Re <<Montessori>> both the coconut and the Jack attended Montessori. Coconut until end-Grade 5 when time to leave - read Encyclopedia from A-Z, liked "H" most,
and the Jack end-Grade 2 when he asked to take test and be at same and harder school as the Coconut so that he can opt to learn Chinese using simplified script. That is initiative! ad at Grade 2!!
He scored 94 in entrance test of the new and 'harder' school whereas he traditionally scored 30-50 in Montessori - Jack is relaxed, until he has to do otherwise for a good-enough reason. When we were surprised by the acceptance I had to call the school to make sure a mistake was not made in the notification system.
Once home I said to the Jack, "you got accepted by the school, because of your test score. You know you are in trouble, don't you?"
He knew what I meant, and responded, "Dada, that does not mean I can always do it" (so leave me alone)
These days he gets by on winning personality, always fun, and by "It is impossible to get 100" and then keep getting 100, without fretting.
When once the Coconut got a 99 on whatever, the Jack joshed her, "why are you not crying? you missed 1"
In HK we (the society and individually) pay teachers / tutors a lot, and together with the respect we shower them with, they command quite a social standing, together with doctors and chefs. Lawyers, accountants, and financial types take a back role. |
