I wish to highlight an obvious and disturbing case of what may appear to be child victimisation at the Warrenville Presbyterian School.
My son entered Standard Four in September 2015 and was placed in the "B" class in spite of "an excellent term's work and great test results" (quoted from his standard three report). To his dismay, he was not placed in the "A" class as his parents and peers expected. Shouldn't a school that streamlines children into A, B and sometimes even C classes, base this distinction solely on the child's performance report?
Conversations with the present principal early in the term did not yield any results as it was insisted this was done by the former principal who retired last August. As fate would have it, I bumped into the latter in October and she denied any involvement in the matter.
Is it the modus operandi of some schools that whenever parents do not contribute financially or otherwise, a child may face victimisation in some way? Is it okay to solicit funds from parents and guardians and yet insert a penalty fee of $100 for lost donation slips?
Is it okay for a teacher to scold children for "the nonsense they learning outside," belittling and condemning all other tutors of SEA lessons? Is it okay to enquire the job title of the parents and update the school's database so that certain parents may be continuously prodded for contributions?
While we are all familiar with peer victimisation, the real and subtle tragedy here is that this is not being done by the peers.
My son is no longer at the school as he was transferred to one which does not streamline children. I will be forever grateful to his present principal who took the time, amid his busy schedule, to listen to a parent's plea and even more, to assist in restoring a child's self-esteem.
Early last term, I had proudly shown my son's report book to several principals who asserted that it was indeed bizarre for a child who earned 98 in mathematics and 95 in grammar, earning him one of the highest percentages, to be placed in a "B" class. Moreover, some of his peers with much lower scores and hence, grades, were sent to the "A" class!
It begs the question if this school more dedicated to its coffers than to conscientious children.
S Harripersad