REFLECTIVE JOURNAL WEEK 1 (15 JULY 2013 UNTIL 19TH JULY 2013)

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STUDENTS NAME GROUP SCHOOLS NAME DATE

: SYAHIRA BINTI ISMAIL@SHAARI : T3 TESL 2 : SEKOLAH KEBANGSAAN SUNGAI PINANG : 19TH JULY 2013

ISSUE: ABSENTEEISM This week marks my first week in Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Pinang. It reminds me my first primary school in Bandar Baharu Kedah. The view is breathtaking and its breathtaking view melts my heart every single day. I love to be surrounded by such view though it is quite far from city and modernization. It is a small located in a sub urban area in Penang. Most pupils come from fisherman family. Some of their parents work as factory workers. That answers my question about the academic performance and the percentage of absentees to school. This school has a quite high percentage of absentees. According to a teacher in this school, among the reasons given by the pupils are taking care of their sisters and brothers and no one wakes them up. From my personal opinion, that should be the reasons because their job is to come to school every morning. It is the parents job to take care of their small children and to wake their children up and sent them to school. Apart from that, most parents are very sensitive if their children get to be punished by their teachers. It is a normal reflect from parents because I know, they love their children more than anything else in this world. But, sometimes, when there is no more choice, punishment can be the best way to help teachers to educate and to give lesson to their children. I still remember when I was still in primary school, my former English teacher, Mr Chin would bring his cane into the classroom and punish those who could not spell five new English words correctly in front of him. That was the way he teaches and educates me to be human. I dare not to report to my parents because it will only affect my reputation in front of my siblings and I know they will never scold my teachers. From my personal view, every child needs to face and experience such

experience too. School corporal punishment is still relevant to educate human to become human. According to an experienced teacher in this school, parents in this area are very sensitive if we ask them to give reasons why their children absentees problem. Childrens brains are like sponges. They can absorb things easily but nothing can be done if they keep on absent. They will be lost and it will deter their spirit to learn. Therefore, in order to promote 100 percent attendance, the school has started to announce the class with the highest percentage of attendance during assembly. A special present will be given to any classes which successfully maintain the highest percentage. Letters have been sent to the parents selected in order to inform about their childrens problems. The school has spent a day to call upon every parent to discuss about their children performance and problems. Some parents do not turn up during the day. Instead, they sent their other children to replace their job as parents. That shows their inner side and how much they pay attention to their children. FEELINGS AND OPINIONS I am so sad to accept that my race does not do well academically.
Parents who do not send their child to school currently face a maximum ne of $375 for a rst offence and $750 for further offences. These penalties generally have not changed since the legislation started in 1989 and should better reect the growing importance of education to future employment opportunities. Increasing the penalties will also help to bring these nes into line with other Australian jurisdictions.

Those are the penalties for parents who do not sent their children to school and take their responsible to educate their children lightly in Australia. Looking into the seriousness of absenteeism problem among pupils in my current school, I would very glad and happy if our government could enforce the same law to the parents so they will know their responsibilities and do not always turn their head and point their fingers to teachers when it comes to educating children.

ANALYSIS This problem happens due to the lack of attention from parents. It is our responsibility as teachers to educate children but it will never turn out to be effective if there is no cooperation and attention from parents. From my personal point of view, this problem arises due to lack of attention from parents. The parents do not see the importance for their children to come to school regularly. WAYS TO IMPROVE Being a practicum teacher, my circle work is only to educate and to prepare the best lesson for my pupils. In order to help them to improve the attendance percentage, I have enforced a rule in my classroom. I will make the pupils give reasons why they do not turn up to schoolboy writing a simple sentence in a 555 notebook. ALLOCATED TIME I have enforced my classroom rule during my first lesson with my pupils and make them write the rule in their exercise book. It is to make sure that they can remember and comprehend my rules. I hope I could help to improve the attendance percentage in this school and make the small children undertand why they should come to school every day.

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