Sunday, January 8, 2017

A Prima Donna in the Making

Chelle* is 17 years old. She has stopped studying 2 years ago. Now, she wants to go back to school.  But since she didnot finish her fourth year in High School, she has to take the PEPT (Philippine Educational Placement Test). If she passed, the Department of Education will allow her to enroll in college.
When I asked her why she stopped, she simply said she got sick and had to  stay at home. She is actually smart. She learns easily and she is inquisitive enough to ask about those she couldn't understand. I was positive about her passing the Placement Test. Then, she stopped coming to class. We were curious. We texted her mother and grandmother to inquire about her, they texted back that she's not feeling well. We felt sorry for her.
We were surprised when her grandmother showed up. She said that the review was too much for Chelle, and that we, tutors, must make it easy for her as she is a sickly child. She was almost saying that we 'scare Chelle' away that's why the girl wouldn't want to come. She said her grand daughter is really smart and that we were doing it all wrong. She said we must lavish the girl with praises and tell her how smart she is and that she's doing a good job.
Then she asked us to call Chelle, she said that it's our responsibility to encourage the girl to come to class and finish the review. . She told us to plead to Chelle to come.
To this I raised my eyebrows. Yes, I know we have to encourage everyone to study, to learn. But I won't plead to a certain girl to come just because her family can't make her come. Maybe the girl is used to being praised, to being waited upon, to being cooed and petted, but it's not for us to do it.
Besides, she's 17, she's old enough to know how important education is that she doesn't need any cajoling from anyone. Unless of course if her family was not able to impart that IMPORTANCE to her..
*not real name

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