High Achievement Recognition Award

We are so proud that both Elkana and Farhan got these awards. Each of them was the only one chosen from their classes to get the award. Elka's writing is excellent. Farhan's maths is up one level from his grade one standard level. Both Elka and Farhan are very good in maths. They are very --Australian says-- beautiful children; they always listen to others, work hard, help others, and do proper hings. Congratulations!

Akhlaq subject in the Primary school reports

I was very happy to recieve both Elkana's and Farhan's school reports from their teachers at the Moreland Primary School. They are excellent. For three years I have appreciated they way school reports are presented. Its mostly qualitative reports with particularly details on five aspects, personal qualities and work habits, integrated studies, LOTE (Language Other Than English), Visual arts, and Library. All aspects are written thoroughly with rating codes B for Beginning, D for Developing, C for Consolidating, E for Established, and N for Not Covered, and with explanation standard level according to the Victorian Curriculum and Standard Framework (CSF). Each one of these aspects explains what student has learned and the student's achievement. The last two pages are general achievement presented in both semi quantitative and qualitative ones. The general achievement presents a rating (A, B, C, D, E) and comparison of students achievement (child's achievement 12 month ago, child's achievement this year, child's progress since last year, and the expected level of achievement) in in five learning areas: English, Personal qualities and work habits, Mathematics, Information and Communications Technology, and Health and Physical Education. The most part I like is the end of the report namely what my child has achieved, what areas to improve in the future learning, what the school will do to support my child, and what parents can do at home to help my child's progress.

After reading thoroughly Elka's and Farhan's reports I remember how poor my school reports were. One semester report was presented only in one page where all of subjects were rated by numbers from one to nine. How can students were judged only by these numbers coming mostly from formal exams which were mostly corrupted? Akhlaq which was regarded as the most important things for students to behave was reported in number from five to nine; five meant you were anak nakal (bad and naughty child) and nine meant you were anak baik sekali. Its so poor. Morality is socially and culturally very important according to Indonesians. However, there is no creative and academic ways to describe anak baik. I did not remember how I learned the akhlaq subject at public schools. There was not any particular subject to learn. My teacher said that the report is taken from a daily observation of akhlaq of the student. I learned the akhlaq subject from madrasah ibtidaiya (islamic primary schools), that I went in the afternoon, and then madrasah tsanawiyah and aliyah (Islamic secondary schools). I have to memorize hadith (prophets traditions) regarding good behaviour which was very abstract. Well, Indonesian culture highly appreciates akhlaq mostly in slogan and symbolic matters related to religious do's and dont's.

Indeed there is no akhlaq subject at Victorian public schools. However, interestingly they have details and thorough explanations on what is regarded as anak baik and akhlaq. It is written in the whole first page of school reports entitles Personal Qualities and Work Habit. The school explains the importance of this area as follows "at Moreland Primary School we aim to provide all children with the foundations for success which will provide them with social, emotional and behavioural well-being in school, work and in the future". The general achievement is divided into four, Confidence (having an "I can do it" attitude), Getting Along (working well with my class mates), Organisation (setting goals and managing times), and Persistence (trying had and not giving up), each of these has few items. In the Getting Along for example students are reported in few items: (1) works cooperatively in a group, (2) Is tolerant and sensitive to other people's feeling, (3) Is polite and well mannered, (4) works without interrupting others, (5) follows school and classroom rulers, and (6) demonstrates responsible and acceptable behaviour. They are all valued as S (starting to do this), U (usually does this), A (always does this) and L (leads and helps other students). In addition, the teacher explains the achivement of personal qualities and work habit in few sentences. Here I quoted Farhan's ones:

"Farhan is a quiet and serious student who applies himself to learning with great concentration. He is always polite and considerate towards others. Farhan is a capable students who is developing progressively well. He is more organized and has started to use his time well. He is slowly gaining confidence and learning express his ideas and sharing them with his peers. Farhan always demonstrates responsible and acceptable behavious. He is always polite and well mannered. He has demonstrated improvement in many areas this half of the year and it will be interesting to watch his development in the second half."

