OK, as you are all aware of my frustrations with my current school situation: wiggity wack admin, parents and thereby, students who get away with EVERYTHING…to the point where even a part-time British chic who comes in once a week for a few hours to teach Science … says that of all of her FIVE schools that she teaches at per week (through a English language center)… THIS SCHOOL is “lacking in ANY sort’ve disciplinary enforcement. Students are spoiled and lazy.” MmmmmmHMMMM!!! I feel somewhat relieved to know that I’m not alone in my observations…and this chic, only comes for a half-day, once a week! …. YES, FOLKS! IT IS THAT APPARENT to the senseful, naked eye! Argh.

We finally had a meeting today to discuss challenges and improvements to the current disorganization and inefficient (non-existent) system….and all I can say is, of course I was looked at to set the meeting off: on one hand, when talking to the colleagues for feedback – there was dead silence (even though I talk to them EVERYDAY about this..and they agree, but now all of a sudden mum when their opinions are called upon in front of the director; when talking to the director – there was major fear of change/parents’ perception, yet the director wants to “improve.” UMMMMMM. I was close to saying, “Dude, F’ the parents.. it’s YOUR school. You need to run it in a manner that is most effective FOR THE STUDENTS. Besides, the parents that I’ve personally built rapport with are FOR the proper Grammar that is currently lacking, and FOR appropriate textbooks for student levels and FOR the dividing of students per level. But if all suggestions for improvements are “not possible” from the admin standpoint, then why are we having this meeting, and why am I wasting my breath? We’ll keep running around in circles. Obviously the current model isn’t working either because we have some parents who have complained to take their child out of the supposed, English Grammar class that is conducted by the local bilingual Chinese teacher because of their western child is coming home with a Chinglish accent; Then you’ve got other parents telling their advanced kid that he doesn’t have to do his homework because it is too easy IN THE SAME CLASS AS kids who don’t know how to spell the word OF in third grade.” PHEWWWWW! I pretty much got that point across, without the profanity, but with a forced smile…. So now, we are looking into administering routine assessment tests till the end of this semester, with hopes of implementing appropriate level’ed classes in the 2nd semester. BOY! OH BOY! What have I signed myself up for?! This seriously would be an awesome post for a lazy, indifferent teacher. Why can’t I be just that??!!

In the end, I’d like to think much of this is cultural differences in business etc.. but also, it’s just plain ol’ (as my friend Kym would say,) WACK-dot-com.

As mentioned before, I even look forward to traveling one hour out to tutor a former student, once a week…. and her parents have also requested me to tutor their elder son (after testing and then firing 2 other tutors for him)… dropping duckets and arranging rides for me to do so!! I guess what I’m saying is… it sucks to feel so under-appreciated…on top of not have the administrative support to go along with it. Saying that you’re supportive and showing that you’re supportive is two entirely different things. I’m one of action…and hence, appreciate action over verbal blah.

But, let me simmer… I can go on… but I don’t want to waste any more finger energy to type it….

I am going to move on to happier times in this post. Since the start of this new school year, I’ve been receiving countless phone calls, emails and instant message conversations from some parents of my former students at former school – pretty much revolving the inadequacies of the “new” teacher who has since replaced me. From the way that I’ve been feeling about my current school, this little convo brightened up my day as it goes to show that my “caring efforts” to provide “real education” to my students (past and struggling present) are not in vain. Hence, by popular vote, I am in a sense, the People’s Champ. :-) It made me feel good….but sad at the same time for my lil’ babies.

