MEET DELALast night I met with my test scholar, Dela. She is 10 years old, in 4th grade. She presented to me her list of expenditures and proposed budget for the next two months. She is supposed to keep a diary (I ask for one sentence a week) but she didn’t do it. I push her to begin writing because this is something that Indonesians in general do not learn to do, and especially the lower classes. She wants to be a doctor, and I think she needs to learn to read and write well to succeed, so I will continue to encourage her to write.
I provide for her books, school fees, and snacks at school, also any special items required, such as at the beginning of the school year, a badminton racquet and sports shoes. Cost for next two months: about US $6.
We had much difficulty in the beginning with budget. I thought it was language, or culture, or something, until I thought about when I was in 4th grade. No way I could do any of the things I’m asking! Things get out of perspective pretty easily, don’t they?
I am finding that elementary is probably too young to start scholarship with reporting requirements such as this.
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