The Sneetches

The Sneetches is one of the most interesting children's book in my collection. I recently re-read the book and pondered once again on its meaning which is so timeless. Bigotry, racism, political divide and class segregation were tackled effortlessly in such a classic book written in 1961.


The Star-bellied Sneetches think that they are the creme of the crop, the bold and the beautiful, the elite and impressionistas.  The Plain-bellied Sneetches are the regular guys and gals, the one who work harder to be recognized if ever, the introverts or the castaways. Sylvester Mc Monkey-Mc Bean is the enterprenuer who offered both parties access to acceptance, gaining opulence for his tricky endeavour to change a star bellied one to a plain one and vice-versa.


I wanted to be a Star-bellied Sneetch so that I could belong. I wanted to be up there in a pedestal, enjoying life as some people do, living each page of their book as chapters filled with fairy tale characters. It is an enviable state. But I am just a Plain-bellied Sneetch whose day to day existence is marked by hard work, challenges and discrimination. I am but poor.


I never have a BB or an iPhone nor had acquired new gadgets that flood the market. I have some luxuries at home such as a television set or a desktop computer to which to blog my superficial complaints in life. I wish for some but I have more pressing problems than chit chatting with Siri or letting people know my whereabouts. 


When I wear a cheap watch, does it mean I am poor and of no material asset? When I dress down, does it show my inability to be fashion conscious? When I am Asian, does it mean I am a second class citizen? No! It means that I value a watch for its ability to tell time, I appreciate wearing comfortable clothes, and that I am a worthy person whose value as a teacher is well respected and accepted.


So for those who see material gain as a parameter for success, I let you. For those who think that decking myself with gold is a way to gain respect, then let it be. For I am going to die Plain-bellied but contented, who had lived partly as a Star-bellied Sneetch, all because of my own sacrifices. 


All on my own, from birth to death.

Questions and Answers

Children are generally inquisitive and part of our curriculum in school is to hone this inquisitiveness as it is part and parcel of our approach to project work. Though I enjoy the questions and answers vis-a-vis that happens everyday, I am still compounded by intrigue when I am asked about other things that are not project related. Here are some samples:


- Did you ever go to school? 
- Did you learn to add and to subtract?
- Why are your teeth black?
- Is your mom dead?
- How old are you?
- You have a birthday?
- Do you live in school?
- Do you like me?
- I know who your favourite is.
- Can I go to your house?
- Can you go to my house for tea?


And my favourite...Can you be my daddy?


I answer them as honestly as I can, okay, not really especially with the age thing. I always tell them that I am a hundred years old and they will always tell me, that I should be dead. Very clever indeed!

Sunset

When I started in this school where art plays an important part of the teaching curriculum, I was amazed how creative the staff were. From the head of the school to the teachers and the assistant teachers, each and every one contributes to showcase a magnificent array of art and paintings every year that children and teachers collaborate on.

We auction out the artworks to parents to support two hill tribes that our families of schools support. My first year was absolutely fabulous as one parent from another class came and bid on almost all the artworks and taking home one fine piece for 10,000 baht, a feat to beat since silent auctions started in school.

For the next seven years nothing had beaten the record as each and every artworks went within the price range of 250 baht up to seven to eight thousand the most, until recently. This year, a very generous parent bid on an artwork for 10 thousand matching the previous record, and I was very surprised. The art was from the youngest class in our school and it was a pretty one. As I told my assistant that our record is now matched, I was a bit disappointed.

However, during the actual bidding day, final bids were placed at the last minute and when they were posted for collection, I was aghast and couldn't believe that a mom actually got one of my class artworks for twenty thousand baht (650USD). The mom herself made history in school.

The art work was a study of light and shadow using houses and other structures as foreground. The background turned so well when three to four different hues were painted on the canvas making a blast of orange yellowish hues to create sunset. It turned to be one of the most difficult art work ever in terms of colour separation and combination. But the end result was a much worth product. When great minds get together, we produce one equally great art.

My heartfelt thanks goes to the Rust family. Thank you so much.

Help Not Break

I wrote this blog entry last year before the school year ended but did not publish it for personal reasons. However, this year, which is also almost the end of the school year, another uneventful happening transpired once again.  

Last year, I was sad as one of the parents in my class went behind my back and approached another person from a big school, stating my case with her son, and that I was in need of help. There were issues regarding the behaviour of her son of which we had been discussing in regular terms. To cut the story short, the mom could have spoken to me, or to my supervisor, and that we could probably channel our efforts together to find resolutions to our problems. 