I’ve removed personal info (names etc.) from this most recent IM conversation that I had with a former student’s parent for privacy reasons, but all else convo (and typos) remain. (For those who are lazy and wanna skip to the most important, I’ve bolded the comments that stopped me in my tracks…)

Former Parent says: Hi
Ms. M says: Hi, who is this?
Former Parent says: E’s mama, E from XXXX School
Ms. M says: Hi! How are you?
Former Parent says: If you still remember her, the very shy girl
Ms. M says: OF COURSE I DO!
Ms. M says: Don’t be silly! They are all my babies ☺
Former Parent says: We, both E and I missed you a lot
Former Parent: Actually the whole class has missed you a lot
Ms. M says: Aww I miss them all very much so as well!
Ms. M says: I went back to visit them a few weeks ago. I was so impressed with some of their improved English over the summer..and many grew taller!
Ms. M says: and less teeth, haha
Former Parent says: We didn’t know that your leaving can be such a disaster for those kids.. but it is true
Former Parent says: I like to put it in a straight forward way …
Former Parent says: I heard from E, they were so excited to see you at school!
Ms. M says: Aww, I appreciate the truthfulness. It does make me feel sad, because each of those students are so wonderful!
Ms. M says: How is E doing with her English studies now?
Former Parent says: well, you know , they are all not native speakers, and the new teacher is pretty demanding in reading, which makes her suffer a lot to grab the meanings…
Former Parent says: for eg. they have words, like canter, bandanna, which even I do not know, as spelling words. I was firstly very worried about her that she cannot follow, after I talked with other mamas from the class, actually they shares the same worries with me .
Ms. M says: I see.
Ms. M says: The best thing that can be done is to have an open discussion with the teacher and possibly the Dean to see if the teacher can modify her lessons so that they are appropriately level’ed for the student’s abilities.
Former Parent says: well, yes, we did, she says to us that grade 2 is actually demanding, her aim is to bring them to a much higher level. This we do appreciate. However, most of the kids has problem to absorb her teaching…
Former Parent says: hehe, you were too good, for us to accept another one …
Ms. M says: Aww, thank you very much. They were a joy to teach.
Former Parent says: we all regret that before we realize that you have already signed another contract… otherwise we definitely would’ve talk to school to keep you-a good teacher is so critical for a school. At work, I am dealing with Human Resources, I know how important talents to a company!
Ms. M says: It is great to challenge them for sure, as that is what each Grade is supposed to be… all teachers won’t teach the same way, and there needs to be a middle point for the teachers and students to meet.
Ms. M says: But it also requires teachers to be open.
Ms. M says: Thank you, I had nothing wrong with the school nor the students nor parents.. I think you were all FANTASTIC! But it was my decision to leave because of location. I was commuting ridiculous hours last year – living in Puxi, required me to wake at 5:30am!
Ms. M says: So it was a personal decision for me to leave. …. That’s why I mentioned, unless the school would build me a villa nearby the school, hahaha
Former Parent says: exactly, I suppose a teacher shall be open-minded to see her kids’ real ability.
Former Parent says: why , thank you for your openness to me
Former Parent says: about your leaving,
Former Parent says: you are just smart enough to sense that I would like to try to make you back…
Ms. M says: Aye! It makes me sad to hear the students are struggling so much! I miss them dearly too!
Former Parent says: thank you, Mimi, I have to say they are just so lucky to have you as their teacher on their first school year,,,
Ms. M says: I hope they can continue on with the solid study skills they learned in their first year to carry them throughout this yr and so on. I was honestly, truly proud of each and every one of their progress by the end of the year. They had learned, absorbed and become experts to so much content!
Ms. M says: What type of company are you HR for?
Former Parent says: I have to tell you that last week, after school’s open day. Some of our parents gather together at lunch time, we all expressed how much we liked you, some mom’s were talking with tears… ( you know, how much we see that our little one loves English study with you…)
Former Parent says: by the way, my company is a creative agency for helping company strengthen their employer brand.
Ms. M says: ahhh cool! that’s what i did in new york
Former Parent says: kidding!
Former Parent says: so, you know Hodes, TMP,
Former Parent: or even Maximum, a Holland origin company, I am working as business development , challenging job.
Ms. M says: hmm, I can’t say that I am too familiar
Ms. M says: I had done work with advertising agencies and lifestyle marketing companies
Former Parent says: come on , so you come to China for teaching…
