A Visit to Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation Private School

From Michael Chan's Blog

It’s nice to know that others are linking to you and using you as a resource. I noticed that Nik Husni has placed my article on his website as a resource for others.

There were no lessons today as the local government decided to shut down the electricity again. Shut-downs of two to three days each year have become so much a part of us that we knew what to do. We immediately activated our emergency system upon getting wind of it on Friday, getting our middle managers to call their department teachers, who in turn called their parents of their pupils. All these happened so that our clients can make the necessary childcare arrangements, and again is a testimony to the dedication of our teachers to their jobs.

I took the opportunity to pop by a “rival” school - the SMIC Private School. This is a school that takes in expatriate students, doing the AP and using the American Curriculum (specifically California and Texas). Unlike mine, it is not registered as an international school - it is registered as a private school of the Chinese educational board instead.

This gives it an unique character. Like Shanghai High, it runs both a Chinese curriculum and an American curriculum. Like all local schools, school hours run from 0745 to 1630 - very long indeed. And like all local schools, they follow the Chinese vacations (so no Christmas vacations for them!). And because it is not an international school, its school fees are half ours. This is one reason we lose pupils to it. The sheer attraction of quality schooling at half the price of one of the cheapest international schools in Shanghai is very difficult to ignore.

Sheng, the driver who usually drives us around, took me to the school, in faraway Pudong (169 Qingtong Lu). It’s an hour’s journey for me from my place to the school, in good traffic!

I chatted with him along the way, asking him why the Santana remains so popular, even though it’s an 80s technology car. He gave me a very good reason. The Santana has a very high body clearance, and is very tough for a car of its price. China’s roads are not some of the best maintained, and the factor above means a reliable car on China’s roads. Which explains why, until today, it still remains a very popular car.

The very first person I met was Chris, teaching in the middle school there. He’s a very nice person, and a fellow brother-in-Christ. He’s also described by his superiors as a good teacher and a tremendous asset to the organisation. We chatted a while, before I got to meet some other leaders in the organisation.

I chatted with Mr Russ and Mr Al, Academic Director for Middle/High School and Elementary School respectively. They gave me the impression that they were very friendly people, passionate in their goals of educating their pupils. I would find out later that Mr Russ had won awards back in the States, for his contribution to the teaching profession.

I noticed something about the school atmosphere - it’s very relaxed. The pupils do not wear school uniforms, and while they do greet the teachers with a bow and a “good afternoon”, they would continue to chat with the teachers after that. Signs of activity carried on in the corridors, with pupils playing a ball game there (something we’d never allow in my school!). There’s a buzz along the corridors when small groups (not classes, like my school) of pupils walked past, quietly fading to a silence when they turned the corner.

I got a chance to meet Dr Han, their Principal, as well. He gave me an impression of meeting a Professor - academic-looking, yet jovial and friendly. We spoke a bit on the school, and how it is like, the challenges faced, and so on. He was very forthright and candid with me when I asked a question that might be a bit sensitive (the recent problems faced by the school). I got to know that he, too, had won awards for his contribution to the teaching profession, when he was in the States.

We ate at their canteen after that. Staff has to pay RMB4 for the lunch, while pupils pay RMB7. And seriously speaking…the food is really not nice! OK, maybe I’m choosy, but the food sure is not to my taste. I ate very little. It’s a good thing the school has plenty of restaurants nearby, and I understand that teachers sometimes cater in food as well.

That’s another thing I like about western management. The movement of the teachers are not controlled within the school. They are free to leave the school compound during their prep hours (free periods), whether it is to take a bite, or even to take a nap back home. In the words of Dr Han, “As long as they are on time for their lessons.” It’s a very refreshing change from what I was used to back in Singapore, when teacher movement was restricted due to manpower and security reasons (in case of emergency, teachers would be activated, etc).

I also got the chance to meet another fellow educator - Micah Sittig! We had chatted with each other a few times on GMail, and have “crossed swords” (friendly duel, of course!) over the Shanghaiexpat forum on education. It was the lunch hour, when I met him finally (sorry, Micah, but you look more handsome in the photos than in real life - photogenic, huh?).

And guess what he was doing? It was so funny - we both laughed when he turned the monitor. He was reading my blog. Again this is a testimony of the kind of relaxed management within the school, where teachers would not be judged on whether they are doing “non-official” things, as long as they deliver the results. And I sure am glad that the current leadership in my school is not as hammed-up as some of the horror stories I heard back in Singapore.

I was in deep thoughts as I returned home that day.