report Book with what is probably his last report slip of the year. This is sort of what was written in the remarks column (didn't strike me to copy it before returning it back to the teacher) :

"A Vice-Head Prefect in the school. John scored two distinctions in the University of New South Wales' ICAS for Science and Computer Skills. He has made a marked improvement in his mathematics. Well done!"

I cannot recall the exact words. This is the gist of what I remember reading (late at night) and groggy from being woken from lying in bed with John's usual, 'Mum! You didn't sign my report book!'. Of course I went, 'But you didn't show it to me!'

Every year, the primary and secondary school kids get the option to sit for external tests conducted by Educational Assessment Australia (EAA) which is owned by the University of New South Wales. According to the website, "EAA specialises in large-scale assessments including the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS). ICAS tests primary and secondary school students in the core curriculum subjects each year nationally and internationally."

Yes, you have to pay for the tests which you wish your child to take. Yes, it is a way to see how you fare against your local and international peers. Yes, it is a way for me to assure myself that though my son may be streamed to the 'Normal Stream' (5 yrs in the Secondary School) because of his sucky Chinese Mother Tongue standard, I think he'll be okay in life.

Yes, I know. This is only the PSLE. Why torment myself over this silly local exam? You have to understand where I'm coming from. This is Singapore. I mean THIS IS SINGAPORE. The island we live in where most of the people judge you by your school exam results!!! Hah! Dumb but true.

Why? Why? Why? Why can't these men-in-white see the light? Just let  kids like mine enjoy learning their Mother Tongue. Make it a non-exam subject so that kids will really, really get to enjoy speaking and writing. Groom them to become eloquent speakers and writers. Isn't that the purposes? Do away with including the Mother Tongue grades where streaming or postings are concerned. Concentrate on making us a nation of good English speakers before our English standard goes 'Boomz!' (term coined by infamous 2009 Ms. Singapore/World, Ris Low).

His dad and I told John 2 nights ago, that he should strive to become a Minister and probably that would have to be Education Minister so that he can make changes to this sucky 'Mother-Tongue-marks-included' policy and save the younger generations!

I'm just a typical mum trying not to worry about my son's future. If he gets streamed to the Normal Stream, that would mean 1 extra year in the secondary school while his peers go on to Junior College or Polytechnic. The whole secondary school curriculum standard will be different from those in the Express Stream (4 years). Expectations will be different. It will be a totally different ball game, ya? (why did I just add that 'ya'? it sounds so 'Sarong Party Girl'!).


And why, pray tell will he get streamed to the Normal Stream if he is as smart as his mum thinks he is? Because he isn't good with the Chinese language. He's improving but it's not fast enough and it's going to sabotage his overall PSLE aggregate. Sigh. Sigh. Sigh.

But you know, funny thing....I took a longer drive back home from work yesterday evening (whoever drives up the opposite direction of where they are going? well, I did!). I needed some time to think while the stereo was blasting 'Praise and Worship' music. Then I passed a traffic junction where a few years ago, John's school mate (who was in P6 then) had been knocked down and killed. I've passed that spot many times. But this time, it just hit me. It has become very clear.

I will accept my son, than no son at all.
I will accept my daughter, than no daughter at all.
I will accept my husband, than no husband at all.
I will accept Jesus and whatever he has in store for me, joy and tears, than no Jesus at all.