My daughter has a P1 English vocab question in picture form that is with me until now.

In the picture, it shows a dog going after a cat.  So the multiple choice words include ‘playing, chasing, etc’.  My daughter chose ‘playing’ and she was marked wrong.  In my eye, the obvious word should be ‘chasing’.

I asked her why she thinks that she is correct.  She pointed to the face of the cat and told me, ‘See, the cat is smiling.’ (and the picture really shows a smiling cat).

I wrapped up that question by saying that mummy thinks she is correct but the picture should have shown a scary cat and so the picture is wrong but never mind about the 2 marks and we shall see what other interesting pictures would turn up the next round.

She excels in Literature but her interest was very negatively affected by her Literature teacher during an exam in her Sec 1. The students were given a piece of unseen poem for analysis. She did her part but was given very minimal marks coz that was not what the teacher wanted. I read through her analysis and it made sense (well supported and written). However, the teacher had ‘marking guidelines’ and if the students couldn’t state the points required, then there will be low/no marks. I feel the teacher is taking a poem like science or maths that need to have precise answers… (anyway, she still scored an A1 for her literature in her O levels).

She can write Chinese compo creatively but her Chinese teacher expected her to write Chinese compo in a sure-score manner (there is a ‘sure-score’ format for all to use). She was distraught as she couldn’t write the way she wanted as the moment she didn’t adhere to the ‘standard guideline’, her teacher would mark her down drastically. The teacher even could tell that to me on my face during PTC that that is the safest way to an A1 in O levels and so should not ‘take chance’ (I argued with the teacher but gave up eventually as no point trying to convince someone who is so driven by KPI). I feel for her. The teacher destroyed whatever good Chinese exposure that I have been giving to her by year in and year out drying up her creativity for the sake of MARKS. I discussed ‘reality’ with her and told her actually I am OK with her free writing if she could accept probable marks from her teacher though not necessarily from the O Level marker. Just like what I had advised her over her Literature writing, she would be best if she could conform to her feelings when comes to writing. I added that there are many ‘square’ people around and we just have to deal with such square people even though we cannot see eye to eye with them. She relented and conformed to those ‘guidelines’ under ultra reluctance that I know she feels sore until today (she got an A2 for her Higher Chinese in her O levels).

This out-of-shape, distorted educational system… (at least for her school).

I am frustrated with the local educational system. I can’t wait to pack my kids off to overseas for their higher education once they are ready (I can’t stand ‘square’ people and the chance of them turning square permanently is high if continue to be educated here).