Getting ready for real school

After serious contemplation and balancing of bank account, Tinto is going to start Year 1 next year at Robert Louis Stevenson School, my alma mater. Pros - it's convenient, 3 minutes from home and 5 minutes from work. 28 kids per class, and not 70 where you finish the school year and your teacher still asks what your name is. Good educational resources. Good track record pre-2005. Cons - some of the behaviour I've seen from kids coming out of this school in recent years is downright disgusting. One thing that is lacking is instilling of good values and morals. Which means more work for me in the home. Simple things like appreciating the value of $1 vs kids whose week's lunch money could buy me a car. Wearing appropriate clothing which covers more than your butt cheek. Understanding that drinking and smoking (and all those things Tinto's mother does) can wait until you're 21, have a job and have moved away from home where I can still beat you silly regardless of your age. I'll worry about that later. For now, Tinto will be in RLSS for Year 1. And maybe the rest of primary school. As for secondary school, it's off to St Mary's, where the fear of God, Mother Mary, Sr Susie and the 5 convent dogs will prevent my child from straying to the dark side.

Yesterday, RLSS held an orientation session for all children enrolled for Year 1. Tinto went with her Grandma. According to Grandma, Tinto said "Grandma, go sit down over there, I'll be fine." All the other kids in the orientation knew who she was (kids from her preschool) and half the kids in Year 1 were calling out "Tino! Tino!" All the other orientation kids were shy, and stayed close to their parents. Not Tinto. She walked around the classroom inspecting the desks, chairs, and more importantly the children's schoolbags. The principal took them to look at each room - the library, which Tinto showed little interest in (which worries me, pei a e ki lol), and a room filled with trophies. Tinto asked "what are ALL these trophies for?? Can I have one? Can you put my name on it? Is it for rugby? Like the world cup? Like soccer?" The principal was overwhelmed with the questions. She told Grandma "I don't think your granddaughter will be one those children who cries for their mother on the first day of school". I don't think so either.