a very bad experience @CDB

XOGOGO

It was a nightmare at Casa D Bambinx (Montessori school) for my bb and I yesterday.
When the owner, Ms J first saw us, she said, “It is better to hv just one adult.” Since I had to show my helper the way to school, I needed to accompany them for the first time.
I thought she just gave me a “kind” advice. However, after that, she kept pinpointing me.
1) During the lesson, my bb sneezed a few times (a/c plus a few big fans). Then I put a sweater on him (cuz' he just recovered from coughing). Ms J ORDERED me to take off his jacket and said Asia families always do that. Too hot can cause bb sick too. You r being too protective… (We walked in the hot sunny day for 10 mins. We were all sweating). I told her that my bb has just recovered and his hands are cold. She didn’t listen, and ordered me to take off his jacket AT ONCE. That’s why my bb started coughing in the lesson later on.
2) It was my bb’s first time there. He knows nothing. She didn’t explain to him nor give him any clear instructions. Later, she only approached to those “easy bb”. (some mums said that b4.)

3) My bb poo poo in the middle of the class. He went out the classroom and asked my helper to change diaper for him. After changing the diaper, he wanted my helper to go to class w/ him, so i let them return to the classroom (cuz’ usually is my helper to go to classes w/ him). When I was waiting outside, my bb wanted me to go inside again. I told my helper to stop him and then I hid myself near the exit (bb can’t see me).

Then the worst part came, Ms J came out and TALKED to me w/ her very rude attitude.

"I told u not to come w/ 2 adults, that's why bb is not concentrating, and learn nothing! This is my school, I don't like ppl not listening to me." (It was his first time, and I don’t think she gives any instructions to him.)

I was soo angry but still I apologized. "Sorry. I apologize for coming w/ my bb! I didn’t read your note. So what can i do now? Run away? bb knows I'm here anyway!! I’m thinking not to come on Monday! "


“You are talking some non-sense things! (maybe she thinks I don’t bring bb come on Monday) You have no common sense! ”

“If my bb is not happy, why I need to bring him here again? Maybe my bb is a bit abnormal, that’s why he didn’t feel comfortable here!”

“Yes, your bb is abnormal?! ...I think u r non-sense… ! ” She kept insulting me and didn’t let me to speak a word.

I was so angry so I held my arms. “You see, you don’t agree w/ me, I can see from your body language! This is my school. You must listen to me!”

“Can I say sth now?”

“If you are repeating what u said b4, no need! You better calm down!” (she should be the one to calm down)

“Your bb doesn’t hv enough sleep. He should sleep at 7 and wake up at 7!! That’s why he got bad temper now!

“What about if my bb sleeps at 9 and wakes up at 9?”

“No bb wakes up at nine. Sun comes, bb wakes up!!”

“My husband wants to play w/ bb after work, that’s why he sleeps at 9!”

“Ask your hb wakes up early to play w/ him. We don’t play w/ bb at night! NO!!!” She sound she is THE GOD and CAN RULE THIS WORLD.

The receptionist said Ms J not meant to be rude. But she was really RUDE. When she went back to the classroom and held my bb, my bb cried loudly.
This is the first time I had a fight w/ the school staff. Cooperation and “mutual respect” b/t parents and school are very important! It was really horrible. Does “Montessori” ask their followers to use “retarded” and “useless’” to describe the kids? “No common sense” to describe the parents? Definitely, I will withdraw my bb from this school. They got a very comfortable environment and the concept is good but learning from an arrogant “educator” is too much for my bb.

(PS: I’m sure there are lots of fans of CDB. I didn’t meant to offend anyone, but I just want to share my unpleasant experience!)

慧芸

totally understood.

hv a friend who is now attending CDB with her boy. according to her, it's traumatic and ms. J is kind of regimental (scary)...

she as a mont school owner, ruined the mont stature to those new parents.

my friend is an good example and i hv to explain to her that it's CDB but not Montessori!!! it's me myself who tell her about montessori way and CDB...i'm so regret to refer the school to her...

