Izma : Case Closed (?)

So... the case is now considered 'closed'.

Had a meeting with the HM, her 2 assistants, the discipline teacher and the school counsellor on Tuesday. Izma was not present, tho I requested for her to be there.

Cut to the chase : Izma has insisted she did not slap Stephanie repeatedly with a book. She just 'touched' Steph's shoulders with a thin book!

Well, anyway, HM said Izma has been given a show-cause letter, and they'll be keeping an eye on her. And to further explain their investigation (and protect her teachers, of course), she invited one of the assistant (A-HM) and the discipline teacher, DT, to give their reports.

The A-HM said she spoke to a few students from Steph's class, and they all confirmed that Izma did not hit Steph. Anyone could imgine how frightened a child would be to be called to the office and be questioned about Izma! (Steph told me later that one of the nice and dedicated Teacher asked those students why they did not tell the truth. The kids said that they did not dare as Izma might start hitting them too! I spoke to the Teacher, but she said that she's not allowed to discuss the case.)

According to DT, who consulted the few teachers who teach in Steph's class, Steph is a rude, disobedient child. He implied that because of Steph's behavior, she deserved to be hit (?). Oh, you could imagine my fury. I lost it it!!! Raised my voice and everything. Pointed out to them that since Year 1, Steph has been getting an A on her attitudes towards her studies and school in general. She might not excel in certain subjects, but teachers has always given her good remarks when it comes to her behavior and attitude. And now they (the HM, DT & Izma, at least) are implying that Stephanie is a 'discipline problem'?

As I was nearly screaming, the DT quickly added that Steph's 'discipline problem' is 'mild'. At this time, the school counsellor quietly said that "Stephanie is a good girl". (He has been on the investigation for this case and has spoken at length with Steph). That calmed me down, and the DT tried to climb out of the hole he dug himself by giving all sorts of nonsensical excuses about what he meant by 'discipline problems'. In the end he just trailed off......

Well.... anyway, Izma wrote an official apology "kerana menyetuh anak puan di bahagian bahunya dengan buku nipis". (touching your daughter on her shoulder with a thin book). Initially, I refused to accept that apology because Izma refused to acknowledge her wrong.

But my hubby, ever the calm, cool man, played 'good cop' to my 'bad cop'. He said of course the teacher will not admit in writing that she hit a student. That will be like handing over evidence of a crime. And since she has been given a show-cause letter, her career prospects has been much compromised. So we'll accept this way of settlement now. If it ever happens again in future, a lawyer will be involved!

So.... the case is now considered 'closed'..... until the next time (?)

Teacher Izma

Last friday, Stephanie (my 10-year-old) was repeatedly hit in the face with a book by a teacher! Her offence? She forgot to bring her book to school!

This teacher is well-known for hitting students. She's about 40+, wears long fake eye-lashes with studs on them (seriously), thick make-up, long fingernails with a ring on almost every finger. For this reasons, we dubbed her Izma (from Disney's Emperor's New Groove):

(think about the above in baju kurung, and you'll get the approximate picture)

She has been terrifying the kids since last year! This year, Josephine (Year 3) has her for Maths and Stephanie (Year 4) has her for KT (Kajian Tempatan).

She's a slapper! She once told a boy "The next time I'm going to give you a tight slap!" and she immediately slapped the boy! What happended to 'next time'????

She once banged two boys' head together because they wouldn't stop talking.

She told Jo's class that if they don't get an A for Maths, she's going to 'whollop' them!

She has been slapping and hitting the students, but no one dare complain coz the kids are terrified for she had warned them "if you complain to your parents and I get into trouble, you'll be in bigger trouble!"

Some parents knew about it, but no one complained as most likely, parents are afraid their kids will be victimized if they complained. This has been known to happen.

I am a "fair complainer". But I am also an 'appreciator'. Teachers know me. After all I've 4 kids in the same school!

You can imagine how I reacted when Stephanie told me on Friday (after school) that Izma used a book and hit both sides of her face. I was furious! I went back to school immediately (school's just 3 mins away from my house), wanting to confront Izma. She left already, but the HM and assistant-Head were still there. HM not free to see me, so Asst-H took down my complaint.

When I asked her what actions will be taken, she said that they will investigate, but the school is not obliged to tell me what actions were taken. (This is what they always say whenever a parent complain about a teacher or a situation). I told her that if they don't tell me what actions will be taken, then I'll just assumed no actions were taken. I'll lodge a police report and then go to Ministry of Education. That got her attention! As she cannot make decisions, she told me to come back on Monday (today) to speak to the HM.

Cut long story short, HM promised to investigate, but with UPSR and etc, she'll need time.

Stephanie came back from school today pretty unhappy. She told me that Izma scolded her in front of the class. Told her off for 'squealing' on her and getting her in trouble. Izma claimed that she did not hit her face. She was holding a notebook, and was going to tap Steph on the shoulder, but accidentally hit her face. Huh? Accidentally hit hit both sides of her face a few times?????

Izma asked the class who she has hit before. A girl put up her hand and Izma told her to 'put down your hands stupid girl!" No one else dare to put up their hands. Izma also told Stephanie that if she's so 'precious' she should just get out of the class and don't study or change school.

During Math period in Jo's class, Izma scolded Jo for not doing her work properly and say "I'm going to whollop your face if you do this again! You are just like your sister!"

I am horrified! How can this mad woman be allowed to teach????? I will insist on her termination!! I won't let this go without a fight!