Looking to these akhlaq reports, how can people judge that Australia is an immoral society? In fact the society puts emphasis on morality, but presented without judgment and any specific religious precepts. They do have high standard morality with respecting freedoms and differences.

Farhan's performance at the school assembly

Almost every Monday, Elkana and Farhan's school hold an assembly. The assembly is informal, informative, presented in a communicative way, and fun! Students sit on carpet according to their classroom (not their grade). Teachers stand or sit surrounding the students. Some parents sit on chairs and banks surrounding the hall to see the assembly.

In this assembly Farhan and his friends from grade one and two were doing performance. I was so happy to see Farhan introducing what his class was going to perform. He was so confident. Farhan and his friends were singing and dancing, helped by their teachers. It was funny song about counting ducks. They were laughing during the performance. They got big applause from other students, teachers and parents. Weldone Farhan and all grades one and two!

Here in Victoria, assembly is something that students very much enjoy at school, which is far different from what it is in Indonesian schools...

Sekolah tanpa peng-kelasan

Ini foto guru-guru SD Moreland yang sedang tampil pada acara akhir tahun di sekolah. Iya, mereka pake pita warna-warni, joget di depan anak-anak (kayak poco-poco lah kalau di Indonesia) dengan ceria dan apa adanya. Kenapa tidak? toh yang penting adalah kreativitas dan having fun, disamping bagaimana bisa menghibur dan mengajak orang tua dan murid untuk having fun juga.

Acara akhir tahun adalah acara yang spesial. Setiap kelas (hampir semua murid) diberi kesempatan untuk tampil. Tapi persiapan dilakukan dengan tidak neko-neko. Tidak perlu spanduk besar dan backdrop yang ada tulisan tentang acara, tidak perlu latihan berbulan-bulan yang menyita waktu belajar, dan tidak perlu pakaian khusus yang harus dibeli dengan mengeluarkan uang, tak perlu sewa kursi banyak karena anak-anak cukup duduk di karpet, dan tak perlu iuran untuk konsumsi karena masing-masing membawa bekal piknik. Karya murid-murid selama ini dikeluarkan dan dijadikan hiasan sekaligus pameran hasil karya. Acaranya bisa dibilang sederhana, tapi sangat meriah dan informal. Benar-benar "dari kita untuk kita" begitu.

Penampilan drama pun tidak perlu menghafal. Semuanya tidak dibuat-buat atau dipaksakan supaya terlihat meriah dan bagus. Sesekali terlihat acara tidak teratur, tapi itulah kekuatannya. Untuk apa pura-pura rapih dan baik kalau hanya untuk ditonton sesaat saja? Di sekolah yang penting adalah substansi pembelajaran, bukan simbol-simbol dan formalitas. Maka tidak heran jika sama sekali tidak ada pembuatan rangking murid terpandai. Tidak ada juara-juara-an. Tapi apresiasi terhadap prestasi itu sangat tinggi. Pembagian kelas dari kelas satu sampai enam pun dibuat samar. Dalam satu ruang, seorang guru kelas (plus asistan) mengajar 20 murid yang terdiri dari dua grade (kelas) yang berbeda: misalnya kelas prep dan 1, kelas 1 dan 2, kelas 3 dan 4, serta 5 dan 6.

Tidak hanya pengkelasan fisik yang blur, pengkelasan guru dan murid yang berlebihan pun tidak ada. Hubungan guru dan murid sangat cair. Murid sangat hormat kepada gurunya walaupun mereka memanggil nama guru mereka langsung tanpa embel-embel mrs atau mr. Murid akrab dan tidak takut kepada guru, walaupun guru juga sering memberi hukuman bagi murid yang nakal. Makanya para guru juga tidak perlu jaim dihadapan murid dan orang tua.

