Nightmare on Norfolk Road

Matty has finally reached the age where his knowledge and capabilities have to be tested, before he can further his studies... in a kindergarten! I know, it sounds ridiculous, especially to people who don't live in Hong Kong. But getting into a good, or should I say "famous" kindergarten, is a BIG thing for many parents here. Well, I guess its not really their fault. Its just the way the education system works in Hong Kong. If you get into a "famous" kindergarten, its somehow easier for you to get into good primary schools later.

Anyway, Matty did pretty well at his first 2 interviews. He basically behaved like himself, which is all I wanted from him. The nightmare started when we went to the "famous" kindergartens.

FAMOUS KINDY 1:

Two teachers were at the interview. One was there to test Matty, and another was there to distract me. I basically didn't know what went on in that interview. I just saw Matty dancing in the middle of the room half-way through. And when I told him to give the teacher a hug before we left, the teacher acted as though she'd never had a hug from anyone before. A kindergarten with little transparency, and love is not what I think my boy needs. No matter how famous it is, or what school it'll get Matty into.

FAMOUS KINDY 2:

Matty was taken to a room with 4 tables full of lego. While all the kids were busy building things, Matty just held onto a horse, and a man. A teacher, who probably thought she was a child psychologist, or a child development specialist, walked around taking notes. But why all lego? Maybe, they're trying to be scientific, and fair, in testing all the kids with the same kind of toy. But don't they know that all kids are created different? Maybe they know something that I don't. Maybe Lego is the ultimate toy in testing intelligience. That must be it! Okay, okay, I'm just complaining because we never got Matty real lego to play with. And I don't remember why we never did.

Anyway, Matty was later interviewed by a mean looking teacher there. He answered all but one question. A pretty simple one that I knew he knew the answer to! He was asked to spot the odd one out:


Teacher:        "Can you tell me which one is different, or not the same? There are two candies here,  
                     and this one is a lollipop."



Matty:           [Pause]  "I don't know."


I don't know?!? My heart just sank. I was thinking "I know you know, just say it!" But in the end, even after the teacher gave Matty hints, he just smiled and answered again with "I don't know."

Unable to get rid of that terrible feeling, I went home and took out two toy cows and a pig to test him. I just had to find out if he really didn't know.


Me:              "Okay, Matty can you tell me which one is different?"



Matty:          "PIG!"



Me:             "So you do know! Why didn't you answer the teacher's question then?"



Matty:         "Because, because, I don't like the teacher."


Finding a good Kindergarten for Matty is already a difficult job. But finding one that is good, and is liked by Matty is even harder. Hopefully he will do better in the other interviews coming up.

Oh, and yes, we finally got Matty some lego to play with!