virgobb

XOGOGO


經過，見到你 lee 個 post 有 d 驚訝，之前都知你會返 CDB，估唔到會令你咁唔開心。
我冇上過 CDB 只係去過 school visit，我第一次見Ms J就覺得 Ms J 係一個非常直既人。我諗佢真係好接受唔到好多本地人Ｄ湊仔Ｄ方法。係外國，Ｄ小朋友係著得好少，Ｄ小朋友係個個７點上床訓，或者係咁所以覺得lee 度有Ｄ媽咪一見有 air con 就加外套，同埋覺得９點係早訓，對佢係一Ｄ外星人既行為。
我諗佢係心急帶佢認為好果套比Ｄ小朋友，對家長就唔夠耐性。
哈，如果我有返，我一定都比佢狠批啦，我返親學都著外套。但係，香港室外就 35度，室內就 22 度，同埋空氣質素長期不合格，我都想我地有加州陽光。

XOGOGO

virgobb,

I have learnt a very "expensive" experience. Yes you are right. She doesn't really understand the situation in HK. She has prejudice on asian families. Of course we all want to bring "the best" to our children. However, i really can't accept her attitude and the way she talked to me (as a parent). Maybe the school is too famous and got such a long waiting list. Who cares to lose one parent?!

原文章由 virgobb 於 08-8-3 22:13 發表
XOGOGO


經過，見到你 lee 個 post 有 d 驚訝，之前都知你會返 CDB，估唔到會令你咁唔開心。
我冇上過 CDB 只係去過 school visit，我第一次見Ms J就覺得 Ms J 係一個非常直既人。我諗佢真係好接受唔到好多本地人Ｄ湊仔Ｄ方法。 ...

XOGOGO

luckily, i'm not alone!

原文章由 慧芸 於 08-8-2 23:09 發表
totally understood.

hv a friend who is now attending CDB with her boy. according to her, it's traumatic and ms. J is kind of regimental (scary)...

she as a mont school owner, ruined the mont stature ...

Kate.Tong

Hi,

Why don't you try Best Concepts (BC), due to distance?
BC will move to TST (near 天文台道) in September. They are vey warm and I think the teachers there have more time to talk to you when required, particularly a lady called Ms. Ellen. as the owner is not the teacher. Teacher there just focus your child. My son has joined them for over 6 months there. You don't need to change diaper for your child in the middle of the class, as they will handle it. But one thing is your son need to go through the seperation process,normally cry for 2- 3 weeks. To my observation, it is good to have no adult to acompany, as adult really quite distrub the child learning. Also, no pressure at all there.

BTW, I have attended the trial class in CDB and my impression of Ms J is very straight forward. Her advice, though in a way not comfortable to you, are not too bad. I think Ms. J need to take care all administrative works,run the school and teach as well. Definitely no much luxury time to do detailed explaination. But some parent took me CDB will have monthly meeting with parent to share, that sound a good support. While BC doesn't offer such.

Don't be upset. You are a good mum.

Kate

XOGOGO

Kate,

Thx.
This is what i'm going to do so. I will give my son a try in BC. I hope everything is fine. :)

Is your kid studying there?

原文章由 Kate.Tong 於 08-8-3 23:58 發表
Hi,

Why don't you try Best Concepts (BC), due to distance?
BC will move to TST (near 天文台道) in September. They are vey warm and I think the teachers there have more time to talk to you when requi ...

scheong

Hi Xogogo,

I was so surprised to see your post here because I know both Ms. J and you personally. Both of you are a very nice person.   Would it be the case of misunderstanding here?     

Like your experience.  My son also wears more than he needs when I take him to playgroups (in CDB and Anfield) with the same reasons as your.  Ms. J and Teacher Robert told me the same thing.  One time Teacher Robert even requested me to take off my son's jacket in the classroom, after he found my son was sweating.

My experience in CDB was they are offering a parent-infant class for the toddlers aged below 3.  All the toddlers are required Parent's guidance inside the classroom. (Not the toddlers can work on their own without any parent presents).  My baby attended CDB for 3 months.  He loved Ms. J and Ms. S the Mandarin teacher .  

To me, they (Ms. J and Teacher Robert) are those teachers who really care about our babies (not the commercial one).  I learned a lot from them.  So sad that I need to quit both schools due to my working plan.

Now, I copied Ms. J's method to set up a simple home environment for my baby to learn at home, mixing the technics from Montessori, Glenn Doman and sensory integration trying to find a suitable way for my son.  Some says home is first school the baby should learn from.

Cheers.

