As She Went 'Planet-Hopping'

My eldest girl is finally in standard one. At first, when we registered her, she was placed in Satu Zuhal. Being a year one pupil, the class meant nothing to her, as long as she has some familiar faces (her ex-kindergarten playmates) with her.

Somehow, the class teacher didn't gave the parents the class time-table. Not that it matters much, since the pupils get to leave their schoolbooks in school because there's a dedicated block for the standard one pupils. But we still need to be informed on which day she would have her physical education. She needs to bring her track-bottom and t-shirt.

So, as my husband went to send her one morning, he brought along our digital camera and snap the photo of the time-table - while other parents were busy copying it down :). He came home, download the picture, print it and there we have her class time-table in an instant! (He said, he felt like a spy.)

The teacher, during one of the briefings, told the parents that the children would be screened later. Those who couldn't read and write would be placed in a special class - a remove class - called Satu Zuhrah.

I told my girl that when the teacher asked her to read, she must do so. I wouldn't want her to be in the remove class. That would be a waste of time, when she could do other things. She reads well, especially English books.

A week later, she came home and told me excitedly, "Mama, I'm now in Satu Zuhrah!"

I didn't give my initial-shock-reaction, so I just said, "O.K...." and waiting for her to explain what happened. She didn't care much about which class she's attending, as long as she still has the familiar faces around her.

When my husband went and asked her new class teacher, she said that my girl didn't read properly and she also can't write very well. I disagree with the former though I concede the latter. If the remove class would help her writing, perhaps it is good for her.

So, my husband has to become the 'spy' and snap another photo of Satu Zuhrah's time-table.

My other girls went to the same kindergarten that my eldest attended. We had a good relationship with the kindergarten teacher. She was very concerned when I told her of my eldest girl's ordeal, though I assured her that my girl should be okay.

This week, my eldest came home and said, "Mama, I'm now in Marikh!"

"Well, are you doing some planet-hopping, dear?" She just smiled.

My husband also said that he saw her kindergarten teacher at the primary school the day before. He wondered if she 'explained' something to my girl's class teacher.

This morning, while sending the other girls, I asked her. She told me, "Yes, I told her class teacher that your daughter can't be placed in the remove class. It would be unfair to her since she knows how to read and write. Her handwriting is poor but, she could write, nevertheless.

"The class teacher said that you daughter refuse to respond in class. I said, that's because she speaks English. You are teaching her science. That subject is supposed to be taught in English. Then I asked your girl a few question and she answered me very well - in English. See? I told the teacher."

The class teacher also told the kindergarten teacher that my girl was very quiet in class. "Yes, I said. That's because you've been asking her in Malay. She also reads fluently both in Malay and English. I think you should try again. Whatever it is, she doesn't belong in Zuhrah. You are not being fair to her."

We are very much thankful for what she did even though we didn't asked her to go to that extend. But we do know that she knows my daughter more that I do (in terms of her education progress). She was so excited each time my girl could read or write because, my daughter had a problem with reading, writing and drawing when she first joined the kindergarten. So were other kids, I suppose but, my girl had a special attention from her. Her progress was by leaps and bounds after that. She just knew how to push the right button to make my girl responded.

I've always respected a kindergarten teacher like her, who take special interest in each of her pupils. She actually went an extra mile to put things in its proper place.

Only now, my husband had to become the spy-who-take-the-picture-of-1 Marikh's-time-table!