Pei Chun Public

[Precious2.012911lee]

“As long as we pretend to be good in front of the teachers, we can get our way.” :shock: … this is what I hear from my 7 years old and I feel quite troubled.

Yes, the hall monitor from my son’s class is a BIG-time bully. I called him big because he is indeed much bigger in build than an average P1 and also a very bright boy. My DS has told me a few times that this boy has been threatening the classmates quite often, forcing other kids to give him their stationeries, complaining to teachers all the time, telling so-and-so not to teach another student and recently, he even force a few students in the class to exchange their gold IREAD-badges with his silver/bronze badge etc... (so that his mother will be happy to see the gold badge). Of course, no one exchanges with him. The problem is no one, including my son, dares to tell the teacher for fear that the hall monitor will take down their names and eventually, everyone will be punished.
Now, my son is asking me to feedback to the principal or discipline master. I asked him why the principal and not his form teacher? DS told me that’s because FT only believes in the big bully and no one else. This is really sad .
I try to explain to my DS that it is very important to be honest, no one should abuse their authority and also encourage him to be brave to tell the teachers but still, he insists that his FT will only believe the big bully because the big bully is good in words and will twist the story around and say my son is the one lying and complaining. Now I really think 1 year term for hall monitor is really too long especially for lower primary kids. I doubt FT really assess if a child is suitable to be one. It’s just a disastrous when a wrong child is chosen, all because he speaks and present himself well (..I am sure this child will definitely be a high flyer when he enters the workforce). I know of other boys in the class who are definitely more well behave so I am really curious how this hall monitor is selected?! Choosing the right role model is very crucial to ensure the students learn the right behaviour from the right person.
I am not sure if anyone has encountered similar problem before. What would you do and how should we educate our children to handle such situation? I really can't imagine P1 kids these days can be so \"complex\"...!

[Tuesdayschildren]

Maybe you could write in your boy’s handbook to communicate this to the FT. As long as you write in an objective manner and point the direction of your concern towards your boy’s inability to speak to the FT as freely and comfortably as it shld be (and not her apparent wrong choice of the bully as a monitor), I think the FT will take time to see different perspectives and address the issue accordingly. I guess what we can do is only to stand up for our child without making the teacher or the bully look bad… After all we are not there to see for ourselves, so it’s difficult to make a good judgment of the situation. I hope this helps!

[muska]

hi precious2lee,

You should feedback your concern by email to FT first.

My ds had encounter similar bully before, and the FT will first investigate discretely, eg calling up a few other kids & check with them. And after that, he will give warning to the bully without telling him who made the complain.

But then again, this may only stop the behaviour temporary, after a while the bully may come back again.

For us, luckily next year they gonna change the class…so hopefully things will be better. But your ds will have another year in the same class, and the FT will not change as well…So better to let the FT aware and observe himself.

[Precious2.012911lee]

Thanks for the feedback Tuesdayschildren and muska. Actually, I plan to do nothing and wait for other parents to complain (typical Singaporean).

However, I will continue to educate my DS and tell him to ignore this boy and mix with the other children. I even told him next time when he enters the work force, there are more of such people around. This is just the beginning. DS told me the monitress are generally more well behave, helpful and do not threaten them. DS is not the shy type because he too, has other roles to play. However, for this case, he insists to choose a step back and he is still saying that the FT only trust this big bully. Anyway, I want him to be able to speak up for himself eventually. Haiz...only hope my DS is half as street smart as this bully.

[Tuesdayschildren]

You have a point. Wait and see is also a good thing since the situation is not that that urgent.. Let the kids learn to manage these things on their own.

[aprmin]

Hi,

Any one of your kid whom is staying ard Bishan St 13 and attending pm session in 2014? And will be taking school bus?

[xman0808]

hi,aprmin,

I’m staying at bishan st12, my gal is going to attend P1 next year, we wont take school bus but send her to the student care in the morning on the way to work and pick up at evening after work.

[xman0808]

dragon_gal:

Anyone sending their P1 kids to student care in the morning? Care to share any good recommendations?

yes, we send our dd to student care, didnt do much survey actually just choose the nearest one that just opposite the school.

[Table Spoon]

anyone knows what is Pei Chun’s PSLE top score? Some say 268 but I also heard 271.

[iluvjr2]

Any one here with children moving on to P5 next year?