Marcus MaMa   

原文章由 XOGOGO 於 08-8-2 14:15 發表
It was a nightmare at Casa D Bambinx (Montessori school) for my bb and I yesterday.
When the owner, Ms J first saw us, she said, “It is better to hv just one adult.” Since I had to show my helper t ...

[ 本文章最後由 scheong 於 08-8-4 18:45 編輯 ]

aknchan

Did she really said the word "retarded"?
If yes then she is way way way beyond rude. I would have left the school with my kid the minute she said it.

carol_mom

WOW~  This is my first time to hear a teacher would say something like this.  I think this is no point to argue with her.  if I were you, I would just bring my kid home, since I can see how bad attitude the teacher is.  Have you been there before for a school visit or meet the teacher before you enroll the class ?  It is better to do it next time, since we also want to see who is going to teach our children.  

Besides, Best concept, you guys can also try LM I guess. As my girl also goes to this playgroup. The teachers are nice and also willing to chat with us after the class when we have some question or want to see the progress of our kids.  My girl is really enjoy during this summer time as well, we even went to the field trip last time with the whole school.

babydarling

Thank you so much for posting your comments here!!! I have paid my $1000 application fee already but i'll not join them even the $1000 is non-refunable!!! I talked to Ms. J last time during the school visit and i have the same feeling as yours...  i can't say she is rude.. but what she said didn't make much sense!!  She expects all parents who sent their kids to casa de bambini should have well knowledged of the montessori method.  She discriminate all those who are not following the montessori way!  The way she talk is like scolding and not educating parents about what is montessori !!!
I have spotted somthing wrong with this Ms. J already, but yet, i still paid my $1000 because i like their environment so much!!  And i want my kid to learn in a montessori school that is clean and lovely.  However, after seeing this topic, i'll definitly not join even if they have seat for my girl!!!  I dont' want my girl to grow up to be so rude like her!!! Moreover, i dont' want to be scold!!
Thanks again XOGOGO, i'll look for another school for my girl.  

原文章由 XOGOGO 於 08-8-2 14:15 發表
It was a nightmare at Casa D Bambinx (Montessori school) for my bb and I yesterday.
When the owner, Ms J first saw us, she said, “It is better to hv just one adult.” Since I had to show my helper t ...

慧芸

My boy attends CDB since Sept 08. In 2 weeks' time, my husband, my mom and helper (who had accompanied my boy to the school) all agreed we should quit CDB even though we paid the application fee +deposit +school fee for 1 term ($23,000 in total).

Major reasons:
1. The teachers (not J) are passive and inexperience (can't even remember the lyrics of those famous nursery rhyme!!!)
2. My boy doesn't want to go into the classroom (vs he runs into the classroom when attending other schools/playgroups)
3. He doesn't follow the teachers there while he'll hold teachers' hands in other schools

basically they don't have any refund policy but just forfeit! The only thing you may get is the deposit but need to give 1 term notice in advance! (ie. tell them that u'll quit on the 1st day of the term) so in my case, i don't get a buck if i quit.

what i'm trying to say here is, unless u really want to commit in this school, otherwise don't even give it a try.

bakusensei

原帖由 慧芸 於 08-10-9 00:11 發表
My boy attends CDB since Sept 08. In 2 weeks' time, my husband, my mom and helper (who had accompanied my boy to the school) all agreed we should quit CDB even though we paid the application fee +depo ...

xogogo and 慧芸 ,

sorry to hear about that. can't imagine such thing happened in a Mont school.

hope u find the one suits your kids.

or may be can try homeschooling. :)

jor_mankiu

babydarling

Thanks for the sharing and sorry to learn your bad experience at CDB. I've previously paid application fee of $1000 but now I need to rethink if I should bring my son there (he's 10mth old now).

Just a few qs.

- Do you have a choice where your class is directed by Ms J or other directress? (would you mind PM me the teacher that you mentioned about?)
- How is the quality of Mandarin directress?
- Do you think the school provides a fair share of Mandarin learning? (heard IMS has been serious in promoting Mandarin)

It's such a pity that it looks like such a nicely setup Montessori school but the software doesn't seem to match the quality of the hardware. What a waste...

原帖由 babydarling 於 08-8-5 23:28 發表
Thank you so much for posting your comments here!!! I have paid my $1000 application fee already but i'll not join them even the $1000 is non-refunable!!! I talked to Ms. J last time during the school ...