Former Parent says: that’s totally different lifestyle, dealing with kids, a lot of patience…
Ms. M says: I come for teaching and traveling ☺ Plus, I’ve done some teaching/tutoring/mentoring in NY before I got into marketing/business.
Former Parent says: yes, you had your introduction
Ms. M says: Absolutely! You don’t need to tell me that! I’ve learned a lot while teaching out here.. esp now at different type schools etc. It’s all substantial hands-on experience.
Ms. M says: Besides, I’ve had great mentors/bosses/teachers in my lifetime who I still keep in contact with. Even when I had a staff, I was always there for them… it’s no different from teaching. There are proper foundations that can be learned from primary school that are relevant in adulthood. That was my goal with the students last year..and I firmly believe they each achieved it!
Ms. M says: ..but now you know a bit more of my detailed background than many of the other parents, haha
Former Parent says: I believe so, you had great teachers in your lifetime, which effect your teaching style as well
Former Parent says: ha ha ha , yes. I guess that we are now more friends than parent-teacher relation.
Ms. M says: Well, that was always my style from the beginning. It is important to have open, comfortable relations between parent and teacher; our common goal revolves around the child’s development. I think you all were such amazingly supportive parents of your childrens’ education..it was awesome… and we all got off on a great start.
Ms. M says: If you believe it or not, not ALL parents are like that.. which makes the teachers’ job very difficult.
Former Parent says: I totally agree with you. However, I try to judge that if my daughter is one of the few ones who has problems, I will try to look for problems of myself. But to be frank, the teacher now, has somewhat difficulties to see that most of the kids have difficulties…
Ms. M says: Has she done anything to adapt?
Ms. M says: or is the Dean involved?
Former Parent says: yes, of course.
Former Parent says: we had very heated talk with the Dean and even herself had a special session to explain to all the parents
Former Parent says: we were all shocked to find that that the new teacher check kids’ homework once a month!
Former Parent says: now she is changing …
Ms. M says: Well that is a good sign
Former Parent says: but, there are so many other details… the Dean is extremely busy to solve every problem,
Ms. M says: Have you parents had a direct meeting with the new teacher?
Ms. M says: ..to express parental concerns as a whole?
Ms. M says: or email her etc.?
Ms. M says: get her personal feedback.
Ms. M says: Basically, the worst thing parents can do is to come down too harsh on the teacher because the teacher is doing her best and is not easy to follow the role of the former teacher. The teacher, on the other hand, needs to hear and put into action some of the concerns from the parents.
Ms. M says: I am not sure what I can do at this point
Former Parent says: sure, actually we also try not to be hostile to her, our common goal is to help our kids,,,she even did not realize that not all the parents can speak English
Ms. M says: right, so she herself is learning the school system etc.
Former Parent says: exactly
Former Parent says: what bother me most, is she picks a lot of difficult words from reading materials, like each week 20 new words, without any phonic regularity, for kids to check them in dictionary one by one, which cost a lot of time,,, and finally I still find E does not understand the meaning of them.
Ms. M says: I’m sorry to hear of all this :-/
Former Parent says: I want to ask you is , is checking dictionary so critical for learning? why she does not let kids to spend time on understanding the words? to make sentences of those words?
Ms. M says: It is good to know how to use for practice, but dictionaries – unless they are leveled for students to read/easy to understand…. can make them more confused because definitions will have words they don’t know.
Ms. M says: If you remember last year, I suggested “Children’s Dictionaries” and had the students practice with certain (easy) words that I knew the students could find….. so they can practice, and know ‘HOW TO’ use the dictionary… in other words, a study/reference skill, ie. Using guide words etc.
Ms. M says: But building relative and contextual definitions for the students to understand is easier/best for building vocabulary.
Former Parent says: you got my concern directly …
Ms. M says: I hope that all helps… I am finished here w my workday…so I have to run out of here! If there is something else I can help with … my mobile: XXXX XXXX XXX
Former Parent says: thank you mimi, at least I got professional and sincere help from your side, keep contact
Ms. M says: No problem, glad to help. Hope things get better for the class….. talk soon. Take care..and please send my regards to your husband and other parents
Former Parent says: sure! Have a nice evening!

All of this of course, has gotten me think of opening a Ms. Mimi School of English. LOL

. . don’t burn the day. .