Yesterday my son got a writing assignment from school. He was told to write a 100-word composition about "why he likes Jakarta". I was shocked!! To make sure, I asked him again, is he sure that his teacher doesn't tell them to write if they like/dislike Jakarta.
He said," Yes, mommy. We need to tell why we like Jakarta." My goodness!!
Why did the teacher tell these kids to write an opinion that, I'm sure, not everybody's opinion?? How can he be so sure that every kids in that classroom like Jakarta?? Why does every students have to be on one side? Why can't the kids have their own opinion?
Wouldn't it be better if the teacher gave the students an option? So the students can say if they like or dislike the city and give the reasons why. And, isn't it also better for the students themselves to be able to say what they want to say and learn to write it? Wouldn't the task be more attractive if the students can say what they want to say?
I'm so appalled many times at the quality of the teachers here. And to think that my children go to one of the best private schools in Indonesia. Can you imagine? I'm sure that qualified teachers are there somewhere. But, from what I've read in the papers, most of those teachers are qualified because they really care, so they read books, they have their own vision of what teaching should be. So, mostly it's not because of the training.
No wonder, people who have money get their kids into international schools here. Or national plus schools. Even though that term itself is pretty worrying. But, it's clear that parents are often disappointed by the quality of the teachers.