Tentu saja tidak ada ujian nasional yang perlu dana besar dan bikin murid stres dan belajar kilat (jadi lupanya juga kilat). Ujian tetap ada, tapi dilakukan biasa saja, tanpa nomor ujian dan hampir ada test setiap minggu (misalnya tes membaca dan tes matematika). Hasil ujian juga bukan satu-satunya penilaian. Karena penilaian di kelas itu lebih banyak kualitatif, bukan kuantitatif. Hal ini sangat jauh dari budaya ujian di Indonesia yang malah mengajarkan budaya nyontek, budaya korup, dan budaya jalan pintas. Tidak heran jika sertifikat dan gelar menjadi tujuan belajar.... Kalau hasilnya negatif, kenapa ya sistem peng-kelasan formal itu termasuk ujian nasional masih tetap diberlakukan ya?

Portraits of Victoria

Foto sekeluarga di Puffing Billy

Ceritanya kami pergi ke Puffing Billy bulan Maret yang lalu. Puffing Billy adalah nama wisata kereta tua di pegunungan (sebenarnya gak tinggi-tinggi amat sih) Dandenong, masih di Victoria. Jangan salah, walaupun sudah berumur, Puffing Billy tidak karatan, bahkan kalau kata orang Betawi kinclong.

Nah layaknya turis kita berfoto-ria. Saya dan Amir bergantian mengambil foto. Kali ini Elka, Farhan dan saya berdiri didepan lokomotif Puffing Billy dan Amir sedang mengira-ngira jarak untuk mengambil foto kami. Tiba-tiba seorang nenek berkulit putih dan rambut pirang mendekat. Sambil tersenyum si nenek itu bilang: "Do you want me to take your family picture?" Wow sebuah surprise ada sukarelawan yang menawarkan diri. Surprise karena kami selama ini berfikir untuk tidak minta tolong khususnya orang bule karena kelihatannya mereka lebih suka sendiri, tidak perduli, dan tidak mau diganggu privasinya.

Pikiran itu tidak sepenuhnya benar. Bahkan saya perhatikan justru orang-orang bule itu sangat baik berkomunikasi (walau tidak mesti ramah); sering kali bilang sorry, exuse me, dan pardon me; dan memanusiakan anak kecil. Memang tidak disemua tempat seperti ini sama. (Saya kira baik di halte busway jakarta maupun di tram stop Melbourne orang sama saja sibuknya; tapi kalau di perkampungan saya kira orang Melbourne sama orang Jawa sama ramahnya...). Di stasiun Puffing Billy, saya surprise mendengar pengumuman untuk penumpang dimulai dengan "Dear ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys..." Anak-anak begitu dihargai. Sepanjang perjalanan saya lihat hampir semua orang yang menyaksikan puffing billy melintas akan melambaikan tangan, entah itu anak-anak, orang tua, bahkan sampai supir truk yang bertampang sangar. Kami yang berada di atas Puffing Billy tentunya sumringah dan bersemangat pula melambaikan tangan tak henti-hentinya. Kultur-kultur ini merupakan hal kecil, tapi ini adalah generosity yang perlu dihargai.

satu menit saja....

Sore yang indah, walau sedikit dingin di Melbourne. Saya mengikuti Elka, Farhan dan Rifqi bermain di taman seberang rumah. Suasana begitu ceria dan riang. Angin dingin yang bertiup kencang tak diindahkan. Saya sibuk merapatkan syal sedangkan anak-anak berlarian dan melepaskan jaket mereka. Panas katanya.

Suasana berubah ketika seorang ibu berjalan melintasi taman. Ibu muda itu asik berbicara di telpon genggam, sedangkan anak perempuan berumur sekitar 2 tahun berlari menuju ayunan. Anak perempuan itu berteriak senang "swing, swing..." dengan suara yang masih cadel. Ia berdiri di depan ayunan dan berusaha naik. Tapi apa daya, kakinya yang mungil dan pendek tidak bisa menurutkan kehendaknya untuk duduk diatas ayunan. Dengan sabarnya, ia menunggu ibunya yang masih asik menelpon di dekat ayunan. Bahasa tubuhnya memperlihatkan gadis kecil ini ingin sekali naik ayunan.

