Hello Nim,


Would you kindly let me know which dictionary you refer to? I don’t think my use of the word is wrong here, or at least it’s not so egregious that you have to pick on my use of the word twice! The online version of the esteemed OED has it as "(of a person) showing freedom from social conventions or traditional ideas, especially with regard to sexual roles" (and may I note that the word "especially" does not exclude its use in other contexts).

So when you say that polarbear’s expectations may not be the same as others, don’t you think we’re on the same page? I find it strange that you think I am judging polarbear. In fact, I said that more parents should share her views towards education. Of course I would not think that polarbear does not keep an eye on her DD’s progress and performance. After all, most of us are here as concerned parents of our children. Anyway, semantics aside…

I have to take issue with your argument on teachers and heads not sending their children to the schools they work in. Of course they do not have to if they do not want to. Sometimes there are other reasons which make it difficult to do so. All I was saying is that it signals a vote of confidence in the school and its practices to the other parents if their own children are studying in the same school. It’s somewhat ludicrous to use the example of two spouses working in the same office because even if a couple wanted to work together in the same office, they would be so lucky to find a place that had vacancies for both of them taking into account their different skills, qualifications and experience. Whereas in a primary school, teachers and other staff members would probably be able to get their child into the same school via Phase 2A.

P.S. Perhaps it is just one of your many typographical errors, but mocca is spelled as "mocha". Anyway, I like a good cup of tea as well - I’m not sure why you think a) I’m not open to other views and b) I’m not nice! In fact it’s not very nice to be accused of such things either!

Your girl must be the happiest pupil in the school or in the world. You sound like you know the school very well. Are you a parent volunteer or something? You are such a ‘liberated’ mum. Surely everyone should be like you. If the teachers especially the school heads are like you and send their own kids to north vista, that will surely shut all these negative comments. But some of us parents know otherwise. Actions speak louder than words!