Post by ChinaGurl on May 1, 2004 10:30:10 GMT 7
About 6 weeks ago (maybe more, I lose track of time so easily. But 6 is a nice round number so we'll go with that) I engaged 3 of my classes in some fundraising activities.
The idea was to do something different, something that had never been done before, and to do it in English.
So I spent the following weeks with the kids deciding who we'd give the money to, how we'd raise funds, and all of those wonderful things.
I really wanted my students to do all the work, so that they'd have done something they could be proud of. They were all very excited and jumped into the activity with zest AND zeal, something I hadn't seen from them.
The main thing was that we were using English class to plan, so the planning was done in English.
Yesterday we went to the headmaster to get the school's permission to hold a carnival in the town square. The carnival was to showcase many foreigners in town in a game playing atmosphere, and the proceeds of the carnival would go to a local school for deaf-mute students.
The headmaster seemed to be excited about it. For a while. When he got in touch with the PSB, he found that foreigners are not allowed to carry on such public demonstrations. Last year one of our teachers had the students educating citizens of the city about AIDS and environmental issues, and after that happened, they voted or whatever it is they do, and decided foreigners wouldn't be allowed to do things like that anymore.
I was crushed when the headmaster told me this. I couldn't believe that all of my students hard work could be ground to a halt like this. Then again, at the same time, I could believe it.
About half an hour later, I called the headmaster to find out if the students would still be permitted to give the money that they had already raised to the school. He told me if I wanted to, I could appeal the decision made by the gov't by writing to them.
I'm kind of at a loss here. I'll admit that when he told me that, I sat down and wrote said letter right away. I'm not sure, though, if I should do anything with it.
On one hand, I can see how it would be good for the school for us to continue with what we're doing. We'd be visible and the school would come off looking like a fabulous place for students to study. On the other hand, I can see how the school would look if I decided to appeal the decision. The school doesn't obey government orders and initiatives, etc. It might take a lot of money for the headmaster to buy his way back into good graces.
So, should I actually appeal? I'm interested in what you all think of my naivete.
The idea was to do something different, something that had never been done before, and to do it in English.
So I spent the following weeks with the kids deciding who we'd give the money to, how we'd raise funds, and all of those wonderful things.
I really wanted my students to do all the work, so that they'd have done something they could be proud of. They were all very excited and jumped into the activity with zest AND zeal, something I hadn't seen from them.
The main thing was that we were using English class to plan, so the planning was done in English.
Yesterday we went to the headmaster to get the school's permission to hold a carnival in the town square. The carnival was to showcase many foreigners in town in a game playing atmosphere, and the proceeds of the carnival would go to a local school for deaf-mute students.
The headmaster seemed to be excited about it. For a while. When he got in touch with the PSB, he found that foreigners are not allowed to carry on such public demonstrations. Last year one of our teachers had the students educating citizens of the city about AIDS and environmental issues, and after that happened, they voted or whatever it is they do, and decided foreigners wouldn't be allowed to do things like that anymore.
I was crushed when the headmaster told me this. I couldn't believe that all of my students hard work could be ground to a halt like this. Then again, at the same time, I could believe it.
About half an hour later, I called the headmaster to find out if the students would still be permitted to give the money that they had already raised to the school. He told me if I wanted to, I could appeal the decision made by the gov't by writing to them.
I'm kind of at a loss here. I'll admit that when he told me that, I sat down and wrote said letter right away. I'm not sure, though, if I should do anything with it.
On one hand, I can see how it would be good for the school for us to continue with what we're doing. We'd be visible and the school would come off looking like a fabulous place for students to study. On the other hand, I can see how the school would look if I decided to appeal the decision. The school doesn't obey government orders and initiatives, etc. It might take a lot of money for the headmaster to buy his way back into good graces.
So, should I actually appeal? I'm interested in what you all think of my naivete.
