Not On Top of Things
Dominic's school's Chinese Department is really NOT on top of things and I am seriously thinking of complaining about it even though I am trying very hard not to become one of those Complaint King parents.
In Term 2, a handout was given to the parents explaining the exam and grading structure of the various subjects, including that of SA2. It was mentioned that one of the component of the Chinese SA2 would be Show and Tell, which takes up 4%. Last term, which was Term 3, another handout was given again, focusing on SA2, the dates, the English Show and Tell topics and test dates, and the grading criteria for the Show and Tell. Nothing was mentioned about the Chinese Show and Tell, except to repeat what was already mentioned in the first handout, ie. there will be a Show and Tell component in the exam which takes up 4%.
My neighbour was asking me last week whether I have heard anything about the Chinese Show and Tell. Nope. Nothing. No mention of it. I asked Dominic to ask his Chinese Teacher but somehow, he seemed to have difficulty getting through to his teacher (no surprise).
Yesterday, I spoke to another mommy in school and she also had not heard anything about the Chinese Show and Tell. Basically, she just assumed that it would not happen after all, or there was some mistake in the handouts.
After I spoke to this mommy, I bumped into my neighbour - the first one who asked me about the Show and Tell - and she told me that she called her son's Chinese teacher and was told that the teacher in charge of the Show and Tell had not sorted out the details yet. And the teacher my neighbour spoke to even insinuated that she was kiasu to keep asking about it. Nevertheless, the teacher told my friend that the Show and Tell exam would probably be in Week 6 or 7. This week is already Week 3. This means there would be less than 3 weeks to prepare the kids for the exam.
After we came home, I searched Dominic's bag and found a handout on the Chinese Show and Tell. Finally! The exam is going to be held next week and the week after next!!!!!! Such a short notice! When I asked Dominic whether they did any practice in school, he said no. They have never done any Chinese Show and Tell practice in school! For English, they had a few rounds of practice. Not for Chinese. How can the school test them on something that they have not had any practice, and at such a short notice?!?!
Frankly, I am not too bothered about the Show and Tell per se because it is only 4% and SA2 is 60% of the final score, which means the Show and Tell is only a very small component. However, I am pissed more because of the way the whole thing is being handled.
The couple of mommies that I have spoken to also said the same thing about not knowing what is going on with the Chinese Department and shared the same experience about screw-ups like having the Chinese spelling before the writing assignment (生字).
Obviously, the Chinese Department is not on top of things and their attitude thus far has not been the most pleasant.
Honestly, it's not that parents like to complain and interfere. With teachers like these, it is very hard to just sit back and do nothing.
In Term 2, a handout was given to the parents explaining the exam and grading structure of the various subjects, including that of SA2. It was mentioned that one of the component of the Chinese SA2 would be Show and Tell, which takes up 4%. Last term, which was Term 3, another handout was given again, focusing on SA2, the dates, the English Show and Tell topics and test dates, and the grading criteria for the Show and Tell. Nothing was mentioned about the Chinese Show and Tell, except to repeat what was already mentioned in the first handout, ie. there will be a Show and Tell component in the exam which takes up 4%.
My neighbour was asking me last week whether I have heard anything about the Chinese Show and Tell. Nope. Nothing. No mention of it. I asked Dominic to ask his Chinese Teacher but somehow, he seemed to have difficulty getting through to his teacher (no surprise).
Yesterday, I spoke to another mommy in school and she also had not heard anything about the Chinese Show and Tell. Basically, she just assumed that it would not happen after all, or there was some mistake in the handouts.
After I spoke to this mommy, I bumped into my neighbour - the first one who asked me about the Show and Tell - and she told me that she called her son's Chinese teacher and was told that the teacher in charge of the Show and Tell had not sorted out the details yet. And the teacher my neighbour spoke to even insinuated that she was kiasu to keep asking about it. Nevertheless, the teacher told my friend that the Show and Tell exam would probably be in Week 6 or 7. This week is already Week 3. This means there would be less than 3 weeks to prepare the kids for the exam.
After we came home, I searched Dominic's bag and found a handout on the Chinese Show and Tell. Finally! The exam is going to be held next week and the week after next!!!!!! Such a short notice! When I asked Dominic whether they did any practice in school, he said no. They have never done any Chinese Show and Tell practice in school! For English, they had a few rounds of practice. Not for Chinese. How can the school test them on something that they have not had any practice, and at such a short notice?!?!
Frankly, I am not too bothered about the Show and Tell per se because it is only 4% and SA2 is 60% of the final score, which means the Show and Tell is only a very small component. However, I am pissed more because of the way the whole thing is being handled.
The couple of mommies that I have spoken to also said the same thing about not knowing what is going on with the Chinese Department and shared the same experience about screw-ups like having the Chinese spelling before the writing assignment (生字).
Obviously, the Chinese Department is not on top of things and their attitude thus far has not been the most pleasant.
Honestly, it's not that parents like to complain and interfere. With teachers like these, it is very hard to just sit back and do nothing.