After graduation at university,being a flight attendant wasn't my first priority for choosing my first job even I had finished two interviews from two main airlines in Hong Kong. I gave up the offers from them then I chose to work for a 'famous' chain playgroup schools as a playgroup teacher.
The reason I accepted the offer from the playground school is so simple - I just love spending time with kids rather than adults. I thought this would be the most suitable job for my personality but obviously was wrong, so that's why I left the school after 7 months.
-Image captured from Google.
In Hong Kong, 'Playgroup' Culture becomes a 'must join' activity for kids. The definition of 'Playgroup' in western countries is to create a space for kids to have fun and learn how to interact with other kids in a nice and happy environment. Unfortunately, it becomes a commercial possibility for people who abuse parents' wants.
Research
According to the public opinion market researches in the past few years, they showed the same atmosphere of HK education - Parents would love to send their 1-2 years old children to Playgroup and the programmes the parents applies are not only focus on having fun and extra curricular activities, but language studying and learning with schedules. It sounds more like playground is a tutor school more than it was supposed to be.
According to professionals, kids are not recommended to join playgroup classes under 1 as they are still in a stage called 'insecurity' and what they need is parents but not other kids and teachers around. Only after 1 or 2 years old, kids will love to explore more and they are curious about everything around their life which is good for developing their own creativity and critical thinking. Some parents may think if let the kids spend more time with peers, they can learn how to treat others. However, professions pointed out that 2-6 years kids normally only think about themselves in this stage due to the limited developing of brain. Once the brain develops more well, kids will know how to care others' feelings and be more mature. So don't expect they can learn how to interact with other kids from playgroup lessons.
-Image captured from Google.
My Working Experience in Playground School
I worked for a playground school which teaches kids Chinese, phonics, maths and writing. One lesson (1 hour and 45 mins) includes either one of the subjects I mentioned plus 45 mins 'fun time' (playing toys, singing and dancing).
Everyday I was so stressed because I needed to force to kids to learn everything I taught in the lesson and make sure they could remember all of them (entertain the parents and my boss). I can't remember how many of them cried in the classroom refusing to learn the vocabularies, how many fights kids had because of the toys, and how many of them lost temper because they missed their parents. The most ridiculous thing is how my boss handle kids' emotion with unfairness according to kids from 'rich' or 'poor' family.
I am happy that I have the same goal and thought about how to grow up our kids with my partner @jankasparec. It's not easy to compromise and always at the end becomes a crisis when the parents have different opinion and perspectives about educate the kids. Treat kids nicely and let them grow in their own way. Imagines that I learnt English since I was 6 years old and now I can write at least a 'not bad' article and I can still speak 'ok' English. So why don't give them amazing and beautiful memories instead of killing them slowly by forcing the to grow up. Parents, please wake up. Think that how you grew up and which part of your life screwed up your pure and beautiful soul. Maybe schools? Maybe parents or society?
Thank you for upvoting, resteeming and leaving comments.
Much love,
Gladys
Probably your best article to date @gladysmak, so heartbreaking but true! I'm so so so so so soooooo damn happy that you are who you are, an awakened beautiful woman who refuses to screw up children, make them in little efficient slaves while seeding deep traumas in their psyche.
Kids are the treasure:) that’s great you have same feeling as I have!
Wow. I am glad that you pursued with your other job as a flight attendant since I can just imagine how frustrating that must have been especially when your boss is not much help, by the way he/she treats the children.
I also love the children and always wanted to work with children, but like you said, I think everyone puts too much responsibility on you like the parents and the boss etc. It is not the teachers responsibility to teach the kids everything, and lots of parents forget that and they think that the teachers job is to teach their kids everything and they don't have to do anything or take any responsibilites for their kids actions. Kids are suppose to be kids and have fun and make memories and they all learn differently and we have to accept that. Parents love and care is the most important thing for the child, not the education or trying to make them something they are not.
Love is the most important thing for the kids, and that is what our children need.
Thanks for sharing this post with us and I know you both will be awesome parents because of who you guys are and your heart is pure and that is the biggest gift we can give our children.
Thank you for your lovely comment Jo. I agree what you said. I found out parents think that paying money to the school then they can pass the responsibility to school but not theirs anymore. It turns out there is obvious logic- money is everything. They forget that parents actually are their role model and kids love learning from their parents.
very excellent life
you're right, the world is not right, but that's it
The world is going wrong somehow. One day everything will back to what it should be anyway. Just don’t know when 😉
Wow really good post its touch my heart keep it up dear friend @gladysmak
you write a big post about society and our life.... i agree with you and i like your thinking about education subjects....
Thank you :)
a very good post my friend
I think the playgroup concept in Singapore is very much similar to HK. I've seen teachers bring them out to the playground nearby. There is always one nearby. One teacher was spraying disinfectant on the kids hands before they start going into the playground.
I think most of the Asian cities they have same situation too. I know even in Canada, Chinese brings this twisted concept of playgroup asmostsphere to western countries now!
作为一个一岁半孩子的妈妈非常理解带孩子的辛苦。。。是我我也会做flight attendant. 飞来飞去又可以看世界又可以赚钱，何乐而不为：)
但是時候要停下來為將來建立家庭作打算了！常飛身體都累壞了！
是呀，人生每个阶段目标不一样。也没有遗憾啦，看够了世界可以安定下来了：）
Very much agree with you. I have also taught kids, I find that kids are great but when everyone pours expectations on them, they become rotten quite quickly. When they are free from pressure, they WANT to learn, but classrooms are rigid and don’t allow that kind of passion to flow freely. I believe the teacher should just serve as a guide and tests should be for self assessment rather than outside assessment.
This is so true! I think that’s why nowadays many local parents in HK send their kids to international school instead even they have to afford so much money. Seems like some parents are waking up now 🤘🏼
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