Life is back to normal

Yes... indeed life is back to 'normal'. Why I say that? *Sigh* Another incident happened today at school......

Yes, it's Jeremy again. It's "Hari Suntikan' (some immunization jabs - I've lost track).

Well anyway, the kids were not warned. The nurses just turned up at school and almost all the Year 1 and Year 6 kids have to line-up for their turn to get a needle stuck into their arms! Some kids got 2 needles, and it seems there was this Year 6 kid who was given 4 jabs!!!! And so the news travelled about how that kid nearly 'died' - it was so painful. *eyes rolling*

Ok .... so it's Jeremy's turn. And he had no idea what was happening. In his own tearful words.....

"I was just lining up and suddenly the nurse grab me and put a needle into my right arm! Pain ma! So I kick her lor! Then 2 other nurses came and grab me and that first nurse put another needle ino my left arm. I kicked all of them."

He created such a havoc that his kor-kor Damian came running. Jeremy held onto kor-kor and wouldn't let go. He refused to go back to his class and followed Damian to his class instead. So what do you expect a 12 year old to do? Damian's teachers told him that he should have just left Jeremy to cry. That Damian is not helping his little brother by manja-ing (moddle-coddling) him.

Damian felt real bad. He's afraid that he might had just played a part in Jeremy turning out to be a monster. Are the teachers right? What do you think?

Jeremy..... again

Three weeks ago before the school holidays, the kids sat for their exams. remember Jeremy refused to do his BM test? Well, he did do it the next day. Teacher said he completed it in 15 mins. Jeremy said he "simply do". Guess what he got?

BM Kertas 1 - 93%
BM Kertas 2 - 92.5%

Oh, another incident happend with the Maths test. He completed the paper in 20 mins. He then started tearing out papers from an exercise book (buku conteng-la) and folding them into paper-planes and throwing it.

Teacher (the same one as BM Teacher) told him to stop. When Jeremy ignored her, she got angry and took his book away and threw it into the wastebasket!!! Jeremy also got angry, crumpled up his Maths paper and threw it into the basket too!!

If it's up to me - I'll have left the paper in the basket and given him a big 'ZERO'. But the teacher picked it up.

Well.... he got 100% for Maths! And Teacher gave him $1.

I know I should be worried about Jeremy's 'naughtiness'. After all the yelling, screaming and spanking - thinking about it - Jeremy does add flavour and colour to my life.

"Nurture his strengths & strengthen his weaknesses" . That's what my big sis advised me. Great advice. Yar, I guess I'll just go ahead and follow it!

Exams

It's EXAMS WEEK! The 3 older kids kept asking me if I think they'll do well? Of course I answered "YES, of course you'll do well!!" That answer satisfied them for about 5 mins, then ....

"What if I don't get an A?"

"It's ok, exams is not about getting A"

"But teacher say must get A!"

($%$$^##@ the teacher!!)

"Just do your best"

"How do you know what's my best?"

"I'm your mother! Of course I know when you do your best!"

"But what if I don't get an A?"

"It's ok"

"But teacher say ...."

(aaarrrrrgggghhhh.... someone please save me!!!!!)

Jeremy was the only want who seems so calm and cool about the whole exam thingy. Kor-kor asked him if he's prepared. Jeremy's answer was "Exam only-wat!" (what's the big deal huh? Way to go my boy!)

Then, today, at around 10.30am, Jeremy's teacher called me on my handphone. She said that Jeremy refused to do his BM test! Oh dear! What to do? I'm with a client and I can't just leave and go to school and threaten to kill him to make him do the test! So I told the teacher it's ok, please just let him be.

When I got home, I asked Jeremy why he didn't do the test?

He said "I don't like the teacher!" No wonder he was so cool. He already knew he's not going to do the test!

Happy Teacher's Day

Kids' school celebrated Teacher's Day today. There are about 40 teachers in the school. Amongst my 4 kids, there, there are 20 teachers teaching them. So, that means - I have to get 20 presents. Every year we give each teacher something. This year we got them this:

Ok-la, cheap and useless - just what the kids like and what the teachers expected!

Oh, they were also selling flowers in school so that those who didn't bring a gift can buy one - to raise funds for the 'Special Education Program' (a regular school program for those mentally challenged students). But i find this weird (or 'tasteless' is the correct word) - like imposing on the kids to get gift for the teachers.

Damian was asked to play a piece on the keyboard. He couldn't choose between Beethoven's "Fur Elise" or "Mamma-Mia". I told him to do "Mamma-Mia". He ended up playing 'Sonata' or something, after which he admitted didn't sound so great on the keyboard. (see, should have listened to your Mother!)

Oh, Damian also won 3rd prize in the Wilayah Teacher's Day Writing Competition. A total of about 50 schools participated. He collected his prize ($30 and a certificate) yesterday(Thursday) at Stadium Tititiwangsa, where the Territory's Teacher's Day celebration was held.

And then the day before (Wednesday), Damian participated in the inter-school Kuiz Kesihatan (Health Quiz). Team of 3 students. They scored the highes in round one (written quiz), which qualifies them into the finals (oral Q& A). It was very close, and they came in 2nd. (Only 2 marks short of the school in 1st place (SK Methodist 1). They were disappointed, but we (adults) assured them that it was a very great effort for their first time participation.

Opps, supposd to be about Teacher's Day.... as usual I digressed. What to do, bragging about my son is more interesting.

Anyway... Happy Teacher's Day!