Kindergarten

My students, hard at work on lowercase abc's.


Titus's warm and wonderful teachers.


Same, but different. My favorite art wall.



Watch out, slightly disjointed writing to follow.

For the past 3 months I've taught English at the local kindergarten (really it's a preschool) -- just once a week, for one hour, to a class of 41 five & six year-olds. It's a way to serve the community and become familiarized with the Chinese education system for the sake of Titus & Mikey's futures in school. While I taught, Titus attended the class for 2 & 3 year-olds.

I learned that...

• All the teachers can play the piano. They plunk out little ditty to get the kids to settle down or when transitioning between subjects.
• Kids don't have desks; they sit on little chairs in rows facing the chalkboard. Or they sit at little tables for writing activities.
• Boys and girls use the same bathroom, at the same time, and they don't wash hands afterward.
• If you want the kids to pipe down, you say "Please be peaceful 请安静!"
• Kids take a nap at school after lunch. There's a little sleeping room with cute wooden beds and pink comforters.
• There is no lunchroom, no art or computer rooms, no library, and no gymnasium. But there is a beautiful outdoor playground.

There's been a few bizarre, violent copy-cat crimes at kindergartens around eastern China. The first incident was almost two months ago. A supposedly mentally-ill surgeon used a knife to attack and kill several children who were waiting for their school gate to open. He was swiftly tried and executed on a Wednesday. That Wednesday, Thursday and Friday there were copy-cat crimes committed in three different provinces. All involved a supposedly mentally-ill middle aged man entering a kindergarten and attacking young children with a weapon. There was one instance of similar violence a couple weeks later, but nothing since then. I have no idea what to think about this horrific streak -- other than, it's unspeakably awful, and I'm glad our kindergarten is tucked away on a quiet university campus.

One last thing. When Titus and I go out to play on the campus grass, or stop into the campus store, we often see a handful of my students. They are so excited to see us, and yell "Ai Laoshi 艾老师!", (which is how they address me as their teacher), and come running over to play. It's just nice to have some sweet little buddies around the neighborhood. On my last day teaching, I received several drawings and even a couple fireworks as gifts!

- Ai Laoshi 艾老师

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