Furious on my son's 1st Local KG Interview

[shenwen]

we took our son (almost two years) to Learning Habitat for an interview. We expected a little one on one time with the principal but were instead met by a production line interview process with what appeared to be upward of 100 children.

All interviews were done according to a set process (name this, use that, etc) and when our son deviated (wanted to play in what was a very stimulating play environment, named different objects in the rooM, etc) the interviewer was visibly disappointed.

Such a rigid system is not what I expect for a two year old and even if we "get in" to this school, we will turn it down and prefer for him to stay at PIPS (the only reason we were considering changing in that LH is closer to our home). my wife has a montessori background and was very shocked by what she saw at LH. We both left the interview, looked at each other and agreed there was no way we would want our son at that KG.

 

[Bumps]

I know for a fact that kindergartens hold interviews to gain revenue. An application fee of $30 x by around 4,000 applicants is a considerable income for a school. Don't get me wrong, this absolutely appalls me - especially when the school knows that they have already allocated the majority of the places to family members (sisters/brothers) of those already at the school.

 

[Frenchy]

I know now why they are doing interviews... I've always wondered what was the point of doing this. How can they decide whether a 2 yo child will be a good student or not after seeing him 5 minutes out of his usual environment ?? also, isn't the school job to help the kids socialise with each others, teach them the basics ? what's the point of teatching kids if they already know how to do all this before to get in school ??
Each time there is a subject about interviews, everyone seems to react the same way, thinking it is absolutely ridiculous, but how/why is it still going on ? is there anyway to raise our voices against this ??

 

[Gabriel ma]

we took our son (almost two years) to Learning Habitat for an interview. We expected a little one on one time with the principal but were instead met by a production line interview process with what appeared to be upward of 100 children.

All interviews were done according to a set process (name this, use that, etc) and when our son deviated (wanted to play in what was a very stimulating play environment, named different objects in the rooM, etc) the interviewer was visibly disappointed.

Such a rigid system is not what I expect for a two year old and even if we "get in" to this school, we will turn it down and prefer for him to stay at PIPS (the only reason we were considering changing in that LH is closer to our home). my wife has a montessori background and was very shocked by what she saw at LH. We both left the interview, looked at each other and agreed there was no way we would want our son at that KG.

Sorry to hear that. It might be difficult for the school to arrange individual interview for many than few hundred of applicants. :haha:

 

[Gabriel ma]

Try Learning Habitat. They are much friendlier when we approached them. There was no difference in cost between the streams. Has a good reputation. What about PIPS at Elements?

Learning Habitat accepts foreign students. My child has non-Chinese classmates.

 

[elaine]

My non-Cantonese speaking daughter got in to Creative Primary School's Kindergarten in Kowloon Tong (Oxford Road). We requested the interview to be conducted in English and they accomodated that. Her teachers translated instructions from Cantonese to English to her during the first term and by the end of the term, she was coping well. The only problem is the school notices are all in chinese and the assignments too. My daughter loves going to school and this means a lot as it is a totally foreign environment to her.

 

[bruhildda]

Thank you everyone for all your kind words and sharing your experiences. I totally agree... what is the point of doing all these interviews, its really appalling! How could they possibly assess our kids abilities, knowledge, personality and behaviour in a span of few minutes.

And I cant believe we, parents have to go through this massive amount of stress!

I am so annoyed and furious that I am thinking of a heading a "Petition to ban schools from interviewing our 2year olds"
I dont care if I have need to collect thousands of signature.... something needs to be done!

What to you think? Will this go somewhere?
Are you with me?

Girl Power!
Woman Power!
Mommy Power!!!!

 

[Obiwan]

Try Learning Habitat. They are much friendlier when we approached them. There was no difference in cost between the streams. Has a good reputation. What about PIPS at Elements?

Any feedback on PIPS Kowloon (Elements)?

Rightly or wrongly, I am currently of the opinion that I would like my daughter to attend a pre-school that is closest to home (PIPS Kowloon is literally downstairs from where we live). I imagine kids at these ages mostly play, sing, learn arts & crafts, so I don't know if one school is all that different from another, and I am not sure it makes sense for her to spend hours on the road traveling to and from schools far away.

Experienced mothers, what's your thoughts?

 

[kyojee]

Bruhildda, you'll have my signature for sure! I'm fine with a casual meet and greet session with the school staff, but to think our 2 year olds' "performance" and behaviour are accessed in that couple of minutes for entry into kindy is ridiculous.

But on the frank side, I don't think the petition would head somewhere anytime soon. I'm not in the education sector, and my daughter is only 11 months old, so the following is just my 2 cents' worth.

# Many schools are private owned (correct me if I'm wrong) and they do as they please.

# Interviews generate profit and schools get to choose who they accept. (it's a demand & supply thing).

# Also, on a perverse psychological point of view, quite a lot of parents would assume that a kindie not requiring interviews are unpopular (nobody wants to go to them, so they take whoever signs up!) and probably end up applying to those requiring interviews.

# Parents these days are way more worked up about kids' academic performance than before, so in turn, it gets teachers and principals worked up about the academic curriculum, even at a kindergarten level. They want to make sure they accept students whom they think are easy students (easy to teach, can sit down and take instructions bla bla bla...)

Do all kindys conduct entry interviews, or is it just the popular hard-to-get-into ones? I don't see why i should put my child and myself through all the hassle and stress, was thinking of going to a kindie which does not require interviews, am I just being naive to assume such exists?

 

[slamdunk]

Agree with kyojee's points, some of these kindies are businesses (not all) and most are usually pandering to parents' expectations and a selection process such as an interview increases the perceived "quality" of the kindy/kids accepted (important for HK's competitive mums).

If there was no interview - what selection process would take place then for the popular/oversubscribed places? I don't condone 'interviews' but registration based on first come or lucky draw would probably draw equal criticism...

To kyojee, from experience i think all kindies conduct some kind of interview (play observations/group/one to one) as unassessed registration doesn't seem to be the norm... Some tell you on the spot if you got in and some say wait for the letter (the popular ones)...