Setelah percakapan telpon selesai, si ibu kelihatannya mengajak anaknya segera pergi. Saya hanya bisa mengira-ngira karena mereka berbicara bahasa India. Terlihat si gadis kecil menolak dengan terus menerus menyebut "swing" dan memegang erat tali serta kursi ayunan di depannya. Suara si ibu meninggi dan membentak, untuk segera pulang. Si kecil tidak mengindahkan dengan terus merengek-rengek supaya bisa naik ayunan.

Si ibu berjalan menjauhi taman dengan berbicara keras dan mengancam untuk meninggalkan anaknya. Gadis kecil itu tidak goyah, ia diam, dan tetap memegang ayunan. Semakin jauh si ibu berjalan dengan suaranya yang mengancam. Gadis kecil yang malang bertahan dengan keinginannya. Ia tahu, si ibu tidak akan meninggalkannya. Dari balik pagar, si ibu menunggu. Bebeapa saat si ibu kembali menuju ayunan karena anaknya tak bergeming untuk pulang bersamanya.

Seperti bisa saya duga, dengan paksa gadis malang itu ditarik dan digendong oleh ibunya. Tentu saja ia menangis keras. Saya berharap sekali, gadis itu menangis yang keras dan kemudian ibunya akan berubah pikiran untuk memberinya waktu bermain ayunan. Tapi saya tahu, itu tidak akan terjadi. Suara tangisan masih terdengar walau keduanya sudah hilang dari pandangan saya.

Saya jadi termenung. Bisa jadi saya atau kita orang tua bersikap seperti ibu itu. Betapa egoisnya. Ia menelpon lama dan tak memperhatikan anaknya. Tapi ketika si anak meminta waktu sebentar saja untuk main ayunan, ia tidak berikan. Bisa jadi ibu itu tergesa. Tapi saya tidak melihat sama sekali alasan untuk tergesa ketika itu. Kenapa dia bisa menelpon selama lima menit di taman tapi tidak memberikan waktu kepada anaknya untuk bermain bahkan satu menit saja? Padahal dengan beradu argumen dan bermain sandiwara waktunya malah berbuang banyak. Belum lagi waktu yang terbuang untuk mendiamkan anaknya yang menangis kecewa sepanjang perjalanan pulang. Seandainya dia membantu anaknya untuk main ayunan --walaupun sambil menelpon-- atau memberi waktu bermain satu menit saja, mungkin perasaan anak itu tidak terluka. Jika moment satu menit tidak pernah ada dan selalu dilewatkan, bisa dibayangkan bagaimana anak kita tumbuh besar dengan memendam kemarahan, dendam, kesedihan, dibawah kasih sayang orang tuanya yang diktator....

Members of Scouts Australia

mothers day card from Farhan

gundah dan kepastian

sering aku terlena
gundah dan iri
melihat pelikan terbang bebas
berpetualang dan menimba deru dan embun
di berbagai negeri atas angin

aku terbang membawa serta
dan mengikuti
burung2 kecil yang kucintai

masa depanku adalah burung2 kecil ini
bukan untuk menumpang sarang
bukan untuk mendapat bijian
ketika ku renta
tapi untuk menjadi

kisanak,
kita adalah petualang
yang diberi kesempatan untuk menjadi

bahagia itu nisbi
membuat orang lain bahagia adakah kenisbian yang abadi
terukir di hempasan ombak yang selalu datang dan hilang

membuat orang lain untuk menjadi
adalah kebahagiaan tertinggi

petualangan kita pasti berakhir
entah kapan
petualanganku
akan dilanjutkan oleh burung2 kecil

gymbus at school

a lovely mother day card

I received this card from Elkana. Although he does not include what I really wanted in his wishing pictures, this card is so touching. Thank you Elkana.

about scout

by farhan

hi my name is farhan i am 1 of the scout people. I am a joey scout. joey help people and they are god. My dad and me gos by car. My mum gos to university. My dad and my mum gets us from the scout.