I wanted to confront the mother. I couldn't bear that inside conflicts should be poured outside the gates so as to create pity, self-absolution, and guilt free conscience on her part. The challenge was within and putting them in the open created more of a problem rather than a solution.


This year, a mom voiced her concern about her child telling her that I had commented not liking the child's artworks. I was baffled since I had been very careful with my words with each child. In other words, there was a misunderstanding as I wanted the girl to use her strength in drawing to venture into other illustrations. The issues were compounded not just with one comment but also with coming to school on time and issues about maturity.


As an educator, I give all but sometimes, it makes me more of an intruder rather than a facilitator to others. I always have good intentions but sometimes they are read otherwise.


My point is that we should be looking inside, ourselves, as the problem could be deep within us. It could be a personality conflict, a retaliation to change, a seemingly need of attention, a desperate attempt to belong, a deep desire to be heard, or simply a growing need to be independent and self-sufficient. It could be that I had been lenient, or too strict, too giving, or too loving. It could be that I allowed the child's behaviour to grow wild. It could be the child is testing the limits of his teachers. It could be related to maturity or to his developmental growth.

The problem could be stemming from the parent's way of handling the child. It could be that he is the youngest and still being consider a baby of the family. It could be that there is denial on their part as to the manifested behaviour. It could be that their way of rearing the youngest simply doesn't fit the mold of how they reared the eldest child. It could also be that the parents are too giving or too understanding.

Whatever happens, the situation could not be remedied by constant gossiping, blaming and finger pointing. The key to change is communication. Knowing that what is to be done today will affect tomorrow. Knowing that early intervention is a great catalyst for change. Knowing that the intentions of all parties concerned is for the benefit of the child. Working together is far better than destroying each others' reputation.


Helping becomes a better choice than destroying each other.

Families

As I was being sent off by the father of one of the students I teach, I told him that I am willing to stop if they don't need me anymore since I had been teaching the children during the weekends for many years now. He mentioned that he wanted the children to practise speaking so I kept silent and dismissed my suggestion.


I remember when I first started with this local family many years ago, I was offered drinks and cake for snacks and I partook such delight with my student after our session. As years passed, and even with the last few years, I was not even offered a glass of water, I have to ask. I started bringing mine so as not to bother their maid but in all honesty, I feel their hostile treatment whenever I am there. There was even one time when it was my student's birthday and they will have a party afterwards so food and drinks were aplenty, I wasn't offered any.


This is because I had been doing tutorials with them for many years that the treatment becomes more mechanical rather than warm. I go there, teach and go. With this kind of situation, I cannot help but compare them with the rest of the children I teach where the dads are very approachable, the moms very accommodating, and the maids very polite and well-mannered.


The families I teach are different in many ways. While some regards me only as a paid tutor to their children, others show me that I am their family member as well. For now, I offered my resignation, it is up to them to accept or reject as I also vow to expect nothing from them but their money and this has never been my goal in teaching.


I wrote this entry because I remember a family who had been so good to me ever since. I do miss the Kitcharoenwong family a lot and will forever be thankful for their kindness and generosity.

Kind Words

Every year, I receive great feed backs from parents of my students as the school year is about to end. Their different experiences with me as a teacher prompt them to write interesting pieces and mostly shared through e-mails or greeting cards. No amount of presents, big or small, can fill the happiness and validation of the kind words they write for me. Here is one just recently:


Thank you!

He is much better. He slept and omitted most of Monday after he came home from school. Today he was a little grumpy but managed to eat some. We had no idea he was sick Monday morning when I sent him to school. I hope he didn't pass it onto anyone. Sunday night he practiced for the ISB triathlon and ran and ran and ran... He is a trooper.

I hope you are feeling better too after last week. Courtney told me you were feeling rough also. I don't know how you keep up your energy level with all the kids all the time. Amazing to me.

It crossed my mind that it will be hard for Kevin to leave ELC, since he will likely be our last to attend. We rave about your class to others, and they look forward to when their child is old enough to attend your class.

Thank you for all you do for the children. They are better people for learning from you.

Take care,
Amy


I am going to find time to compile all the e-mails I received just for this school year and put them in my blog as a reminder of why I am a teacher and why I stayed put in this profession. Though there are some tough things ahead, I will look at them as challenges and not as deterrents to succeed further.