So, yesterday, something strange happened that made me realize how different schools here are totally different than schools back home. Aside from the classroom size of 40 students, and other differences, theirs another aspect that makes the schools different; the parents.
Now, with 40 students in your classroom, its sometimes hard to keep track of all of them - occasionally, students who misbehave in class-time will be disciplined by the head disciplinarian, and will be late to the start of class. Other reasons will keep students late, so its not uncommon for students to walk into class late, or for their to be an empty seat. However, yesterday, two students - a first grade male student, and a second grade female student were skipping class, and, here's the shocking part, hugging, outside of the school grounds, at a bus stop near the school. The problem came when an observant mother noticed the two students hugging while driving by the school, and, realizing that those two students were supposed to be inside the school during class time, immediately called the school, and scheduled a meeting with the principal and vice-principal. This one mother, who had no relation to the two students, made such a fuss over this one instance, that a school-wide meeting for all of the teachers was called on Tuesday afternoon about keeping the teachers accountable, and making sure that all students are always accounted for, and never missing...Responsibility is not something taken lightly here.
Compared to my student-teaching placement in Chicago from a little while ago, where missing students were considered something of a blessing, here, the more students you have, the better...? Intriguing concept...