"lao shi, lao shi, ni kan!" (Teacher, Look!)

in case u're wondering where ive been this week,

ive become a school teacher and was busy.

i thought, since im gonna be a teacher for abt 2 weeks,
before i start, i better go on a local holiday.

what's that?!?

go get a chalet la.

$39 at costa sand downtown east (former ntuc resort)
with 2 adult tickets to wild wild wet. (i always call it wet wet wild)

that's cheap. very cheap.

but i didnt manage to go www. becos it was YOUTH DAY 5 JULY
and it was packed.

well, i'll go on 23JULY, the day when im off work.
my last day at the child care is 22nd.


*****

there is this boy, CG, in my class.

i was warned that he was the naughtiest boy in school.
i was fore-warned he would bully new teachers. blah blah blah.

no. i dont believe that. i dont like discrimination and labelling.
especially when he is only 3.

CG is a different boy. he cant understand u like any other 3 year olds.
when he is obsessed, there's no stopping.
u cant discipline him like any other, he wont remember and doesnt know.
i dont think he knows danger.
he is frightful of simple things, like a yellow plate or a dried leaf.

he doesnt speak much, only -- "eeemmp" and other noises

most of the time, he plays alone.

since he dont know how to share, he is often in fury fights.

ive always had a soft spot for the "minor, unrepresented, misunderstood lot"

i hate injustice and i would, within my means, break any system that fosters it.

so on day one, i vowed that i would help CG integrate into his class.

day two, i coaxed him to sleep (nap time), i gave him his drink,
i fed him lunch (he cant sit still to eat) and i fixed his toy gun.

day three, CG rushed to fetch my shoes before we left to go outdoors.

that shows he has some concept in his mind. he is capable of understanding.
we need to go into his world.

so u could imagine why im elated when he finally spoke in comprehenable
sentence : "di di, di di! ni kan! xiao niao" he was pointing skyward to
the bird flying by.

"im not di di (younger brother), i am lao shi (teacher)"

he changed his text: "lao shi, lao shi! ni kan! xiao niao"

*smile*

he IS capable of understanding. we just need to give him TLC.

tender loving care -- that ought to be the pre-requisite of any teacher.

ya ya, maybe im NEW. but hey no. that should be the pre-requisite of any
teacher. i say.