Last in the class

I had to meet the twins' teachers again. Unfortunately, the report this time isn't as glowing as promising as the last one. The last one was almost glowing with how the twins were wonderfully cooperative, sharp and engaged, happy and ready to learn. Jordan was a little bit less academically inclined than Evan but she was still great in their books.

This time round, some things remained the same. They love story telling, they love singing and are very engaged in learning. But when it comes to sitting down and colouring or apparently, gluing bits of paper to bigger bits of paper, that's where they fail. FAIL.

I never thought I would hear that word associated with my 3 year olds.

Evan is uninterested in colouring and gluing. He can't hold his pencil right. He looks bored and would rather twiddle his thumbs than to colour within the lines.

Jordan is a little bit better but in the teacher's words, it's only because she's a girl and is more obedient to instruction. But even then, she apparently doesn't colour as well as she should and is SLOW.

Slow? I ask. It's a competition?

The teacher tries to back track and redress the situation. "Every one in class would be finished. But your son and daughter would not be done. They're almost last and they are slow."

There, the word again. SLOW. And add to that. LAST.

I used to be a competitive sprinter. Those are words that sound bad, both in my athletic and non-athletic dictionary. And those are words that should not be associated with my children's pre-school education.

I ask the teacher, a little bit snarkily, "So what do you suggest I do?"

As if she had prescribed this to other parents, she says matter of factly "Sit them down and colour with them everyday for 15 minutes."

Seriously?

I am tempted to ask if she feels it necessary for me to hire a tutor to ensure that they are able to colour quickly and accurately by the end of the year.

I have never wanted my children to be in an environment that places so much emphasis on the unimportant. And in the larger scheme of things, colouring is unimportant. I think the fact that they are somewhat obedient to instruction, are keen to learn and excited about it should be highly praised and encouraged.

I think that kicking up a fuss about the ability to colour is kicking up a fuss about nothing. But that hasn't stopped me from feeling very chastised by the teacher. Of course, I think it is ridiculous. But to be told that your children are the slowest in class and the last in class to finish their written work, it hits me hard in the gut. No mother wants to hear that her children have failed.

And I shouldn't be made to feel this way. Yes, I think it's valid that I should work with Evan to hold his pencil right and help him gain strength doing it. Yes, I think that being able to sit down and do work for a time is important to learning as well. But I think that it shouldn't be made such a big deal. I shouldn't be made to feel that my children have just flunked out of Colouring 101 and that is the end of the world as we know it.

Something's gotta changed.

I came home and asked the twins if they liked their school. Jordan said no. She said she wasn't happy because it was difficult. I'm not sure colouring is difficult but I suspect it's got to do with being nagged about colouring and being forced to do it.

I am torn. Part of me feels that they need to learn that some things they have to do in life will be boring but necessary. But part of me feels that they shouldn't be in a place that puts them down for not being able to do what is expected. Especially when they are supposed in an environment that is supposed to promote the love of learning and be nuturing.

And at the back of my mind, this little voice reminds me this is why I want to leave Singapore and put my children into a different type of education system. I'm not sure if it's just because of this but that voice sure is growing louder and louder.


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