Teacher Janet: Love-Hate Relationship

Joey can name most of her teachers in school, even those who do not teach her class. But whenever you ask her who is her favorite teacher, she would usually say, ‘Teacher Janet’.

Personally, I’ve come into contact with a few of the teachers and I also think teacher Janet is one of the best over at Joey’s childcare centre. She has a way of communicating to kids such that they will take a liking to her easily. She has an air of strictness about her, but yet, friendly & personal enough towards the kids.

But that day when I went to fetch Joey at school, i encountered something that kinda ‘frightened’ me.

My dad fetched me to the childcare centre because Isaiah had to work late that day. When Joey saw the 2 of us walking in, she went hysterical and kept screaming and jumping around in joy. After about 30 seconds of screaming (I didn’t stop her because I thought it was okay as she was just very happy to see us), I heard a VERY FIERCE voice coming out from the classroom, ‘WHO IS THE ONE SCREAMING AND SHOUTING?’

And as the ‘voice’ walked out, I realized it was Teacher Janet. (Maybe i was too sensitive, but I thought she looked slightly taken aback when she saw me). Immediately, Joey burst into tears and started wailing. I think she got a shock (same as me), and teacher Janet just brushed it off by saying, ‘it’s ok, just don’t do it again.’ and walked back to the classroom.

Quite frankly, I had mixed feelings about what I witnessed. All along, my impression of teacher Janet was never of someone who is so aggressive. If I were a kid and was scolded by a teacher with that kind of tone, I might burst into tears as well. Then again, perhaps it was because my dad and I were there, that’s why Joey burst into tears (knowing she had someone to back her up).

I do understand that discipline is very important especially in a school, but maybe I hadn’t seen a discipline session in this school, that’s why I was culturally shocked.

That night, Joey immediately complained to her grandma that Teacher Janet scolded her. =P I guess if Joey knows how to complain, and I’ve never heard her complain before, this could be the first time she got scolded for anything in school. When I purposely asked her who her favorite teacher was that night, she refused to say it’s teacher Janet.

(The next day, her answer reverted back to Teacher Janet again. Haha.)