So how, brown cow? Don't shoot me if I'm wrong...

With the so many changes in the education system in Singapore, it makes me think that perhaps it's about time that the government acknowledges the diversity and the different gifts in each child. With all the talk about more concrete and experiential learning experience, smaller classroom size and niche programs in schools, many children will have their different potential(s) and diverse talent(s) realised. But shoot me if I'm wrong, things are not really changing.

An early childhood colleague once mentioned to me that it's not the fault of the schools, but it's parents who are pushing their children to the edge, and in return pushed the teachers and principals. And therefore, it has become imperative for schools to upkeep their standards, thus stressing the principals and the teachers.

Let's say she is right but for a start why aren't the principals and teachers embracing the changes first and then changing the mindset of parents? Otherwise, the old and unwanted effects will just continue.

Here's a little snippet of something of this thing called the primary school registration in this little island of Singapore.

When I say I wanted to send my child to school A, a parent told me that it is not a good school, and suggested that I should send my child to school B instead. According to her, the academic standard in school B is better and even if your child is not doing so well, this school B is affiliated to a secondary school and your child will still stand a chance of a secondary school. (Affiliations or not, I just hope that my son is capable to get into a secondary school with his own abilities.) She, however, sent her child to school C because it is a SAP primary school, so-called the best in that area. (I will never have a chance to send my child to school C, for obvious reasons that my child will not take Mandarin as a second language in school.)

On my part, I have checked out the nearest available schools via their internet, and I was more impressed with school A's website rather than school B. And of course, I have my own reasons why I think school A will be better for my son. But with some non-highly recommended comments about school A, I decided to check out school A myself and met with the school principal. How I wished he would dispel some myths about his school and welcome me and my child to his school with opens arms. He did dispel some myths but the meeting that followed was definitely not what I was expecting.

According to principal of school A, not verbatim, "Our school is doing very well, in fact, our academic is very rigorous, and if your child is not able to read and write by the time he is in primary one, he will struggle and it will be stressful for him."

According to principal of school A, "our school is better that school B, because the aggregate of our top PSLE student's last year was higher than school B and many other schools around the district. In fact, we are better than school B in all subjects except Mandarin."

He also reiterated the fact that students who enter his school are mostly readers and they fall in the 3-5 categories. He does not have students in the 0 and 1 categories, meaning non-readers. He mentioned again that "if parents are not involved in their children's education, it will be difficult for the child to progress in his school." (Get the hint).

Two things here.

1) The principal's facts and figures actually show you that you should not just listen to any parents without checking it out yourself. The truth is better than hearsay. Also, don't let other parents change what you have in mind because only you know your child better. Firstly ask yourself, what is a good school to you and to your child? For me, I will not put my child in schools where there are major disciplinary and attitudinal issues with the children. Other than that, I have some faith in MOE and NIE for having one of the best curriculums in the world and some of the finest teachers.

2) I am definitely an advocate for parent involvement, but to keep reiterating the fact that if my son is not able to read and write in primary one, I repeat again, read and write in primary one, he will definitely struggle. Isn't he, the school principal, pushing the parents' to the edge and in return the kids will be pushed by the parents and the cycle continues? So who is stressing who now?

And I thought the schools are changing to accomodate the different abilities in students.

So how, brown cow?

It is not related to history

I'm having this perpetual cough that never seems to subside after the flu bug hits me. I don't know what is it about me or the weather here in Singapore that this sinus-cough ailment is stuck to me like a bad sore. Taking over-the-counter cough syrup does not do me any good. I need stronger dosage so in other words again, maybe another visit to the doc. Somehow, for the one year we were in Alabama, my health was good. Afzal had fever twice, but he never had a bad cough attack that we needed to scramble for his puffs. Here, when his cough sounded really bad, it looks like he was about to 'choke.'

Some four plus years ago, at least once a month, Afzal would always need to see a doctor. At that time, we went to a GP. But after no improvement, I decided that we should see a paeditrician. At the PD, we were told then that Afzal had mild asthma, something which the GP had not mention. We were surprised and rather doubtful about the PD's diagnosis. "It can't be!" we thought, because both me and my husband's side of the families have no history of asthma. That first time, however, Afzal was given those masked oxygen to breathe in that PD's clinic. He had a different cough, cold and fever medication than the usual ones that we had from the GP, and the PD prescribed us his inhalers as well as the "rocket."

Back in our car, I hugged him and cried, and once again the many times that I had felt so helpless and like a failure for not being able to help him welled up inside me. It did not help when we told our parents who refused to believe that Afzal had mild asthma because "there is no history in both our families." It made me feel even worst, as I felt like I was being accused whether intentional or not that I did not know how and did not take good care of my own son.

Just to be sure, we went to another doctor and was told the same thing. In fact, he assured us it may not necessarily be 'history' related but if any of the parents have sinus or eczema problems, that could potentially be a cause for asthma. I know I have this sinus problem and hubby too. So we both accept the fact that both of us could cause Afzal's asthma so as to shoulder the guilt together. Again, to be sure, we visited another paeditrician for a third opinion, and the results have not changed since.

But Afzal has been better, and has never ever needed to rely on his inhalers 24/7. And we are so grateful for that.

Trying to get back the momentum

It's not easy to get back to the momentum of writing in blogs, and I have saved a postings as draft. I'll come back to that later, I thought, well maybe yes, maybe not.

Being in home ground perhaps, I feel rather mundane to talk about things that I do unlike being in a different country where you get to experience new things thus you talk and blog about it. For one, changes in my life are not interesting materials to report about. And how I wish I have the gift of the pen like some other bloggers who write poignant stories and personal political statements.

Firstly, where do I start?

I'll be back, soon, I hope.

Has anyone notice that...

...I have not updated this blog for the longest time ever? Or the subtle changes that I have made in "About Afzalmom" and the addition of the "new Singapore time clock". Still sentimental about deleting "Mobile, Al's clock". Anyway, I'll try my best to update and to friends that have kept me company during my 'very on' blogging days, please pardon me for this cessation in transmission but you are still being remembered always.