My family working in computer

My name is farhan. I have three computers. My brother is playing in one computer. My dad is working in one computer too. I am working in my mum’s computer. My dad is making a computer for me.

Respecting Pinguins

During the Easter holiday, we went to Philip island. It takes around two hours from the city of Melbourne to Philip island. There is a 2 km brigde which connect Melbourne to philip island. The island is small and located southern part of Victoria. Philip island beaches are not so special for swimmers and surfers. Big waves rom the ocean have been impeded by Tasmania, left small waves to hit these beaches. At least it is very safe for children to play in the beaches.

Before we crossed the bridge to the Philip island, we went to a farm that breeds typical Australian animals: crocodiles, caccatoos, wombats, koalas, emus, sheeps, and, of course, kangaroos.

We and a wombat.

In the farm, kangaroos are the most favourite animals. Children loved to feed kangaroos. And they are friendly too. Other animals are quite friendly, but we could not stand with them. Emus and sheeps are smell bad; koalas sleep allmost 22 hours in a day on ecalypus trees. And no one wanted to be friend with crocodiles, for sure.

Farhan and giant koala. .. Feeding kanggurus.

We continued our journey to philip island. I almost got boring with the island until we saw pinguins. Yes! Philip island is famous with its pinguins. When it is dark, thousands of pinguins swim from the sea to philip island to stay a night. This tradition started from around thousand years ago and now becomes a one of favourite tourist attractions. For sure, you do not need to be freezing to see these Philip island's pinguins.

However, in this Philip island visitors are required to respect pinguins because this island is their home. As good visitors, we are required to be as quite as possible so these pinguins do not afraid. Visitors are not allowed to take pictures, not even to speak loadly. I did not imagine before, that around a thousand of visitors sit down on the sand, waiting quitely in the cold, sometimes in the rain, for about an hour, only to watch these small species of pinguins swim to the island in the dark.

Respecting pinguins is very special message to us. Many times we forget that animals are also God's creatures that have rights to live with their own ways. Human tends to torture, make use of, and exploit animals. Giving respects to pinguins -- for various reasons -- teach visitors about respecting other humans. If we can respects rights of animals, we must have respected rights of other humans.

Me and the Kangaroos

Story by Farhan, written by Mum

I went to the farm in Philip Island. I saw kangaroos. After that I got some grass to give the kangaroos. After I fed some more kangaroos. I got some grass. I came back to the kangaroo and I fed him. I saw a little kangaroo in the big kangaroo's pauch. I fed one more kangaroo and we went some where else. We went to the pinguins that time. We waited for the pinguins and it was cold.

A school

by Farhan

me and my family

by Farhan

this day is close and it is friday . My name is farhan and i like to go to my mums school. my dad is home i like my dads school too. my mum like my dad and my dad like my mum. I like this day and my mum like this day too.

Be happy

Elka's Blog!

Elkana asked me what does "create blog" means when he watched me opening the blogspot page and writing my email address to sign in. I wanted to put Elkana's drawing and writing in the blog. When I explained to Elka about creating one own's blog, he really liked that idea and wanted to have his own blog. I helped him to set up what he wanted including creating his own email address. Its done! His email address is elkanaalifi@gmail.com and his blog address is http://elkanaalifi.blogspot.com! Wow I was so happy because I did not expect him wanted to create his own blog in this stage. He followed all procedures with patient and antusiastic including when signing up the email. He chose a picture he wanted to post in his blog and wrote what was about. His first posting is about respect. See http://elkanaalifi.blogspot.com/2007/04/about-respect.html

Weldone Elkana,
I am very poud of you