KSS Koh:

Haha...have you seen some of the Chinese teacher's mini short shirt lately??? I was not sure what to say when my DD asked why is her shirt so short and why she wear long boots to school? How to teach good values when the teachers themselves are giving such examples? Plus the Chinese teacher told me to ensure that my DD cut her hair short, don't wear nice hair clips (which other children are wearing too) don't wear fancy dresses (Not really fancy but prefer to be in plain T-shirt and jeans -feels like a communist country sometimes) because my DD looses interest in her chinese class. Of course, if my DD is always belittle, compared to and put to a corner as her mandarin is not good, anyone would be distracted. Even adults would, let alone little kids.


Dear Pad's Schoolbag, I can't agree more with you that the previous principal was very good (Amazing that she remembered every kid's name and very involved) but there're certain things one can't really pass down and it's both personally experience from myself and 2BoysMom that put us off. It's like graduates coming out from the same University does not mean they're definitely be high achiever. It seems like you're very familiar with the procedures of the 2 Pats, you're not one of the staff working for Pats right?

No, I definitely agree with you that there're those dedicated teachers whom I adore, especially the team in my DS class, amazing team. You can really tell they're full of passion for their job and sometimes, I feel for them:)

Of course, I understand where you're coming from. Talking to the principal without any problems, all smiley, of course they're nice but the real test comes when there are issues remained unsolved, even the friendliest and nicest personality does not surpass nor hide one's incompetence of handling issues. I've not even included all the problems that remained unsolved and you'll be shocked if you ever get to read it (Not a case of He say, She say, it's real physical case that remained unsolved, not just who said what, we're not so unreasonable la). However, this is not the forum to complain but to share our personal experiences and not assumptions of any kind so as to provide informations for new parents.
It's what we've been through that made us lost our confidence and how the new principal handle issues that we decided to move on. Why would anyone(us, the parents) bother to take the time to write 'feedback' if issues are solved and solutions are derived. If issues remained unsolved and new ones keep coming up then it's really frustrating. Till one goes through it, it's better not to jump the boat. Understand you just join the forum, welcome:)

It's really nice of you for the compliment the new principal but till one goes through similar experience, it's also hard to comment on how good or bad the new principal is, guess it varies individually. If more than 1 parent had similar experiences, no matter how many more compliments that follows, it's futile.

Oh definitely, if anyone is keen to know, I'm more than happy to share plus I've already mentioned in my previous link that both me and my husband likes Tanglin's structure of the open conception and it's the principal that we decided to enroll our children into Pats in the beginning. So I do look forward to the new environment.

@KSSKoh Thanks for the welcome. Actually I'm not really a newbie here. I do follow the forum from time to time but just browsing silently like many other invisibles but ever since my contemplation to pull my younger one out of Pat's, I decided to follow it more and become visible. Please don't think that I'm on a mission to complement the current principal it's just that from my past interactions with her as the vice I thought otherwise. But perhaps people change over time and maybe since she became principal her mindset changed too. I guess I will only be able to fully comprehend how you all feel when this happens to my kid. In a way, I would really like to experience this first-hand for myself to be able to make a fair assessment.

But other than that, I share everyone else's frustrations about the teacher's dress codes, manner of interactions, chinese instruction methods etc...that's why I am here too. So please know that I didn't suddenly pop out of nowhere to start a crusade for Pat's nor am I a staff with their organisation. My kids just go there so I try and observe what goes on whenever I can. :celebrate:

Am glad that I'm not the only parent noticing the inappropriate dressing and amount of make-up on certain teachers lately. Unless it's fancy dress for a special event, it makes things harder for us to explain to our kids why they can't go out wearing something similar when they don't see anything wrong with it as their teacher wears it to school.

Whether they like it or not, the moment you choose teaching as a profession, you are an example for children. I mean there's nothing wrong with having fashionable teachers but knowing how to dress demurely and appropriately at the right time is a very important life-skill I want to inculcate in my children and I struggle with that if their teachers have no sense of how to select suitable wardrobe choices for the right climate for themselves.

I also feel the same sentiments about the Chinese teachers' belittling our children in class. I think my child's teacher can have a very bad temper at times and intimidates the class. Have been hearing snippets from my child from time to time. I also hear stories about shower time. Do you have any experiences there?

It is always the case. I believe there are 2 sides to a story. But it's like I said I don't doubt the validity of your experience. In my opinion, I have been seeing a decline in their teacher recruitment since my kids joined so I am not on their side or anything. And NO @KSS KOH I'm definitely not a staff. Why would you think that? I just know from observing the teachers in action around the grounds while waiting to pick my kids up. You can learn a lot just by using your powers of observation and listening to their interactions/conversations as well as talking to the other parents. :? Thinking how paranoid it must be if Pat's has a staff 'patrolling' Kiasu Parents Forum 24/7 to do damage control in this manner.


I'm actually thinking of pulling my younger one out to join EtonHouse but am not sure if this is a case of out of the frying pan into the fire. I initially considered Odyssey but they're under the same group so doubt the experiences would be vastly different. Any feedback regarding this decision or any other bad Pat's experiences that everyone should know about so we should reconsider why we are paying premiums to put our kids there? :stupid:

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KSS Koh:

2BoysMom,

No worries, I absolutely understand cos I was made to feel that way too. Speaking to the principal can vomit blood and it's pointless. That's why pointless to talk to her.
Please don't think your DS is a 'troublemaker', I'm proud of you for speaking up and trying to do the right thing for your kids. We as parent only want what's best for our children and having to dealt with such personality is very challenging. That's why I've stopped approaching her because I already know, from previous experience, what she's going to say, without putting herself in the parent's perspectives.

Anyway, let it go and move on, not worth the effort and energy wasted on such people. We've got better things to do and our children's future to think about. Positive thinking will bring positive event and surround yourself with positive and nice people:)

I think guys it's really a case of He Say She Say ...Not doubting the validity of your bad :stompfeet: experience with Pat's Halifax's Principal but on the countless occasions that my husband and I had to interact with her she seems really enthusiastic about the kids' learning and really does care for our kids. My kids were in Halifax from the old Principal's time and are still there now with the new one and there doesn't seem to be a huge personality difference in the overall running of the branch. I noticed that both principals are good friends from before so I would imagine that they would still maintain close contact and trade notes about the daily operations to ensure a smooth transition or something.

Anyway, from what we know this 'new' principal was the vice principal from before and has taught at Pat's for like over 10 years or something so we have no doubts in her teaching ability so many have faith in her. But we must accept that the 'old' principal left pretty big shoes to fill so initially people are resistant to changes as they still recall the old ways. Moreover all Pat's principals are hand-picked and groomed internally over time so it really makes little difference professionally but personally I'm sure each individual has their irks and quirks. :siam:

But, you guys might have a valid point about the attitudes of some of the teachers there..they look quite cliquey esp. the younger ones with their thick make-up and branded goods. Bit worried about the impression they'll give to our little ones. Some of the Chinese teachers..don't even get me started on their terrorising attitudes towards the kids when they struggle with Chinese. But then again, there are also the dedicated teachers who know what they are doing and love our kids so perhaps they need to work on their mentoring skills and provide enough manpower when teachers go on leave so that the other teacher doesn't get frazzled being alone with the entire class. Doesn't that throw the ideal/recommended class student:teacher ratio out of whack if both aren't present at all times?

Do share with us if the transfer to the Tanglin branch has made any difference seeing as the 'old' principal is there? How are the teachers there? Treat kids any better? Less Cliquey perhaps....