A new beginning - Primary School days

Primary School in 2009

2nd January 2009 was the start of a new school term. I took a day’s leave to ferry my son to Primary One on that day. Eager and excited we arrived in school with in full swing. We were early.

We were greeted with glum looks. The tired faces shown by the teachers are visible to all. Perhaps it is the norm. Perhaps they need to display’sternness’ to young impressionable minds. Perhaps to ensure the new students will not ride roughshod over them in time to come

To strike fear in their hearts - this is almost military school. Is this regimental style going to work?

Fear, Intimidation, control is the order of the day? This is supposed to be a primary school, for goodness sake!

There’s a thin fine line between being fear and respect. How can a 7-year-old primary one child tell the difference?

Maybe the teachers are trained to be stone-faced. Or maybe they are wary of being ‘too-friendly’ to newbies. Maybe it’s taught where when they are in teachers’ training school to draw a ‘line’ between teacher and student.

Primary schools in these days are tantamount to being in a boot camp. ‘Quicken in steps and march in tandem’, commanded the teachers.

Many parents I spoke to shared the same feelings and it’s not in 1 school. A few colleagues of mine whose children are in new schools share the same feeling.

Or is it just me?