Kristine's School

A busy day yesterday trying to nail down Kristine school. A friend arranged an appointment to register Kristine at Fang Chao Di primary school. The better known main campus is located downtown, but we wanted Kristine to attend a branch within walking distance of the apartment we have leased. We leased that apartment because we thought Kristine would attend that branch campus, just a matter of Year 1 or Year 2. We were sent away by the registration staff at the main campus, which centralises registration for all branch campuses (5 altogether), because we couldnt register Kristine until she is accepted by the branch campus. So off we went to see the registrar of the branch campus. She administered some tests for Krisitne in Chinese, English and Mathematics, all with Chinese instructions. Kristine wasnt ready for grade 2 in the Chinese education system. Cutting the story short, Kristine will now attend the 'International Section(国际部)' at the main campus, where they group all international students together, but teaching the same syllabus in Chinese.

Instead of walking to her school each morning, she now has to take a 20 min school bus from the gate of the branch campus. Our landlady, a teacher herself, describes 'International Section' as 'going to school without studious responsibility'.

Grace and I see both pros and cons of two educational doctrines: basically split between 'PLAY' and 'MEMORISING for tests the next day'. The educational system here demands a lot from children from young age. In Australia, the focus for young students is more on expression and less on spelling or grammar, China demands young students to learn AND remember, precisely, many chinese characters each week. In Australia, Maths are about play and fun, but in China Maths are serious stuff. In Australia curriculum maybe open ended so each student can work at his/her own level, but in China, there is no room for falling behind against a rigid expectation, all determined by test results. As the registrar who tested Kristine explained, Kristine would be expected to remember 10 new Chinese characters the teacher dished out that day, through a test the next day, plus memorising 10 more characters after the test. That pile accumulates everyday.

Grace and I want Kristine to learn, but more importantly, we want Kristine to enjoy her experience in Beijing. We could 'fight' the registrar to take Kristine in the local class at the branch campus, but we didnt have the conviction that is what we ought to do. I know I hated my childhood schooling with rigid classes, and we know Kristine loves her Melbourne school. Our choice is easy. The change in environment is a huge enough challenge, plus the Chinese class instructions will be another challenge.

The registrar suggested Kimberley should start in local classes after completing her kinder year(s). Fees for Kristine and Kimberley are roughly RMB34,000 and RMB25,000 per year. Fees for Year 1 at the two Australian International Schools in Beijing range from RMB85,000 to RMB160,000 a year.

Anyway, I told Kristine how Kylie used to take bus to her schools in Singapore. Her alarm clock will have to be set back at least 30 mins earlier, like 645am.